Title: Structure and wetting properties of metal polymer nanocomposites

Authors: Z.J. Han, B.K. Tay, P.C.T. Ha, M. Shakerzadeh, G.F. You

Addresses: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore. ' School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore. ' School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore. ' School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore. ' School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block S2, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore

Abstract: Polystyrene thin films of thickness 180-200 nm are modified by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII&D) technique together with titanium filtered cathodic vacuum arc. The surface structure of modified films turns into a metal polymer nanocomposite where Ti nanoclusters of spatial size 10-20 nm are embedded in polystyrene matrices. Such structural formation is discussed with the theory of ion-polymer interactions. Furthermore, the wetting properties of this nanocomposite, such as contact angle ageing effect and hysteresis are investigated and compared with Ti deposited polystyrene films.

Keywords: plasma immersion; ion implantation; metal polymer nanocomposites; wetting; structure; nanostructures; nanotechnology; polystyrene thin films; cathodic vacuum arc; titanium nanoclusters; contact angle ageing effect; hysteresis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2009.025303

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009 Vol.6 No.7/8, pp.653 - 660

Published online: 18 May 2009 *

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