I want to remove PDMS bonded with glass having Platinum electrodes. I tried many solvents like IPA, DCM, Choroform, Toulene but none completely removes PDMS from glass. Now i want to try KOH/NaOH to etch PDMS, but I also want to protect Platinum electrodes on glass slide.
Fused caustic alkalies attack Pt; being KOH more aggressive than NaOH.
You may find useful to check: https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_clean_up_the_platinum_crucible_used_in_thermal_analysis
Amina asked about cleaning electrodes, not crucibles. Electrodes can be cleaned with both KOH and NaOH solutions which remove PDMS from glass but will not damage platinum.
Only KOH and NaOH melts affect the metal. The solutions do not. Cleaning the electrodes with melts was never suggested here.
It could take more than a month to entirely dissolve PDMS with dipropylamine at room temperature, being this one of the best, if not the best, organic solvent option. Other secondary or tertiary amines such as diisopropylamine, triethylamine, or perfluorotributylamine, could be alternatively selected. By heating under reflux, one might want to consider alkanes such as n-heptane, n-hexane, or cyclohexane. For faster reactive dissolution of PDMS one could possibly select either tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) solution in tetrahydrofuran (THF), or conc. sulfuric acid (approx. 1 day; white precipitate expected). No Pt or glass attack should occur. Cf.: Article Solvent Compatibility of Poly(Dimethylsiloxane)-Based Microf...
To remove PDMS I have used Digesil NC. This is a liquid especially formulated to dissolve PDMS. It is available in either liquid or gel forms. It does not attack glass or Pt and they can be left in it for long periods, if needed.
I have obtained it from http://www.silicone-polymers.co.uk/
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Materials Science
- Materials
- Inorganic Materials
- Ceramics
- Glass