Eur. Phys. J. E 8, 251-255 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2001-10070-2

Rapid Note

Are changes in morphology clear indicators for the glass transition in thin polymer films? Tentative ideas

G. Reiter

Institut de Chimie des Surfaces et Interfaces, CNRS, 15 rue Jean Starcky, B.P. 2488, 68057 Mulhouse Cedex, France

g.reiter@univ-mulhouse.fr

(Received 19 September 2001 and Received in final form 5 December 2001)

Abstract
I present some tentative ideas on the possibility of plastic deformation which might be relevant in ultra-thin polymer films at temperatures close but below the glass transition temperature. Several possible sources for sufficiently strong forces are discussed. The relevance of such forces in experiments aiming at determining thin-film properties like the glass transition temperature, thermal expansion or surface morphology is discussed.

PACS
68.55.-a - Thin film structure and morphology.
64.70.-p - Specific phase transitions.
68.37.Ps - Atomic force microscopy (AFM).
83.80.Sg - Polymer melts.


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002