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Green thin polymer film metallization using supercritical carbon dioxide
Author(s) -
Koga Tadanori,
Kugler B.,
Loewenstein J.,
Jerome J.,
Rafailovich M. H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied crystallography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.429
H-Index - 162
ISSN - 1600-5767
DOI - 10.1107/s0021889806056457
Subject(s) - polymer , supercritical carbon dioxide , materials science , thin film , supercritical fluid , adhesion , composite material , evaporation , metal , carbon film , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering , physics , thermodynamics
It is shown that low‐density polymer layers created by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) processing can be exploited to enhance metallization of thin polymer films. Spun‐cast thin films were exposed to scCO 2 within the narrow temperature and pressure regime known as the `density fluctuation ridge', where excess swelling of the polymer thin films was induced, and the swollen structures could be subsequently preserved by quick evaporation of CO 2 . X‐ray reflectivity (XR) measurements proved that the `expanded' films had a broader interfacial width between the polymer and deposited metal layers, regardless of the polymer film thickness or choice of polymers. Furthermore, standard peel test showed a drastic enhancement in adhesion between the polymer and metal layers, which correlates with the XR result: the broader interfacial width indicates increased adhesion.