X‐Ray and Neutron Grazing Incidence Scattering Study of a Ternary Ultra‐thin Polymer Blend Film

Abstract

Structure formation in a multicomponent ultrathin polymer blend film was investigated at and below the surface with grazing incidence X‐ray and neutron scattering and scanning force microscopy (SFM). Two films were examined. First a strongly incompatible binary polymer blend film in which a buried structure was clearly identified. This binary blend film then was compared with a ternary blend film into which 5 wt% of a compatibilizing copolymer had been added. The addition of the compatibilizer was found to decrease the size of the internal structures, while leaving the surface morphology unchanged.

Keywords:

• Polymers
• Ultrathin films
• Multicomponent systems
• Grazing incidence scattering

PACS: :

• 83.30.ES
• 61.10.KW
• 61.10.Eq
• 68.55.‐a

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the help of R. Cubit at the D22 beamline of the ILL, France, as well as the help of S. Cunis and G. v. Krosigk at the BW4 beamline of the Hasylab, and R. Gehrke for his general support at the Hasylab. Financial support within the framework of the GKSS project V6.1.01.G.01‐HS3 and the DFG Schwerpunktprogramm “Benetzung und Strukturbildung” (STA 314‐8) is also acknowledged.