Glass transition and subphase anchoring govern the emergence of viscoelasticity in polymer interfaces
Abstract
polymers form 1-2 nm thick continuous interfacial films. Their isotherms display pronounced hysteresis, significant relaxation at high compression, and no recovery after the first compression. They exhibit measurable viscoelastic moduli, even at moderate surface concentrations below full coverage of the interface. Polystyrene, with no interfacial affinity, fails to form an interfacial film and thus produces inconsistent rheological footprint. Taken together, these results establish that the formation of a viscoelastic polymer interface requires both a glass transition temperature exceeding the operating temperature and some minimal level of interaction with the aqueous subphase.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies
Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Soft Matter
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 3025–3041
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN