Correlation Functions and Optical Effects in Surface Layers of Polymer Films

Abstract

The calculated dependences of the quadrupole orientation order parameter on the Kuhn statistical segment length properly describe the experimental data, obtained by the film birefringence method for different multilayer polymer films. Transverse orientation correlations of chains segments decrease according to a power law, as in the case of infinite two-dimensional systems. The fluctuations of three-dimensional long-range orientation order in the plane of the layers are observed. These fluctuations are enhanced when the anisotropy of intra- and interchain interactions increase in the film.

Keywords:

• Polymer film
• surface layer
• surface birefringence
• orientational order
• correlation function

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Federal Target Program “Scientific and Scientifically-Pedagogical Manpower of Innovational Russia on 2009–2013” (grant No. 263-P (6)).