Abstract
ABSTRACT For understanding the interactions between adhesives and different surfaces, the in-situ characterization of the interface is essential. Especially for highly reactive cyanoacrylates, better known as super glues, the adhesion mechanism is poorly understood because, among other things, the characterization of the interface is difficult. The aim of this work is to evaluate methods to produce nm-thin, homogeneous films of cyanoacrylate to enable spectroscopic analysis of the interface in the future. Two deposition techniques, thermal evaporation and spin coating, of ethyl-cyanoacrylate, are compared. Thickness and composition of the cured films are investigated by atomic force microscopy, laser scanning microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thermal evaporation in ultra-high vacuum leads to cluster-like depositions and is therefore not suitable for interface analysis. Spin coating is strongly dependent on solvent and concentration. While the solvent tetrahydrofuran leads to porous and inhomogeneous films, spin coating with anisole as solvent provides homogeneous films of cyanoacrylate with a thickness of only 4 nm. This allows surface-sensitive analytical methods to access the interface and possible interactions can be characterized in-situ.
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