The effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide on the coefficient of thermal expansion and optical transmittance of poly(ether sulfone) film

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a stabilizing agent for PES films, and its effect on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and optical transmittance (OT) of PES films was investigated. The CTE of PES film decreased with increasing CTAB concentration up to 0.5 wt%, because of the improved intermolecular interaction between polymer chains via CTAB molecules. When 0.5 wt% of CTAB was added to the PES film, the CTE of polymer film decreased from 66 to 50 ppm/°C without noticeable reduction in OT. At such a low CTAB concentration range (<0.5 wt%), the glass transition temperature (T_g) and tensile strength increased with CTAB. At high CTAB concentration above 0.5 wt%, however, it had a negative effect on the properties of PES film - CTE increased but T_g and tensile strength decreased with it.