Thin films characteristics

Nano and microstructured thin polymer films exhibit a wide range of applications based on the large variety of features that can be modified defining the domain of application. For instance, polymer thin films have been employed in optics, biotechnology, or the fabrication of electronic devices. However, a particular application would require well-defined thin-film characteristics, for example, surface morphology, film roughness, and uniformity. 

In this chapter, we show how blending of different macromolecular architectures open up new possibilities for the control of the orientation, the type of morphology as well as the pattern size, etc. The possibility for easily fine-tuning these thin film characteristics in comparison with typical top-down approaches has made blending an interesting alternative for the production of nanostractured interfaces with potential in a broad range of applications from lithography to optoelectronics. 

A bitumen sample is oxidized at high temperature under well defined conditions and its physical characteristics are measured before and after this artificiai ageing process. The method is defined in France as AFNOR T 66-032 and in the USA by ASTM D 2872 (Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test). 

Exerowa and co-workers [201] suggest that surfactant association initiates black film formation the growth of a black film is discussed theoretically by de Gennes [202]. A characteristic of thin films important for foam stability, their permeability to gas, has been studied in some depth by Platikanov and co-workers [203, 204]. A review of the stability and permeability of amphiphile films is available [205]. 

PPQs possess a stepladder stmcture that combines good thermal stabiUty, electrical insulation, and chemical resistance with good processing characteristics (81). These properties allow unique appHcations in the aerospace and electronics industries (82,83). PPQ can be made conductive by the use of an electrochemical oxidation method (84). The conductivities of these films vary from 10 to 10 S/cm depending on the dopant anions, thus finding appHcations in electronics industry. Similarly, some thermally stable PQs with low dielectric constants have been produced for microelectronic appHcations (85). Thin films of PQs have been used in nonlinear optical appHcations (86,87). 

Solution Deposition of Thin Films. Chemical methods of preparation may also be used for the fabrication of ceramic thin films (qv). MetaHo-organic precursors, notably metal alkoxides (see Alkoxides, metal) and metal carboxylates, are most frequently used for film preparation by sol-gel or metallo-organic decomposition (MOD) solution deposition processes (see Sol-GEL technology). These methods involve dissolution of the precursors in a mutual solvent control of solution characteristics such as viscosity and concentration, film deposition by spin-casting or dip-coating, and heat treatment to remove volatile organic species and induce crystaHhation of the as-deposited amorphous film into the desired stmcture. 

In another approach, which was previously mentioned, the mass thickness, or depth distribution of characteristic X-ray generation and the subsequent absorption are calculated using models developed from experimental data into a < )(p2) function. Secondary fluorescence is corrected using the same i flictors as in ZAP. The (pz) formulation is very flexible and allows for multiple boundary conditions to be included easily. It has been used successfully in the study of thin films on substrates and for multilayer thin films. 

When samples are heated, they emit infrared radiation with a characteristic spectrum. The IR emission of ceramics, coals, and other complicated solids and thin films can be studied. Also, if conditions make it difficult to use an infrared source... 

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