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There are many books on electron microscopy, however, the study of polymers using EM necessitates special techniques, precautions and preparation methods, including ultramicrotomy. This book discusses the general characteristics of the various techniques of EM, including scanning force microscopy (AFM). The application of these techniques to the study of morphology and properties, particularly micromechanical properties, is described in detail. Examples from all classes of polymers are presented.
List of contents
Techniques of Electron Microscopy.- Overview of Techniques.- Transmission Electron Microscopy: Fundamentals of Methods and Instrumentation.- Transmission Electron Microscopy: Conventional and Special Investigations of Polymers.- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).- Atomic Force Microscopy.- In Situ Microscopy.- Image Processing and Image Analysis.- Preparation Techniques.- Problems Associated with the Electron Microscopy of Polymers.- Preparation of Surfaces.- Preparation of Thin Sections: (Cryo)ultramicrotomy and (Cryo)microtomy.- Special Preparation Techniques.- Preparation for (In Situ) Deformation Tests.- Contrast Enhancement.- Main Groups of Polymers.- Structural Hierarchy of Polymers.- Amorphous Polymers.- Semicrystalline Polymers.- Polymer Blends.- High-Impact Rubber-Modified Polymers.- Block Copolymers.- Rubbers and Elastomers.- Polymer Composites.- Polymer Nanocomposites.- Biomaterials.- Special Processing Forms.
About the author
Prof. Dr. habil. Goerg H. Michler worked for many years as a physicist and materials scientist in research institutes, in the chemical industry and at universities. He is professor of general materials science at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg and founded an Institute of Polymeric Materials. His research interests focus on the structure-property correlations of polymeric materials, the improvement of mechanical properties based on nanostructure and morphology.
Summary
There are many books on electron microscopy, however, the study of polymers by EM needs special techniques, precautions and preparation methods, including ultramicrotomy. General characteristics of the different techniques of EM, including scanning force microscopy (AFM), are given. Application of these techniques to study morphology and also properties, particularly micromechanical properties, is described in detail. Examples from all classes of polymers are presented. This book provides a hands-on manual and is a must-have for the practitioner.