March 12, 2003
Journal Article

Thin Fluoropolymer Films and Nanoparticle Coatings from the Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Solutions with Electrostatic Collection.

Abstract

Application of nanometer thick fluoropolymer films to substrates ranging from microelectronic components to cardiovascular implants is described. In the first step, nanometer-sized polymer particles are generated during the rapid expansion of supercritical fluid solutions. These particles are then charged as they are being formed by application of a high voltage to the expansion nozzle. The charged particles are forced to a solid surface forming uniform coatings with thicknesses from 10?s of nanometers to several micrometers thick. Supercritical carbon dioxide solutions of three different fluoropolymers were used to generate different types of coatings. The method can also be used to generate a solid matrix with nanometer size domains of two chemically diverse solid materials. The size of the particles are so small that they can be deposited to electrically conducting microscopic regions with a spatial resolution better than 50 nm.

Revised: October 16, 2008 | Published: March 12, 2003

Citation

Fulton J.L., G.S. Deverman, C.R. Yonker, J.W. Grate, J. Deyoung, and J.B. Mcclain. 2003. Thin Fluoropolymer Films and Nanoparticle Coatings from the Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Solutions with Electrostatic Collection. Polymer 44, no. 13:3627 -3632. PNNL-SA-36461.