THE CONTACT-ANGLE OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) CAST AGAINST GLASS

Films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) of both medium and high molecular weight have been prepared by casting onto clean glass. The difference in water contact angle of the surfaces originally in contact with glass and air and the variation over time of this parameter have been studied. By use of the surface analytical techniques X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and, particularly, static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS), it has been shown that migration of low molecular weight impurities from the bulk of the film to the film/air interface is responsible for the contact angle behavior. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.