Fluorinated Diblock Copolymers Research Articles

The crosslinking and decrosslinking of fluorinated diblock copolymer from RAFT emulsion polymerization toward surface anti‐icing

AbstractHere, we demonstrate disulfide‐crosslinked polyfluoroacrylate AB block copolymer films with excellent anti‐icing properties. The fluorinated latexes of AB block copolymers were synthesized via two‐step reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization using polyacrylic acid and its sodium salts as the hydrophilic A‐block, and polyhexafluorobutyl acrylate as the hydrophobic B‐block. Diacetone acrylamide was copolymerized in different blocks as a crosslinking anchor. A disulfide‐containing compound dithiodipropionic acid dihydrazide was chosen as the crosslinking agent to form disulfide‐crosslinked fluorinated films to enhance the mechanical properties, surface properties, swelling properties, and anti‐icing properties of the films. It has proved that the crosslinking site has a great impact on the film formation process which in turn affects the film performance. The B‐block crosslinked films showed better resistance to water while the A‐block crosslinked films were more organic solution resistant. The A‐block crosslinked films also possessed better anti‐icing properties due to the high F/O value. Furthermore, decrosslinking experiments were conducted using a reductant tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride to break the disulfide bond. The recycling rate of the B‐block crosslinked films could reach >90% while the recycling rate of the A‐block crosslinked films reached >75%.

Click preparation and mechanism on amphiphilic oleophobic/hydrophilic behavior of fluorinated diblock copolymers

AbstractIn this article, amphiphilic fluorinated diblock copolymers of poly(perfluorohexylethyl acrylate)‐block‐allylpolyethyleneglycol (PF6A‐b‐APEG1200) are synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization and sequential thiol‐ene click reaction. The molecular structure is characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Morphology and particle size of resultant copolymer micelles in aqueous solution are analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The wettability and relative element contents of PF6A‐b‐APEG1200 coatings are investigated with contact angle (CA) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). When PF6A‐b‐APEG1200 coating is stimulated by water, the fluorine content at the top fluoropolymer‐air interface decreases and the water contact angle of the surface decreases over time, showing the hydrophilicity. While stimulated by n‐hexadecane, the fluorine content of the film surface increases, showing the oleophobicity with a stable apparent oil contact angle of 72 ± 1°. According to the detailed analysis of XPS results, the stimuli‐responsive behavior of the amphiphilic polymers can be ascribed to the migration and rearrangement of the two blocks in PF6A‐b‐APEG1200, which might probably be one of the universally accepted oleophobic/hydrophilic mechanisms.

In situ synthesis of fluorinated diblock copolymer nanoparticles via RAFT dispersion polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide

Synthesis of the fluorinated diblock copolymer nanoparticles of poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PDFMA-b-PMMA) by RAFT dispersion polymerization is performed in supercritical carbon dioxide. Fluorinated macro-RAFT agents were first prepared via RAFT solution polymerization and characterized by NMR and GPC. The RAFT-terminated poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate) (PDFMA) homopolymers actually act as in situ stabilizer for the subsequent synthesis of the PDFMA-b-PMMA block copolymer nanoparticles by RAFT dispersion polymerization while exhibiting good control on the well defined spherical particles formation. SEM images show that the average size of these synthesized diblock copolymer nanoparticles was 425 nm with a narrow size distribution (1.13), which are close to the literature data for conventional MMA dispersion polymerization with a fluorinated CO2-philic stabilizer in ScCO2.

Di-block copolymer stabilized methyl methacrylate based polyHIPEs: Influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic co-monomers on morphology, wettability and thermal properties

Due to intermediate hydrophobicity of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in water, it is difficult to prepare its stable water in oil high internal phase emulsion (HIPE). Moreover, the addition of fully hydrophilic co-monomer such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in MMA monomer makes it further troublesome to stabilize these emulsions. This paper addresses the preparation of such type of difficult to prepare emulsions via addition of an amphiphilic fluorinated di-block copolymer (FDB), poly(2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate-b-poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA-b-PTFEMA) as stabilizer. Interestingly, HEMA and/or HFBA (hexa fluorobutyl acrylate) as co-monomers were successfully added to impart some special properties such as thermodynamic stability, desired amphiphilicity to the final polyHIPEs. Fluorinated blocks in FDB anchored well at oil/water interface of HIPE, offering enough hydrophobicity to the comparatively hydrophilic monomers and in turn providing resistance against coalescence. MMA polyHIPEs were found to be fully hydrophobic just by replacing HEMA co-monomer with HFBA. Due to superb inherent hydrophobic nature of fluorine atoms, MMA-HFBA polyHIPEs showed remarkable water contact angle of 139°. Furthermore, the addition of fluorinated co-monomer in MMA based HIPEs significantly improved thermal stabilities of these materials with improvement in degradation temperature from 305 °C to 360 °C.

Methyl Methacrylate HIPE Solely Stabilized by Fluorinated Di-block Copolymer for Fabrication of Highly Porous and Interconnected Polymer Monoliths.

Preparation of stable water-in-oil (W/O) high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) containing methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer as oil phase is a difficult task due to the significant solubility of MMA in water. Here, for the first time a fluorinated di-block copolymer (FDBC) poly (2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate-b-poly (trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA-b-PTFEMA) is proposed to stabilize HIPEs of MMA without the use of any co-stabilizer or thickening agent. Fluorinated segments in FDBC anchored well at oil/water interface of HIPE, offering high hydrophobicity to the partially hydrophilic MMA monomer and in turn stabilization to MMA-HIPE. By using fluorinated di-block copolymer as stabilizer, highly stable HIPEs can be obtained. In addition, highly interconnected porous monoliths were obtained after free radical polymerization, which are highly desirable materials in various practical applications including tissue engineering scaffolds, separation science, bio-engineering and so on. The as-prepared MMA-HIPEs possess high thermal stability without phase separation. The textural characteristics of as-prepared composites, such as pore size and distribution, can be easily controlled by simply varying the amount of FDBC and/or dispersed phase fraction. Moreover, the influence of di-block concentration on water uptake (WU) capability of the prepared porous monoliths is explored.

Syntheses and morphologies of fluorinated diblock copolymer prepared via RAFT polymerization

Abstract Block copolymers (BCPs) consisting of fluorinated and non-fluorinated blocks can show interesting morphology, because of the presence of two dissimilar blocks. In this investigation BCPs of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate) (HFBA), (PMMA-b-PHFBA) were synthesized via reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization using 2-cyano-2-propyl dithiobenzoate (CPBT) as chain transfer agent (CTA). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H NMR analyses confirmed the synthesis of well-defined BCP. TEM and XRD analyses showed lamellar stacking in the BCP. Surface morphology and topography of the BCP were analyzed by SEM and AFM analyses. The morphology of the BCP in THF and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) solvent mixture was studied by TEM analysis. Morphology of the BCP varied from lamellar to spherical micelles with the variation of THF-MEK ratio in the solution, as evidenced by TEM and DLS analyses.

Synthesis and surface properties of a new fluorinated acrylic diblock copolymer via AGET ATRP

A series of fluorinated diblock copolymers poly(2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) PHFMA-b-PGMA with different fluorine content were synthesized by activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP). FTIR, 1H NMR and GPC data verified feasibility and controllability of the synthesis. In order to evaluate the effect of chain structure on the surface properties, corresponding homopolymer poly(2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) and random copolymer copoly(2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate-r-glycidyl methacrylate) were also comparatively studied. Contact angle measurements indicated that the water and ethyleneglycol contact angles of block- and random copolymers increased with increase of fluorine content, but in different manner. This difference comes from different surface energy at the same fluorine content on film surface. The surface stability of block-copolymer was obviously better than that of random copolymer; the same results were observed in heat resistance tests.

Hydrophobic films of acrylic emulsion by incorporation of fluorine-based copolymer prepared through the RAFT emulsion copolymerization

Abstract In this work, the hydrophobicity of traditional acrylic emulsion films was remarkably improved by introducing some fluorinated diblock copolymer emulsions. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) was utilized to synthesize poly(methacrylic acid)-b-poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate-co-2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl acrylate) (PMAA-b-P(TFEMA-co-HFBA)) amphiphilic block copolymer emulsion by using the PMAA homopolymer with dithiobenzoate end-groups as macro-RAFT agent. The hydrophobic block of P(TFEMA-co-HFBA) was designed with the various P(TFEMA-co-HFBA) block lengths and p0 ([TFEMA]0/[HFBA]0). And the final conversion of mixed fluorinated monomers (TFEMA, HFBA) could reach about 70% when the value of p0 was greater than 1/2. With the formation of solvophobic P(TFEMA-co-HFBA) block by propagating the fluorinated monomers on the PMAA chain, the PMAA-b-P(TFEMA-co-HFBA) block copolymer in situ self-assembled into core/shell particle with P(TFEMA-co-HFBA) and PMAA blocks as core and shell matrix, respectively. The number-average-particle-diameter of core/shell particles located in the range from 56 to 93 nm was discovered by the way of self-assembly nucleation. The particle size distribution (PSD) of all samples is close to the traditional acrylic emulsion system. The fluorinated block with low surface energy has good hydrophobicity, hence, the traditional acrylic emulsion film modified by the fluorinated diblock copolymer emulsions exhibited excellent hydrophobicity. The effects of various parameters such as the treatment temperature, the processing time, the fluorinated diblock copolymer emulsions ratios and the composition of fluorinated diblock copolymer emulsions on the hydrophobicity of fluorinated composite film were also investigated in this work. The water contact angles of the final fluorinated composite films with water are more than 100° and the fluorinated composite films have good hydrophobicity with low amounts fluoropolymer emulsions (5–20%).

POSS-based Diblock Fluoropolymer for Self-assembled Hydrophobic Coatings

Linear/star-shaped polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based fluorinated diblock copolymers are synthesized by octakis(dibromoethyl)-POSS (POSS-(Br)16) and aminopropylisobutyl-POSS (ap-POSS) initiating methylmethacrylate (MMA) and dodecafluoroheptylmethacrylate (DFHM), respectively. The effect of solvents on their self-assembled micelles, surface wetability and viscoelasticity of casted films, and the hydrophobic application are characterized. In THF, CHCl3 and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) solutions, the self-assembled micelles of star-shaped s-POSS-(PMMA-b-PDFHM)16 are larger than linear-shaped ap-POSS-PMMA-b-PDFHM. CHCl3-casted surface gains the highest roughness, fluoride content, water contact angles, but the lowest water adsorption and viscoelasticity. CHCl3-micelles exhibit superhydrophobicity to stone and cotton fiber substrates. Therefore, POSS-based fluoropolymer is hoped to act as hydrophobic coatings.

Coating of silica particles by fluorinated diblock copolymers and use of the resultant silica for superamphiphobic surfaces

Factors affecting the grafting of fluorinated diblock copolymers onto silica particles and the repellency of films prepared from the coated silica particles were investigated. The three copolymers used for silica coating were of the poly[3-(triisopropyloxysilyl)propyl methacrylate]-block-poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate] (PIPSMA-b-PFOEMA) family possessing different relative block lengths. They were grafted onto silica under acidic conditions via the sol–gel chemistry of the PIPSMA block in binary solvent mixtures that solubilized the PFOEMA block but not necessarily the PIPSMA block. Depending on the solvent property, the silica type, the polymer composition, and the acid catalyst used, the coated silica could be non-dispersible or dispersible. The morphology of the coating on silica could be lumpy, smooth, or bumpy. Further, the amount of polymer grafted was also affected by these parameters. The various experimental results and observations were rationalized. In addition, the coated silica was cast to yield either smooth or rugged particulate films. The water and oil repellency or amphiphobicity of the films improved as the particle coating was changed from being smooth to bumpy, as the relative PFOEMA-to-PIPSMA block length of the coating polymer was increased, or as the roughness of the particulate film increased.

POSS-tethered fluorinated diblock copolymers with linear- and star-shaped topologies: synthesis, self-assembled films and hydrophobic applications

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) tethered fluorinated diblock copolymers are synthesized using octakis(dibromoethyl)POSS and aminopropylisobutyl POSS initiation of methylmethacrylate and dodecafluoroheptylmethacrylate.

Preparation, surface wetting properties, and protein adsorption resistance of well‐defined amphiphilic fluorinated diblock copolymers

ABSTRACTNovel well‐defined amphiphilic fluorinated diblock copolymers P(PEGMA‐co‐MMA)‐b‐PC6SMA were synthesized successfully by RAFT polymerization and characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR and GPC. For copolymer coatings, static contact angles, θ, with water (θwater ≥ 109.5°) and n‐hexadecane (θhexadecane ≥ 68.9°) pointed to the simultaneous hydrophobic and lipophobic characteristics of the copolymer surfaces. Dynamic contact angle measurements indirectly demonstrated that copolymer films underwent surface reconstruction upon contact with water, which results in a surface with surface coverage of polar PEG units. Moreover, the distinct nanoscale microphase segregation structures were proved by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images. Finally, using bovine serum albumin (BSA–FITC) as the model protein, copolymers exhibited excellent protein adsorption resistance. It is believed that the combination of surface reorganization and nanometer‐scale microphase segregation structure endows the excellent protein resistance for amphiphilic fluorinated copolymers. These results provide deeper insight of the effect of surface reconstruction and microphase segregation on the protein adsorption behaviors, and these amphiphilic fluoropolymers can expect to have potential applications as antifouling coatings in the field of marine and biomedical. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41167.

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated diblock copolymer of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate based on RAFT polymerzation

A fluorinated diblock copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) was prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in the presence of cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB) as the chain transfer agent (CTA). 1H NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography and different scanning calorimetry were used to characterize the block copolymers obtained. Contact angle measurement indicated that the diblock copolymer has considerable hydrophobicity (θwater=104.3°) and lipophobicity (θoil=80.0°). The results are almost the same as those for PTFEMA and superior to those for a random copolymer of MMA and TFEMA. It was also found that P(MMA-b-TFEMA) has high thermostability. The self-assembly behaviour of the copolymer in selective solvents was evaluated by SEM, and stable micelles with a diameter of 400–600nm were observed when the copolymer content was approximately 0.2wt.%. Comparison studies with P(MMA-b-TFEMA), PTFEMA and PMMA revealed that the copolymer with a controllable distribution of fluorine atoms possesses a good performance.

Preparation of water-repellent cotton fabrics from fluorinated diblock copolymers and evaluation of their durability

Two fluorinated diblock copolymers were prepared, characterized, and used to coat cotton fabrics. These copolymers included poly[2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl acrylate]-block-poly[(triisopropyloxysilyl)propyl methacrylate] (PFHEA-b-PIPSMA) and poly[2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl acrylate]-block-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PFHEA-b-PGMA). The PFHEA block provided the coatings with a low surface tension to help impart water-repellency, while the PIPSMA or PGMA blocks (bearing alkoxysilane or epoxide groups, respectively) allowed the anchoring of the copolymers onto the cotton fibers. A simple coating procedure was used to yield water-repellent cotton fabrics. Water contact angles were measured to evaluate the durability of the treated cotton fabrics after they had been subjected to extraction, washing and laundry tests. These results revealed that cotton fabrics coated with PFHEA-b-PIPSMA were rendered hydrophobic, but their stability was relatively poor. Meanwhile, cotton fabrics coated with PFHEA-b-PGMA exhibited water contact angles higher than 150° and retained their water-repellency even under harsh test conditions.

Enhancing the hydrophobic properties of various commercial polymers through mixtures and coatings with a fluorinated diblock copolymer in low concentrations

In this work the ability of a fluoro-modified copolymer (SBF) derived from a chemically modified PS-b-PB1,2 [PS: polystyrene and PB1,2: poly(butadiene) with exclusively 100% 1,2-microstructure] is evaluated, since the fluoro-modified copolymer (SBF) showed enhanced hydrophobicity when compared with the neat diblock. The stiff fluoro-ligand of the side group leads to different chemical and physical properties, which characterized by various techniques. From contact angle measurements the SBF modified copolymer exhibited high contact angle (113.6°) and low surface energy (6.54mN/m), which were increased further through thermal treatment, due to the orientation of the ligands. Additionally SBF used in mixtures and coatings in low concentration (maximum up to 2wt% for the PB segment in respect to the total mass) with commercial polymers in order, again, to evaluate the hydrophobic properties. For this purpose various copolymers such as the initial diblock precursor (SB1,2), commercially available triblock copolymer of the SBS type and a hydrophilic commercial homopolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were chosen. It was found that both contact angle and surface energy were improved significantly in all cases despite the very low amount of the SBF component in the final system for all mixtures and/or coatings.

Superhydrophobic Films Fabricated by Electrospraying Poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate) Diblock Copolymers

We present the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces by electrospraying structure controlled poly(methyl methacrylate-bromine) (PMMA-Br) homopolymer and degree of fluorination controlled poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PDFMA) copolymers synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The flow rate has great effects on the surface hydrophobicity of PMMA50.6, and superhydrophobic surface was obtained at a higher flow rate of 5 μL/min. For fluorinated diblock copolymers, superhydrophobic surfaces can be obtained by electrospraying PMMA50.6-b-PDFMA0.8 and PMMA147.9-b-PDFMA17.5 at the selected flow rates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) detections reveal that, during the film formation, more hydrophobic surfaces would be fabricated due to the surface segregations of C–C and C–H groups with THF as solvent instead of C–O–C═O group with DMF as solvent. This investigation may be of great value in fabricating superhydrophobic polymer materials.

Fabrication of polymeric honeycomb microporous films: breath figures strategy and stabilization of water droplets by fluorinated diblock copolymer micelles

Polymeric honeycomb microporous films were prepared from fluorinated diblock copolymers, poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(2-[(perfluorononenyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate) (PtBA-b-PFNEMAs), and four other commercial polymers, including polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polylactic acid (PLA), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) via breath figures method. The as-formed fluorinated diblock copolymer micelles in chloroform were not only utilized to stabilize the templated water droplets in bulk, but also introduced as the water droplets stabilizer in other polymeric materials. Our strategy was successfully achieved, as the micropores were decorated with the fluorinated diblock copolymer as directly shown in the SEM images and FT-IR/ATR-FTIR. Polymer concentration and the solution casting volume effects were checked to tune the sizes of the micropores in diblock copolymer films. The ratio of the added fluorinated diblock copolymer as a novel factor to tune the sizes of the micropores was also investigated.

Exceptionally Stable Fluorous Emulsions for the Intravenous Delivery of Volatile General Anesthetics

IV delivery of volatile fluorinated anesthetics has a number of potential advantages when compared with the current inhalation method of administration. We reported previously that the IV delivery of sevoflurane can be achieved through an emulsion composed of a linear fluorinated diblock copolymer, a stabilizer, and the anesthetic. However, this original emulsion was subject to particle size growth that would limit its potential clinical utility. We hypothesized that the use of bulkier fluorous groups and smaller polyethylene glycol moieties in the polymer design would result in improved emulsion stability while maintaining anesthetic functionality. The authors prepared emulsions incorporating sevoflurane, perfluorooctyl bromide as a stabilizing agent, and combinations of linear fluorinated diblock copolymer and a novel dibranched fluorinated diblock copolymer. Emulsion stability was assessed using dynamic light scattering. The ability of the emulsions to induce anesthesia was tested in vivo by administering them intravenously to 15 male Sprague-Dawley rats and measuring loss of the forepaw righting reflex. 20% (volume/volume) sevoflurane emulsions incorporating mixtures of dibranched and linear diblock copolymers had improved stability, with those containing an excess of the dibranched polymers displaying stability of particle size for more than 1 yr. The ED50s for loss of forepaw-righting reflex were all similar, and ranged between 0.55- 0.60 ml/kg body weight. Hemifluorinated dibranched polymers can be used to generate exceptionally stable sevoflurane nanoemulsions, as required of formulations intended for clinical use. IV delivery of the emulsion in rats resulted in induction of anesthesia with rapid onset and smooth and rapid recovery.

Fluorinated AB diblock copolymers and their aggregates in organic solvents

AbstractThis investigation reported the preparation of fluorinated and nonamphiphilic well‐defined poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PHFBMA) diblock copolymers via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Their chemical composition, structure, and bulk morphology were thoroughly investigated. In addition, their self‐assembly behavior in a dilute organic mixture solution was investigated. It was found that that the ATRP could be used to prepare the well‐defined fluorinated and nonamphiphilic PS‐b‐PHFBMA diblock copolymers in a controlled manner. The results also showed that abundant morphologies including sphere, worm‐like structure, and vesicle could be formed with different volume ratios of these two solvents, which proves that the nonamphiphilic fluorinated diblock copolymers can self‐assemble in a dilute solution, and the aforementioned reason for self‐assembly was also discussed preliminarily in this work. Finally, the effect of temperature on the aggregates was investigated to verify whether the self‐assembly behavior was to some extent temperature sensitive. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011

Synthesis and dissipative particle dynamics simulation of cross-linkable fluorinated diblock copolymers: self-assembly aggregation behavior in different solvents

Developing microstructures, such as low molecular aggregates, spherical micelles and multi-compartment micelles, is an expanding area of research in Materials Science. By applying an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) process to cross-linkable fluorinated diblock copolymers and analyzing the data we are able to demonstrate the potential for developing films with different micro-structures for additional biological research. Applying the Dissipative Particle Dynamic (DPD) Method, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques to cross-linkable fluorinated diblock copolymers of (methyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate)-b-2-(perfluoroalkyl)ethyl methacrylate (MMA-co-HEMA-co-BMA-b-FMA) we were able to analyze the structures and their relationships to the aggregation of various microstructure formations through the use of various solvents in the process. For the self-assembly of the cross-linkable diblock copolymer in solutions, the DPD simulation results are only in qualitative agreement with experimental data of aggregate morphologies and sizes. This suggests an improved approach to creating materials and methods necessary for studying microstructures in films used in other research areas. Our work examines whether using selective solvents can be easily extended to prepare aggregates with different morphologies, which is an effective shortcut to obtain films with different microstructures. DPD simulation can be considered as an adjunct to experiments and provides other valuable information for the experiment.