For making thin films from polymers that can be dissolved into solutions, the Roto-Film™ is an excellent alternative. Films are spin cast on a rapidly turning platen designed to hold standard aluminum weighing dishes, which are disposable. The edges of the weighing dish can be cut off to make a flat highly reflective surface that can be placed into a specular reflection accessory for analysis or the film can simply be peeled off the bottom of the weighing dish. Alternatively, films can be cast on a polished aluminum concave platen, on a Real Crystal® IR Card or on a KBr window. For most polymers, the film is complete within 60 seconds. If the film is cast on a KBr window, the window is simply mounted in a spectrophotometer for analysis. Films cast on polished platens are removed simply by contacting tape with the edge of the film and then pulling the film off of the platen.
