Silver substrates modified with thin films (ca. 10 nm) of PDMS are dewet from dilute solutions of n-alkane chains of lengths from C8 to C18.  The properties of the dewetted films are probed by optical and vibrational spectroscopies and contact angle measurements. Results provide evidence that is strikingly supportive of entanglement processes that are though to be responsible for the creation of exponentially increasing film thickness as a function of increasing alkane-oligomer length. Data from the fluid films are interpreted with consideration of fluid viscosity, contact angles, surface roughness, and other possible physical interactions with the polymer substrate. Results are compared to theoretical behavior predicted by van der Waals and hydrodynamic forces. Conclusions differentiate the behaviors associated with these two model regimes and allude to an additional structural component to be included for future consideration of interfacial film behavior.

Investigating molecular entanglement of alkane oligomers on PDMS modified substrates

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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