Effects of nanoscale confinement and interfaces on the glass transition temperatures of a series of poly(n-methacrylate) films

We use fluorescence from dye-labelled polymer to measure the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) across single-layer films and near surfaces and silica interfaces in bilayer films for a series of poly(n-methacrylate)s. With nanoscale confinement, the average T-g across a film supported on silica increases for poly( methyl methacrylate) ( PMMA), decreases for poly( ethyl methacrylate) ( PEMA) and poly( propyl methacrylate), and is nearly invariant for poly(iso-butyl methacrylate) (PIBMA). These trends are consistent with the relative strengths of local perturbations to Tg caused by surfaces and substrates as measured in bilayer films. The substrate effect, which increases T-g via hydrogen-bonding interactions between the polymer and hydroxyl groups on the silica surface, is stronger than the free-surface effect in PMMA. The free-surface effect, which reduces T-g via a reduction in the required cooperativity of the glass transition dynamics, is stronger than the substrate effect in PEMA. The substrate and free-surface effects have similar strengths in perturbing the local Tg in PIBMA, resulting in a net cancellation of effects when measurements are made across single-layer films.