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1172782 
Journal Article 
Low-voltage TEM imaging of polymer blends 
Lednický, F; Coufalová, E; Hromádková, J; Delong, A; Kolařı́k, V 
2000 
1 
Polymer
ISSN: 0032-3861 
ELSEVIER SCI LTD 
OXFORD 
Polymer 
41 
13 
4909-4914 
English 
WOS:000086181800016 
Low-voltage transmission electron microscopy (LV-TEM) was applied to obtain images of the phase structure of selected polymer blends without any prior staining. The instrument used (LVTEM-5, working at 5 kV) is of a novel construction combining visual-light and electronmicroscopical techniques, resulting in an enhanced efficiency of light transport to the eye and facilitating CCD imaging. Results were compared wi th LV-STEM at 25 kV. Phase structure of polycarbonate/poly( styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (PC/SAN), polystyrene/polypropylene (PS/PP), and polyethylene/polypropylene blends (PE/PP, ADFLEX) were selected to demonstrate the above techniques. The difference in density between the individual components of polymer blends was found to be the reason for the obtained image contrast. Differences less than 0.04 g/cm(3) can be traced with this technique. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 
Low-voltage transmission electron microscopy; Polycarbonate blends; Polymer blends