Wavy Polymer Thin Film Fabrication Using Sintered Monolayered Colloids

Abstract

Thin films of polystyrene were prepared onto flexible prestrained substrates using a convective colloidal assembly in monolayer fashion followed by thermal annealing at 150, and 160 degrees C. The prestrained substrate was under a tensile stress which was subsequently released resulting in wavy polymer thin films. By controlling the prestrain, the released stress was varied and the geometry of the resulting wavy patterns was tuned. Wavelength and amplitude values showed strong correlation with theoretical expectations. In addition to the uniaxial mechanical strain, thermal strain was also present in the experimental conditions; however, the resulting wavy patterns show no evidence of being affected by the isotropic thermal strain in our experimental model.