Raster solvent vapor annealing (RSVA) is a technique for the directed annealing of polymer films, a useful mechanism for spatially targeted and non-batch SVA. Although it was developed for promoting the self-assembly of block copolymer thin-films [Epps and coworkers 2012, 2015], our group has demonstrated its utility in controlling the morphology of semi-crystalline polymer films. This work specifically details the changes in morphology, visible light transmittance, and mechanical properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) films annealed by RSVA under different solvent flow rates and raster rates. The ability to control crystallinity in this manner affords many opportunities to create films with desired properties by a method amenable to industry scale-up.<br/>

Raster solvent vapor annealing of semi-crystalline homopolymer films

255th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.