Characterisation of adsorbed polymer film structure by dynamic surface tension and dilational elasticity

The characteristics of transverse and longitudinal surface waves on solutions of polyethylene glycols (PEG) and polyethylene oxides (PEO) have been measured as a function of time. These data allow to determine the kinetic dependence of the dynamic surface elasticity. It is shown that conformational transitions in the surface layer of polymer solutions can take place when the surface tension is almost constant. Therefore one has to be especially careful while trying to use experimental surface tension data in order to characterise the structure of polymer adsorption films.