1. The dynamics of ultra-thin polymer films
Alberto D’Amore and Luigi Grassia
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
The Second University of Naples - SUN, Aversa (CE), 81031, Campania, Italy

2. Ultra thin films (thickness h < REE) of glassy polymers such as polystyrene (PS) can show:
a) anomalously large thickness changes
b) unexpected dewetting properties
c) large shifts in the glass temperature Tg.
The present discussion focuses mainly on point a).
de Gennes picture
the first term describes cohesion, and is minimal for θ = 0. The second term describes the Leibler-Sekimoto network and is minimal for θ = ψc

3. Reiter 1994 Macromolecules
Film thickness
52.8 nm
29.0 nm
Mukherjee et al PRE
Orts 1993 PRL
Kanaya 2004 PRE
Reiter 1994 Macromolecules

4. Modeling the interplay between structural relaxation and viscoelasticity
reduced time: time-temperature-stress-volume superposition
Grassia & D’Amore PRE 2006

5. McKenna et al Science
Forrest et al PRL
NTE
ZTE