Evolution of Micropores in Polymer-Polymer Composite Thin Films
Summary of Project
Here, using basic MATLAB programming knowledge, we could successfully demonstrate the simulation of micro-porous structure in the LBL film through the finite element methods. The principles include the surface migration and diffusion, which are introduced in ˇ§ME599 Nano/microstructue evolutionˇ¨ class in the University of Michigan. The formation of micropores in a LBL thin film include three distinct steps; the generation of serpentine nanopores by dissolving one polymeric component, the growth of the nanopores to the micropores with continuously dissolving a component, and the shape stabilizing of micropores without further removal of the materials. The final shapes of the resulting micropores are mostly round or at least ellipse with smooth interfacial surface. This simulation result is very well conformable to the shape of real micro-pores which are shown in the images of previous publications.
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