A novel blend system containing two cellulose derivatives, deposited as ultrathin films by spin coating, was investigated from a fundamental point of view. Films from pure trimethylsilyl cellulose and cellulose triacetate were found to be smooth and featureless. However, when the two components were mixed in a common solvent, surface patterns emerged from the complex interplay between the polymers, the solvent and the substrate. Triggered by thermodynamic instabilities, interesting bicontinuous morphologies were formed during spin coating. In this special case of two hydrophobic cellulose derivatives, such morphologies are somewhat reminiscent of patterns found in thin films of some block copolymer systems whereby competing interactions and packing frustrations are expressed. The bicomponent films can be subsequently hydrolyzed to cellulose in progressive steps. The morphology of the films was probed by Atomic Force Microscopy and the chemical composition by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Unusual morphology in ultrathin blend films of trimethylsilyl cellulose and cellulose triacetate

239th National Meeting (2010)

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