Adsorbed polymer layers subjected to flow

This paper describes experiments using the technique of ellipsometry to study polymer adsorption onto solid/liquid interfaces under the influence of flow. This technique allows both the polymer layer thickness and surface concentration to be determined when subjected to large velocity gradients. Polystyrene adsorbing onto chrome at the theta condition was studied and velocity gradients up to 7800 sec−1 were applied. Both flow‐enhanced desorption of previously adsorbed chains and flow‐inhibited adsorption of dissolved polymer were observed.