Metal - polymer interfaces and their effect on the glass transition of thin polystyrene films

We present a study of polystyrene-metal interfaces and discuss the relationship between the interfacial structure and anomalies in the measured glass transition temperature (Tg) of thin metal capped polystyrene (PS) films. The PS films used in these studies were coated with an evaporated metal layer of either Aluminum (Al) or gold (Au) and the Tg values were measured with ellipsometry. Uncoated PS films were also measured and these samples …