Stick-slip phenomenon in measurements of dynamic contact angles and surface viscoelasticity of poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers

Langmuir. 2012 Mar 6;28(9):4283-92. doi: 10.1021/la300119n. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Abstract

In this paper, a series of poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers (SIS), with different chemical components, was synthesized by anionic polymerization. The relationships between surface structures of these block copolymers and their stick-slip phenomena were investigated. There is a transition from stick-slip to a closely smooth motion for the SIS films with increasing PS content; the patterns almost vanish and the three-phase line appears to move overall smoothly on the film surface. The results show that the observed stick-slip pattern is strongly dependent on surface viscoelasticity. The jumping angle Δθ, which is defined as θ(1) - θ(2) (when a higher limit to θ(1) is obtained, the triple line "jumps" from θ(1) to θ(2) with increases in drop volume), was employed to scale the stick-slip behavior on various SIS film surfaces. Scanning force microscopy/atomic force microscopy (AFM) and sum frequency generation methods were used to investigate the surface structures of the films and the contributions of various possible factors to the observed stick-slip behavior. It was found that there is a linear relationship between jumping angle Δθ and the slope of the approach curve obtained from AFM force measurement. This means that the stick-slip behavior may be attributed mainly to surface viscoelasticity for SIS block copolymers. The measurement of jumping angle Δθ may be a valuable method for studying surface structure relaxation of polymer films.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Butadienes / chemistry*
  • Elasticity
  • Hemiterpenes / chemistry*
  • Pentanes / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Styrene / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Butadienes
  • Hemiterpenes
  • Pentanes
  • Polymers
  • isoprene
  • Styrene