film formation
Quick Summary
Film formation in chemistry refers to the creation of a very thin layer of a substance on a supporting material. This process is crucial in surface coatings, where polymers play a key role in providing adhesion, chemical resistance, flexibility, and durability to the final film.123
There are three main types of film-forming processes:
* Evaporation-based: A liquid coating with fully developed polymer properties is dissolved in a solvent. Film formation occurs as the solvent evaporates, leaving a solid coating.2
* Cross-linking: Low-molecular-weight polymer precursors are cured to form a solid, high-molecular-weight film.23
* Coalescence: Small polymer particles suspended in a liquid (often water) flow together to form a continuous film. This process is aided if the polymer is above its glass transition temperature or by adding a coalescent solvent.3
The resulting film typically ranges from 0.5 to 500 micrometers in thickness.23
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.