The Adsorbed Film Structure of End-Functionalized Poly (perfluoro-n-propylene oxide)

Abstract

The D-4OH adsorbed film structure is investigated as a function of film thickness and of molecular weight via surface energy measurements, terraced flow profiles, and ellipsometric imaging for film dewetting. The D-4OH monolayer thickness on a carbon surface exhibited a power law dependence on molecular weight, where the exponent was determined to be 0.70. With decreasing film thickness, the in-plane component of the radius of gyration, normalized to the bulk radius of gyration, increased to ~ 1.5, consistent with an ellipsoidal conformation on the carbon surface. Confinement effects increased with increasing molecular weight.

Keywords

• perfluoropolyether
• disk lubricant
• adsorbed film structure