Structure Formation in Thin Poly(ε-caprolactone) Films

Abstract

The film formation behavior of a semicrystalline polymer, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), during spin-coating from solution in cyclohexanone and after thermal annealing, has been studied by light microscopy, light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. During the spin-coating process, film formation is ruled by competition of dewetting and crystallization. Depending on the concentration of the solutions, PCL films completely cover the glass substrate, open spherulites are formed, or for very dilute solutions, PCL forms dispersed droplets on the glass substrate. Films, covering the substrate, show during heating above the melting point of PCL dewetting phenomena that are influenced by both film thickness and initial crystalline morphologies.