Control of dewetting dynamics by adding nanoparticle fillers

Producing a stable polymer film is a challenge, because dewetting tends to rupture the film. To overcome this drawback, it is essential to control the factors responsible for stabilizing polymer films during processing. Here, we report on a unique strategy to control the rate of dewetting by dispersion of small amount of carbon black and colloidal Si nanoparticle fillers in the polymer thin film. Optical microscopy, AFM and TEM have been used to study the surface and interfacial structure in the vicinity of growing holes. The rate of dewetting is drastically different when filler particles are added to the polymer and strongly depends on nanoparticle concentration in the film. Even though the particle sizes are similar, their effects on the dynamics are very different. We explain our findings in the form of interaction between the polymer chains and particle surface.