AVS 46th International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Division Monday Sessions
       Session AS-MoM

Paper AS-MoM9
Glass Transition at Film Surfaces of Polymer Blends with Nanometer Spatial Resolution

Monday, October 25, 1999, 11:00 am, Room 6A

Session: Imaging and Small Area Analysis
Presenter: F. Dinelli, University of Washington
Authors: F. Dinelli, University of Washington
C. Buenviaje, University of Washington
M. Rafailovich, State University of New York at Stony Brook
R.M. Overney, University of Washington
R. Luginbuhl, University of Washington
J. Sokolov, State University of New York at Stony Brook
X. Hu, State University of New York at Stony Brook
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Surface structure and properties of thin polymeric films are of crucial interest for many technological applications. In ultrathin polymer films we have found that interfacial interactions and local confinement alter the physical properties. Recently we have shown that the glass transition temperature at the surface of thin films can be accurately measured using shear modulation atomic force microscopy (AFM). In this paper we present a first application of this technique to polymer blends (PS/PBMA and PS/PMMA) which, depending on the film thickness and the local spinodal decomposition, offer quite complex folded interfacial regimes. In particular we will present profiles of the glass transition temperature across phase boundaries as a function of film thickness, relative composition and degree of mixing.