AEM-Investigations of Polymers

Analytical electron microscopy is applied to the study of polymers and composites. Since these organic materials are easily damaged by electrons, special preparation and characterization techniques have to be developed. The thin samples which are necessary for transmission electron microscopy are prepared by cryo-ultramicrotomy. So far the phase distribtion of crystalline cyclo-octene chains and Si-ether chains in block-copolymers has been investigated. Additionally, we are focussing on the nanoanalytical characterization of organic materials by means of EFTEM and HR-EELS at low temperatures (e.g. 10 K). Model systems such as polycarbonate and polystyrene are presently studied.