Physical Aging in Confined Geometries: The Role of Stiff Backbone and Bulky Side Groups

POSTER

Abstract

Although confinement effects on the glass transition have been well documented, little work has been done to probe the effects of confinement on low temperature structural relaxations. A decade ago the membrane community started reporting accelerated physical aging in free-standing films approximately 500 nm thick, relative to bulk films, in high free volume, stiff backbone polymers such as polysulfone (PSF) and poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO). Recently our group has reported suppressed physical aging in supported ultrathin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a low free volume polymer. Here we compare the impact of confinement on physical aging in high free volume polymers with bulky side groups such as poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA).

Authors

  • Connie B. Roth

    Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3120

  • Rodney D. Priestley

    Department of Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evasnton, IL USA, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3120

  • Manish K. Mundra

    Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3120

  • John M. Torkelson

    Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3120, Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, Northwestern University