Polarized light optical microscopy

Similar to prepared metallographic samples, the injection molded samples were cut along the flow direction, smoothed, and polished in order to expose their internal surface. After proper etching, the treated surfaces of the flank cross-section were photographed using a polarized light optical microscopy. Based on the color differences between the TLCP and matrix, volume fraction and aspect ratio of the TLCP fibers were measured [23]. 

Preliminary investigations of the liquid crystal phase behavior of these gold nanoparticles initially revealed an enantiotropic nematic phase (based on polarized light optical microscopy and thermal analysis) as well as some pattern formation of the gold nanoparticles in TEM experiments [540, 541],... 

These methods, described above, are to produce material (still loosely called mesophase) which essentially is a feedstock for other process developments. This "mesophase" prepared at temperatures below normal carbonization temperatures can be called low temperature mesophase pitch (LTMP). The term mesophase pitch has crept into the vocabulary of this subject and is thought to refer mainly to mesophase as a feedstock. Its anisotropy can be detectable by polarized light optical microscopy. 

Freeze-fracture reveals intravesicular details in three dimensions. Samples are frozen rapidly in liquid nitrogen and fractured to reveal internal structure. Additionally, lyotropic behavior of amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers in water has been investigated using polarized light optical microscopy and freeze-fracture TEM [188],... 

The effect of the molecular weight of the PPS and parameters adjusted in the melt spinning process on the properties of the final fibers have been elucidated. Structure-property-relationships were established by the use of tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light optical microscopy, and wide-angle X-ray scattering. 

In this chapter, we take a practical approach to briefly explain how to experimentally determine both spherulitic growth rates by polarized light optical Microscopy (PLOM) and overall isothermal crystallization kinetics by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We give examples on how to fit the data using both the Avrami theory and the Lauritzen and Hoffman theory. Both theories provide useful analytical equations that when properly handled represent valuable tools to understand crystallization kinetics and its relationship with morphology. They also have several shortcomings that are pointed out. 

Polarized light optical microscopy analysis was also used to investigate the influence of the CNTs on the crystallization characteristics of CNT-reinforced PEO. 

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