STUDY OF THE SURFACE-PROPERTIES OF ULTRATHIN FILMS OF POLY(DIMETHYLSILOXANE)-POLYAMIDE MULTIBLOCK COPOLYMERS

Ultrathin films of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polyamide copolymers (PAS) w ith different silicone contents were prepared by the methods of water casting and spin coating. The surface properties of the films were inv estigated in detail using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoel ectron spectroscopy (XPS). The water-cast films were thin enough to be applicable as laminate films for an artificial lung or an air-separat or for oxygen-enrichted air. Uniform and ultrathin films were obtained by the spin coating method. XPS and contact angle measurements sugges ted that poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments were condensed at the outermo st surface of spin-coated PAS films. XPS measurements also revealed th at the surface properties of PAS were affected by the molding method, especially the solvent evaporation conditions.