I have coated silica nanoparticles film on acrylic (PMMA) substrate and then did HMDS vapor treatment to make the coated substrate hydrophobic and then dry it using blown N2 gas.
My question: Is blown N2 gas affect the surface morphology of coating and affect its hydrophobicity?
Dear Muhammad Aleem Zahid ;
The previous results show advantageous properties of nano-silica modified in the supercritical phase of carbon dioxide and ethanol in terms of particle size distribution, amount of coated silane, and dispersion in the PMMA matrix. in addition to an increase in hardness by 44.6%
- to deoxygenate the well-sealed flask purging of nitrogen gas for 30 minutes can be used to get better results. more details in the following references;
Article Nanosilica/PMMA composites obtained by the modification of s...
https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/271558/1-s2.0-S0014305718X00093/1-s2.0-S0014305718311960/am.pdf.- Colloid silica nanoparticles trapped morphology of polymer blends during solvent evaporation: Version of Record: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014305718311960 Manuscript_22d84069ec6f05c06cdb154dd1425673
Dear Muhammad Aleem Zahid , blown N2 gas shouldn´t affect the surface morphology, unless the silica nanoparticles were not bonded to the substrate, in that case a strong N2 flow directed towards the sample could remove them parcially or completely.
Hydrophobicity shouldn´t be affected either by application of N2 gas.
HMDS is normally applied by vapor treatment and the chamber where the wafer or sample is contained is subsequently purged with N2, but this doesn´t mean a direct flow over the wafer/sample.
May be the following protocol by Joe Daggett (Texas Instruments, DMOS 6)
Dr. Samuel Villareal (UT Dallas, IC Manufacturing Professor)
Dr. Roger Robbins (UT Dallas, Clean Room Manager, Provost Office) John Goodnight, (UT Dallas, Technical Staff Associate) would be useful to you:
https://research.utdallas.edu/cleanroom/manuals/hmds-process
Hope it helps.
I guess there shouldn't be any change in the hydrophobicity unless it has exposed active sites.
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