Objective The problems of polymer surfaces and interfaces is of great interest especially when the properties of large molecules are concerned. Techniques have been developed by physicists working on metallic surfaces but hitherto have not been used by polymer scientists due to expense, lack of collaboration and the need for very pure polymers.Research was carried out in the following areas:conformation of polymers in very thin films (less than 50 nm);structure at the surface of different polymer systems (monodisperse and polydisperse polymers, polymers with specific end groups, blends and copolymers);polymer surface structure (comparison between results obtained by different techniques and relation with adhesion);application of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) to the characterization of polymer surfaces;electronic structure of molecular and polymeric conductors via STM (measurements and theoretical analysis);the dynamic behaviour of interfaces where macromolecules reside;interdiffusion between incompatible or partially compatible polymers at interfaces;new polymeric materials for advanced applications through Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) techniques.A great deal of progress was made in the understanding of polymer surfaces although the work did not lead directly to industrial applications. Experimental techniques were established to determine what can be measured and how it can be measured. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films Programme(s) FP2-SCIENCE - Programme plan (EEC) to stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by European research scientists (SCIENCE), 1988-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION EU contribution No data Address Quai Lezay-MarnTsia 1 67080 Strasbourg France See on map Total cost No data