Search results for "Optical microscope"

Self-Diffusion in Concentrated Colloid Suspensions Studied by Digital Video Microscopy of Core−Shell Tracer Particles

1998

Optical video microscopy and digital image processing have been used to study the self-diffusion of colloidal particles with a hard-sphere potential. The colloid particles consist of cross-linked polymers and are dispersed in a good solvent to avoid aggregation. To investigate single particle motion in highly concentrated dispersions, a host−tracer system, consisting of two different kinds of polymer particles, has been designed:  the host particles are made of poly-t-butylacrylate (with ethanedioldiacrylate as cross-linker) and have the same refractive index as the employed solvent, 4-fluorotoluene. The tracer particles have a core−shell structure with a polystyrene core (cross-linked with…

Deposition and production of highly reproducible hybrid Cu[(tBu)4Pc]-polystyrene thin layers via spin casting

2012

This study focuses on the determination of a protocol for the production of a hybrid material composed of a polymer and a macrocyclic complex, namely polystyrene and a tetra-tert-butyl-copper phthalocyanine (Cu[(tBu)4Pc]), in order to obtain a layer thickness of about 100 nm and a controlled porosity in a highly reproducible way. Several methods were implemented and their reproducibility was evaluated through elements of characterization such as optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers

Evaluation of interfacial shear strength by tensile tests of impregnated flax fiber yarns

2011

Adhesion of flax fibers and polymer matrix as well as mutual bonding of elementary fibers in a technical fiber are among the principal factors governing the mechanical response of flax fiber-reinforced polymer–matrix composites. A method for evaluation of adhesion is proposed based on tension tests of impregnated fiber yarns, with subsequent characterization by optical microscopy of length distribution of fibers pulled out of the yarn fracture surfaces. An elementary probabilistic model is derived relating aspect ratio distribution of the pulled-out fibers to the fiber tensile strength distribution and the effective interfacial shear strength (IFSS). The method was applied to flax fiber/vi…

Structure and elastic properties of smectic liquid crystalline elastomer films

2001

Mechanical measurements, x-ray investigations, and optical microscopy are employed to characterize the interplay of chemical composition, network topology, and elastic response of smectic liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) in various mesophases. Macroscopically ordered elastomer films of submicrometer thicknesses were prepared by cross linking freely suspended smectic polymer films. The cross-linked material preserves the mesomorphism and phase transitions of the precursor polymer. The elastic response of the smectic LCE is entropic, and the corresponding elastic moduli are of the order of MPa. In the tilted ferroelectric smectic-C* phase, the network structure plays an important role. Du…

1986

Polymers films with indandione derivatives as alternatives to azobenzene polymers for optical patterning

2008

Surface relief gratings (SRGs) on organic thin films are studied extensively for both scientific interest and in relevance to the applications. Among the chromophores being used the azobenzenes showed the best performance, but the use of alternative photo-sensitive groups provides better general understanding of the phenomena. A thermodynamic theory and molecular dynamics simulations of photoinduced effects are discussed. In this study we use indandione derivatives, known as promising materials for photonics applications, as an alternative to the azobenzenes. We consider their photoreactions when incorporated into a polymer film. One of interesting features is the spectral dependence of the…

Structure and dielectric breakdown strength of nano calcium carbonate/polypropylene composites

2013

Nanodielectrics, a 21st-century phenomena, is envisioned to be the answer for material challenges in progressive high-voltage technology. It is well known that the proper dispersion of nanoparticles plays a key role in improving the dielectric properties of a material, but to understand where changes in the properties of a material originate, it is also essential to reveal the multiscale structure of the material. In this study, the dielectric permittivity, breakdown strength, and structure of nano calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3)/polypropylene composites with 1.8-8.1 wt % doping were characterized systematically. The combined results from transmission electron microscopy, Raman microscopy, a…