Scaling law analysis of paraffin thin films on different surfaces

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3280009· OSTI ID:21476092

Dotto, M E. R.; Camargo, Jr, S S ^[1]

---

1. Engenharia Metalurgica e de Materials, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cx. Postal 68505, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21945-970 (Brazil)

The dynamics of paraffin deposit formation on different surfaces was analyzed based on scaling laws. Carbon-based films were deposited onto silicon (Si) and stainless steel substrates from methane (CH{sub 4}) gas using radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The different substrates were characterized with respect to their surface energy by contact angle measurements, surface roughness, and morphology. Paraffin thin films were obtained by the casting technique and were subsequently characterized by an atomic force microscope in noncontact mode. The results indicate that the morphology of paraffin deposits is strongly influenced by substrates used. Scaling laws analysis for coated substrates present two distinct dynamics: a local roughness exponent ({alpha}{sub local}) associated to short-range surface correlations and a global roughness exponent ({alpha}{sub global}) associated to long-range surface correlations. The local dynamics is described by the Wolf-Villain model, and a global dynamics is described by the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang model. A local correlation length (L{sub local}) defines the transition between the local and global dynamics with L{sub local} approximately 700 nm in accordance with the spacing of planes measured from atomic force micrographs. For uncoated substrates, the growth dynamics is related to Edwards-Wilkinson model.

• OSTI ID: 21476092
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 107, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3280009; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CARBON
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
CORRELATIONS
METHANE
MORPHOLOGY
PARAFFIN
PLASMA
ROUGHNESS
SCALING LAWS
SILICON
STAINLESS STEELS
SUBSTRATES
SURFACE ENERGY
SURFACES
THIN FILMS
ALKANES
ALLOYS
CARBON ADDITIONS
CHEMICAL COATING
DEPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
FILMS
FREE ENERGY
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
HYDROCARBONS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MICROSCOPY
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEMIMETALS
STEELS
SURFACE COATING
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT ALLOYS
WAXES