A simple kinetic model of polymer adsorption and desorption.

A model of the desorption and adsorption of a polymer layer at a planar surface indicates a transition from exponential kinetics at high temperatures to nonexponential kinetics (stretched exponential with index one-half) at lower temperatures where these processes are diffusion-limited. Measurements of polystyrene desorption through polyisoprene overlayers show this predicted transition. Corroborative results are obtained for polystyrene desorption through polymethylmethacrylate overlayers. This identification of two distinct kinetic regimes suggests a unifying perspective from which to analyze polymer and biopolymer mobility at surfaces.