Triple and Quadruple Surface Pattern Memories in Nanoimprinted Polymer Blends

Trigger-responsive surfaces with multiple surface properties have wide-ranging application potential from surfaces with trigger-responsive fluid flow to cell culture to optical effects; such surfaces can be achieved through surface morphological changes. Although multiple shape-memory effects are successful in bulk polymers, there is limited programing and recovery of multiple surface memories due to the challenges in fabricating multiple surface topographies with good controllability. Here, we report the synergy between the polymer blend formulation and the thermal nanoimprinting process to achieve multiple microtopography memories. A series of immiscible blends consisting of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and polyethylene (PE) with distinct thermal transitions governed by distinct crystallization events were augmented with improved elasticity through preferential cross-linking in the polymer blend. The effect of preferential cross-linking by dicumyl peroxide on the elastic property of the PCL/PE has been found to be nonlinearly dependent on the blend composition. This approach enabled triple and quadruple surface pattern fixity and recovery in nanoimprinted PCL/PE blends. Specifically, we demonstrated the recovery of a micropillar structure (diameter: 20 μm and height: 10 μm) from a hierarchical micrograting topography (width: 2 μm and height: 2 μm) when exposed to a thermal stimulus at 60 °C for 180 s. Furthermore, we also demonstrated the recovery of a deformed micrograting followed by a secondary recovery of the micropillar structure.