Imaging Polymer Morphology using Atomic Force Microscopy

IMAGING POLYMER MORPHOLOGY USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY 

Department of Chemistry - Biology Physical Chemistry I, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany 

Polymer Morphology Principles, Characterization, and Processing, First Edition. Edited by Qipeng Guo. 2016 John Wiley Sons, Inc. Published 2016 by John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

AFM suffers like all microscopy and other analytical imaging techniques of artifacts that have their roots in the imaging physics or signal and data processing. If AFM data are captured, for instance, with inadequate imaging parameters (such as too high imaging forces), the results may be completely useless. Likewise, the interpretation of 

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McLean et al. used tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) to characterize the fluorine-rich crystal aggregates within perfiuorinated ionomers in addition to determining the relative morphological positions of the ionic species and domains [119]. Images of nonionic polymers including... 

The preferential interaction of CO2 with individual phases of polymer blends is dictated by the affinity of CO2 to the individual components. Zhou et al. [131] applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) and phase contrast microscopy to study the effect of SCCO2 on the surface structure and phase morphology of PMMA/ PS (50/50 w/w) thin films. AFM was used to monitor the return to thermodynamic equilibrium of the cast film as a function of temperature, pressure, and exposure time. Initially, PMMA appeared as a dispersed surface phase elevated from a continuous PS matrix. The series of AFM images in Fig. 10.7 indicate that the Tg of PMMA/PS blend at 20 MPa is <60°C, and at a temperature of 70 °C the Tg occurs at a pressure greater than 20 MPa, as seen by the initially elevated PMMA phase falhng into the PS phase. 

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