Abstract

In Qiao’s previous report, only star polymers with Tg (glass transition temperature) below 48°C were found forming homogeneous honeycomb coatings on the nonplanar substrates. The polymers with high Tg are believed not able to duplicate nonplanar substrate due to their brittleness. This article presents a comprehensive study on the construction of macroporous polymeric films on various nonplanar substrates with static breath figure (BF) technique, using linear polymers with high Tg. Two kinds of linear polymers with high Tg, polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) and polystyrene without polar end groups, are employed to prepare 3-dimensional macroporous films on different nonplanar substrates. Scanning electronic microscopy views on the side wall in addition to views in-plane prove that polymer films with BF array perfectly replicated the surface features of these substrates. The formation processes of macropores on these substrates are analyzed in detail, and it demonstrates that neither molecular topography nor Tg of polymers is the critical factor contouring nonplanar substrate. A new hypothesis involving polymer plasticization and conformation during the solvent evaporation is formulated.

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