Self-assembled patterns obtained with evaporated polymer solutions and pre-stretched polymer substrates

We report patterns comprising non-spherical microscopic pores obtained under dewetting of polymer solutions of chlorinated solvents and amorphous polymers deposited on the pre-stretched polyethylene substrates. Patterns on meso- and microscopic scales were observed. Mesoscopically scaled pattern is practically insensitive to the mechanical strain, whereas small scale microscopic voids were highly deformed, and demonstrated the average eccentricity as high as 0.25. Introduction of PEG and RTV polyorganosiloxanes/silanes destroyed the large scale pattern, thus honeycomb pattern comprising non-spherical microscopic pores has been obtained. The patterns demonstrate a potential for polymer ferroelectret applications.