I would like to spin-coat a thin film of PVB - the PVB is in powder form - which solvent should I use to prepare the PVB solution and what are the process to be followed? Thanks
you can dissolve PVB in ethanol solution containing 4-5% water at 60°C with stirring for few minutes (10 min). The solution can be cast into a mould and forme the final thin films. you can also use spincoater to deposit thin film .
dear sister Hind Ahmed, I agree the previous procedure of mr S. Kaci, you can use ethanol to solute the PVB (polyvinyl butyral). you can also use methanol, isopropanol, and butanol.
The advantage of PVB is it's solubility in many solvent. The best solvent is toluence solvent (toxicity problem?). The concentration of organic dye must be optimised. Which method is used in your previous work for the simulation LDS model?
PVB is soluble in many organic solvents such as alcohol, esters, ketones, benzenes and many more, but the best is ethyl alcohol, commonly know as ethanol and it is non toxic and no side effects. Hope this helps.
S. Kaci I have prepared a solution of PVB in ethanol containing 5% water and I drop casted the films into glass substrates i found difficulties in removing the films from the glass is there is a better way of removing them? or/and a better substrate option to drop cast the films at?
usually we use teflon substrate dish or mould. the PVB film is easily removed from them compared to glass substrate. try to deposit it on again. all the best.
Kaci has given a good answer of using teflon mould or spray teflon on the mould surface that is being used or use a graphite mould to uplift the PVB film.
You need to pass through a sol gel route. When you have a powder as precursor, try with alcohols as solvents (IPA, ethanol ...). Then to get a spinable solution, may be you should add an amount of a polymerization agent (to improve the viscosity of the final solution and enhence its adherence to substrate) you can try with PEG, DEG ...etc. Good luck.