NEWSPolyFilm2008 Conference: An
international conference covering thin polymer films including
polymer crystallisation, polymer brushes, glass transition, soft nanotechnology.
September 8-12, 2008, Sheffield.
Polymers are large molecules of
massive scientific and technological importance. In film form
they have uses in many industries as coatings, insulating layers,
lubrication, and adhesion for example. These films can very often
be as thin as, or thinner than, the size of polymer chains which
means that they can no longer be expected to exhibit three
dimensional ("bulk") behaviour.
PolyFilm is a European
Community-funded Framework 6 Research Training Network with the
aim of studying many properties of confined polymer films.
Confinement affects many thin
film properties including: molecular conformation; diffusion
processes, including the internal motion (dynamics) of polymer
chains; film structure and morphology; the glass transition of
polymer films. It is also possible to change the structure of
thin polymer films using a variety of external stimuli (pH,
temperature, electric fields, vapour environment, and so on) and
these can be used to provide reversible ("switchable") behaviour.
Wherever possible we shall compare our confined polymers with
"bulk" behaviour.
To
achieve this, we are employing three postdoctoral ("experienced")
researchers and twelve graduate researchers ("early stage", most,
if not all, of whom will be undertaking PhD work) in five European
countries covering 12 different research groups. For more details
of the Framework 6 Marie Curie Actions,
see www.cordis.lu/fp6/mobility.htm.
Above right: A polymer film peeling from its
substrate ('dewetting').
