Visualization of the Polymer Surface

Visual or other methods of visualization of the surface can provide a significant amount of information on the nature of the surface. 

The simplest and most direct method of examination of a surface is by use of optical microscopy. Surface features of the order of 1 pm or greater are usually detectable. To achieve greater contrast, polarizing microscopy is often used. In the case of liquid crystalline materials (Chapter 3), polarized microscopy, since it explores the alignment of the molecular axis, can reveal both order and alignment in materials. In the case of polymers with a polarizable group either 

The interaction of the electron beam with the sample can be summarized as follows  

ED AX X-rays - through thickness composition analysis SEM Primary backscattering and secondary electron emission topological information // 

Elastically scattered electrons Microstructural information via diffraction patterns 

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