Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-30-2003

Abstract

In this paper, we show that a noncrystalline but ordered smectic-like phase exists above the bulk-melting temperature (T-m) at poly(n-alkyl acrylates)-air interface. The surface ordered phase is one monolayer thick and undergoes a sharp transition from order to disorder 10degreesC above T-m for n=22. The presence of a surface phase that does not exist in the bulk has important implications in the design of thermally responsive adhesives.

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Volume

90

Issue

21

Required Publisher's Statement

Copyright 2003 American Physical Society. The original published version of this article may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.215501.

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