Spin coating PCL film for bonding surfaces

Myra developed a technique for spin coating PCL on silicon wafer to bond two pieces of PMMA together.
The early protocol for doing so is outlined in this PDF.

Additionally, refinements to this technique are often necessary for different uses. For instance, the spin coating parameters listed in the document, which are also programmed into the lab spincoater, can be used for coating PMMA directly (a symmetric piece of PMMA must be used to properly balance on the spincoater – tricky fiddling).

To bond two pieces, it is often necessary to increase the pressure, decrease the pressure or alter the length of time in the press at 60C.

Good success can be achieved in some cases by placing the two pieces in the press set to 60C, applying ~150psi for 5minutes and then switching off the heating elements and allowing the apparatus to cool down to room temperature before removing bonding pieces. Using the water cooling feature may also arrive at similar results. YMMV.

Spray coating PCL disolved in toluene

Chris has some techniques to add here.

PCL in alternative solvents

(the standard) PCL in 5% chloroform – allow to dissolve overnight with agitation.

PCL in Ethylacetate – not terribly soluble to even 1%. When saturated and allowed to sit, can spontaneously form a shaved ice or granular gel-like form which will dry to a foamy/porous film exhibiting very high hydrophobicity.

PCL in hexanes

PCL in toluene


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