Preliminary investigation of factors determining self-organised structures preparation in polymer layers

摘要

Factors determining creation of self-organized structures, B6nar-Marangoni cells, during the process of solvent evaporation from the polymer solution and formation of polymer film were studied. Examined parameters were temperature, temperature gradient, rate of drying, height of a liquid layer, area for film preparation, viscosity, molecular weight distribution, etc. A special apparatus, micro condensation drying system, was engineered for this study. As a model system, hydroxyethyl cellulose aqueous solution was used for its excellent film-forming ability and the tendency to self-aggregation. Experimental results, presented in a wide spectrum of self-organized patterns, show the complexity of the problem and the crucial role of molecular weight distribution of the polymer in the fixation of organized structures under highly non-equilibrium conditions.