Matsko N B, Mittal V
Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy and Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis, Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
Soft Matter. 2014 Aug 14;10(30):5478-88. doi: 10.1039/c4sm00458b.
The structural (volume and enthalpy) relaxation of polymers during physical aging has a great relevance in materials science and engineering as it significantly changes the long-term material performance. In this article, we propose a methodological approach of (cryo-)atomic force microscopy (AFM) monitoring of macromolecular rearrangements which accompany structural relaxation within bulk of the polymer during physical aging. In contrast to conventional spectroscopic, scattering and thermal analysis techniques, high resolution topographical/phase imaging of the bulk cross-section over a large period of time and within a wide range of temperatures (-120 °C to +20 °C) yields unique information about the evolution of the polymer ultrastructure as a function of time and temperature in situ.
聚合物在物理老化过程中的结构（体积和焓）弛豫在材料科学与工程中具有重大意义，因为它会显著改变材料的长期性能。在本文中，我们提出了一种（低温）原子力显微镜（AFM）监测大分子重排的方法，这种重排伴随着聚合物本体在物理老化过程中的结构弛豫。与传统的光谱、散射和热分析技术不同，在很长一段时间内以及在很宽的温度范围（-120°C至+20°C）内对本体横截面进行高分辨率形貌/相位成像，能够原位提供关于聚合物超结构随时间和温度变化的独特信息。
