Scanned-Probe Microscopy of Elastomer Blends: Morphology and Mechanical Properties

Scanned-probe microscopy (SPM) has found application to a variety of polymer systems, primarily for the examination of surface morphology and the assessment of surface properties. In fact, SPM is unique in its ability to probe both phase morphology and mechanical properties simultaneously. The exami...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microscopy and microanalysis 1998-07, Vol.4 (S2), p.824-825
Main Author: Mallamaci, Michael P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Developments in Measuring Polymer Microstructures
Elastomers
Electron microscopy
Fillers
Mechanical analysis
Mechanical properties
Microscopy
Morphology
Phase measurement
Polymer blends
Polymers
Surface properties
Transmission electron microscopy
Viscoelasticity
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Summary:Scanned-probe microscopy (SPM) has found application to a variety of polymer systems, primarily for the examination of surface morphology and the assessment of surface properties. In fact, SPM is unique in its ability to probe both phase morphology and mechanical properties simultaneously. The examination of industrial elastomers and their blends by SPM techniques can provide morphological information historically obtained only by transmission-electron microscopy (TEM). Since contrast with the SPM can be generated by differences in mechanical response of the constituent phases, polymer blends which are difficult to etch or stain for TEM can be successfully examined. In many cases measurements of polymer morphology can be made more easily with SPM, since time-consuming steps associated with thin-section production and staining are not required. Contact and tapping-mode operation along with force modulation and phase measurement can be used to examine phase microstructure, phase morphology, filler type, filler distribution, and viscoelastic response in elastomer systems.
ISSN:1431-9276
1435-8115
DOI:10.1017/S1431927600024247