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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
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Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
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Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
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Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

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Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

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The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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Hierarchical Surface Instability in Polymer Films.

Belda Amelia Junisu1, Ya-Sen Sun2

  • 1Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|October 20, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hierarchical instabilities in thin films, characterized by distinct macro, micro, and mesoscale patterns, emerge during spin coating of volatile solutions under high humidity. These complex film structures are influenced by solvent volatility and environmental conditions, not film properties.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Thin Film Physics
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Thin film morphology is crucial for device performance.
  • Understanding instabilities during film formation is key to controlling structure.
  • Spin coating is a common technique for thin film deposition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the formation of hierarchical instabilities in spin-coated thin films.
  • To identify the key factors influencing the development of these instabilities.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving hierarchical instability.

Main Methods:

  • Spin coating of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) solutions with varying volatility.
  • Controlled variation of relative humidity (RH) during spin coating.
  • Morphological characterization of thin films at macro, micro, and mesoscales.

Main Results:

  • Hierarchical instabilities manifest as windmill-like patterns (macro), Bénard cells/striations (micro), and holes (meso).
  • Instabilities occur with high-volatile solvents (P4VP in methanol/ethanol) under high RH.
  • Instabilities are suppressed with low-volatile solvents (P4VP in propanol/butanol) irrespective of RH.
  • Film properties like molecular weight, concentration, spin rate, and thickness do not significantly impact instability formation.

Conclusions:

  • Hierarchical instabilities are primarily dependent on solvent volatility and relative humidity.
  • The formation mechanism involves Bénard-Marangoni convection, water vapor condensation, and spin-coating dynamics.
  • Control over thin film morphology can be achieved by manipulating solvent choice and environmental conditions during spin coating.