skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Relaxation times of nanoscale deformations on the surface of a polymer thin film near and below the glass transition

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Faculty of Physics, Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Caixa Postal 1429, 90619-900 Porto Alegre (Brazil)

We report on measurements of relaxation times of nanometer-sized deformations resulting from the impact of individual energetic ions on poly(methyl methacrylate) surfaces at temperatures close to and below the glass transition T{sub g}. The temporal evolution of the dimensions of the deformations is well described by a stretched exponential function, but with relaxation times {tau}(T) many orders of magnitude smaller than bulk values at the same T. The local T{sub g} was around 86 deg. C, roughly 30 deg. C below the conventional bulk T{sub g}. At the vicinity of the local T{sub g}, {tau}(T) follows the Vogel-Fulcher type of T dependence, but at lower T a transition towards a less steep behavior is seen.

OSTI ID:
20853634
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 74, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.74.094203; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English