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Microscopy in the studies of polymer biodegradation
Author(s) -
Janik Helena
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19981300117
Subject(s) - optical microscope , microscopy , polymer , materials science , transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscope , polarized light microscopy , polyethylene , birefringence , composite material , optics , nanotechnology , physics
The goal of the paper is to overview different possibilities of microscopy, which can be helpful in estimating some of the changes undergoing in the materials exposed to the action of micro‐organisms. The types of microscopic techniques and methods discussed in the paper are; optical transmission microscopy (OTM), optical transmission microscopy with polarised light (OPTM), optical reflected microscopy (ORM), optical reflected microscopy with polarised light (OPRM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The above methods allow to follow the changes of the surface view, the changes inside the polymer and the changes in birefringence (in the case of semi‐crystalline polymers). The results can be compared with other techniques used for monitoring of polymer biodegradation or biostability. The examples from author's studies on different types of polyurethanes and the blends of polyethylene with starch are also described in the paper.