Patterned Deposition of PS Gel is Controlled by Chitosan or Acetic Acid Additives

Abstract

Phase-separation of polymers in thin films produces a wide variety of patterns. Here we show that a polystyrene/poly(methylmethacrylate solution can form stable phase separated structures when an additive such as chitosan or acetic acid is used. The phase separated films were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Possible applications of these films are as etching masks for solar cells or for security systems.

Pollen-Mimetic Multiphase Polymer Microparticles

“…The polymercontaining ethyl acetate droplets reach the water surface of the emulsion and evaporate within a few seconds. In the case of two or more polymers that have ethyl acetate as a common solvent, phase separation may occur, because the evaporation time is sufficiently long to induce phase separation, but not long enough to reach the thermodynamic equilibirum state of the phase sperated structure, which is in contrast to the mechanism suggested for the SORP method [19]. Previously we have reported FIG.…”

“…Hence, we designed experiments in which two or even three polymers were dissolved in ethyl acetate or other solvents, and the organic solution was dispersed in an aqueous solution of a surface active agent. The emulsion was cast on a substrate and the organic droplets evaporated upon rising to the water surface, leaving behind a suspension of polymer microparticles that become fixed on the substrate surface after water evaporation [19].…”