Sample Preparation for Scanning Electron Micrography

Gold is the metal most frequently deposited on organic nonconducting surfaces, as is the case with most of the commercial polymers. Various preparation techniques are followed for a judicious investigation of polymer-based materials including cryosurfaces and smoothed surfaces. 

SEM photomicrograph of a melt-blended uncompatibilized 90 wt% polypropylene/10 wt% polycyclo-hexylmethacrylate blend fracture surface obtained at room temperature. (From C. Harrats, T. S. Omonov, G. Groeninckx, and P. Moldenaers, Polymer 45,8115,2004. With permission.) 

Many other situations are illustrated throughout the series of images presented in this chapter. Each image is briefly described, and the important phase morphology features it reveals are also commented on. Note that it is not the objective of this book to discuss 

SEM photomicrograph showing the aspects of phase morphology when the adhesion between the matrix and particles is good melt-blended 30 wt% polycaprolactone/70 wt% polyethylene oxide. Image magnification SOOOx. The minor phase particles are attached firmly to the host matrix. They are broken instead of being dislocated and extracted from the matrix. (C. Harrats, 2006, unpublished data.) 

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