Langmuir−Blodgett Deposition of Octadecyl Methacrylate Monolayers on Glass and Their E-Beam Polymerization

Abstract

π−A isotherms of octadecyl methacrylate (ODMA) were recorded in the range 10−42 °C to investigate the experimental parameters for LB deposition of ODMA monolayers onto hydrophilic glass substrates. In the range 10−20 °C two monolayer phase transitions were detected in the π−A isotherm. Monolayer stability and the onset of monolayer collapse were investigated using relaxation phenomena. Isotherm recording was supported by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), by which different tilt-oriented textures were detected. For monolayers of ODMA deposited onto glass at 10 °C and 16 mN/m, identical textures were found by BAM at the subphase and at the substrate. E-beam polymerization (10 MeV) of the deposited monolayer in a nitrogen atmosphere was indirectly proved by the change in the resistance of the layer with respect to evaporation in vacuum, where the Brewster angle reflectivity of the layers and their edges were used as an indication. It is suggested that the loss of tilt orientation detected by BAM in the deposited monolayer and at the layer edge results from polymerization.