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Evolution of a Wavelike Undulation in Polymer Thin Films with Immobilized Film Spanning Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Dou Nannan,
Jiang Hua,
Zhang Xiaohua,
Yang Zhaohui
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201400270
Subject(s) - spinodal decomposition , materials science , thin film , polymer , nanoparticle , glass transition , stress relaxation , relaxation (psychology) , instability , spinodal , composite material , chemical physics , nanotechnology , phase (matter) , chemistry , mechanics , physics , creep , social psychology , organic chemistry , psychology
The evolution of wavelike surface undulations in a thin polymer film under thermal stress in the presence of immobilized film spanning nanoparticles (NPs) is investigated. The elastic stresses in the plane of the polymer thin films is induced by fixed lateral constraints within the film (immobilized NPs) that resist in‐plane film thermal expansion as the temperature increases. Wavelike surface undulations arising from stress relaxation are observed as the thin‐film systems are heated above the glass‐transition temperature ( T g ). The thermal stress affects both the characteristic wavelengths and the amplitudes of the wavelike surface undulations. Although the origin is different, the dynamic evolution of these wavelike undulations is strikingly similar in characteristics to spinodal decomposition. As compared with typical spinodal‐decomposition kinetics in liquid systems in which the early and intermediate stages are difficult to probe due to the narrow range of time scales, the overall evolutionary process of the wavelike surface undulations in NP‐filled polymer thin films is captured. The growth of the wavelike undulations shows characteristic time dependencies at the intermediate and late stages of instability.