Evidence of glass transition in thin films of maleic anhydride derivatives: effect of the surfactant coadsorption.

The glass transition temperature of poly (maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecen) and poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) cumene-terminated thin films has been measured by mechanical relaxation of Langmuir films of these polymers. The dynamical properties show glass-like features (non-Arrhenius relaxation times and non-Debye mechanical response) interpreted by the coupling model. The glass transition temperature values determined by a mechanical relaxation experiment (step-compression) agree very well with those obtained by surface potential measurements. It is found that the glass transition temperature values in thin films decrease by about 100 K as compared with those corresponding to the bulk polymers. The coadsorption of the water-insoluble surfactant DODAB decreases the glass transition temperature.