Primary Disciplines of Technical Expertise

The full range of polymer samples can be studied with one or more of the various microscopic methods discussed as well as with some of the techniques of surface analysis and scanning probe microscopy.

For the characterization of dispersed "rubber" phases in rubber modified plastics, an entire range of staining options, including osmium tetroxide and ruthenium tetroxide as positive staining systems as well as phosphotungstic acid and other negative staining systems can be brought to bear on just about any kind of system. Cryo sectioning is almost always recommended even for the more "common" polybutadiene modified polymer systems. After micrographs are obtained, a complete quantitative analysis is possible using the SPI-Quant II, a state-of-the-art image analysis system developed in our laboratories and available for purchase by our customers and clients. The system is based on personal computer technology, combined with a sophisticated CCD camera image capture system which can be used directly on samples or applied as easily to photographic images obtained using other instruments.

Diamond knife thin sectioning is usually required for polymer samples, and just about any kind of system can be studied, including those heavily pigmented or filled with inorganics. The fee budget for analysis of any particular kind of sample is influenced strongly by the projected wear and tear on the diamond knives.

Textile fibers are usually studied first by SEM, second by TEM, in order to show the degree of dispersion of flame retardants or other "finishes" on the surface of the fibers.

Polymer films are studied usually by SEM but where it is desired for a higher resolution "look", such as for the case of crystalline polymers where lamellar structures can often times be involved, Pt/C replication techniques followed by TEM are used. Polymer film laminates (or composites) are almost always studied by thin section TEM methods.

All polymer projects are done under the supervision of Charles A. Garber, Ph . D., who has made the characterization of polymers by microscopy, especially electron microscopy, his professional specialty for more than thirty years. Whether you have a complex characterization problem or are just in need of some "excess capacity" form your own laboratory, or just the need to generate results from a large number of samples on short turnaround times, such as often arises when involved in a large legal case, give us a chance to offer a proposal. Just contact Dr. Garber on cgarber@2spi.com.