Influence of preparation method on the surface topography and wetting properties of polystyrene films

In this study, the wetting properties of polystyrene films, prepared by solution casting and spin coating on glass substrates, are investigated. The topography of the films produced in different conditions is analysed by optical and atomic force microscopy. The wetting properties of the polystyrene films are assessed through contact angle measurements, using water and glycerol as test liquids. Among the processing parameters studied, it was found that the solvent, the substrate and the heat treatment of the films affect the topography and, consequently, the roughness and the wettability of polystyrene. The two techniques used, spin coating and solution casting, yield films of equivalent quality when all the other variables are kept constant, namely the solvent and the substrate. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.