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We report molecular dynamics simulation results on the equilibrium propertiesof polymer thin films adsorbed onto flat and curved substrates. We firstsystematically determine the contact angle of polymer droplets on flatsubstrates as a function of the substrate-monomer adsorption strength anddegree of polymerization. Focussing on the fully wetted regime, we theninvestigate the effect of the substrate's topography on the polymer filmconfiguration by using substrates with varying mean curvature. We find thatpolymer chains close to the substrate are significantly stretched (compressed)in regions of high negative (positive) mean curvature. Further, we find partialdewetting near regions of high mean curvature for thin polymer films. Forthicker films, the polymers fully cover the substrate and the shape of theliquid-vapor interface largely follows the shape of the substrate. As the filmthickness is increased further, the liquid-vapor interface becomes completelyflat. These simulation results are corroborated by analytic calculations usinga simplified continuum model that treats the adsorbed polymers as anincompressible medium. Our findings show how the substrate topographyinfluences the conformation of individual chains as well as the shape of theentire film.

Simulations of Thin Polymer Films on Flat and Curved Substrates