DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONAL-GROUP S IN POLYVINYL-CHLORIDE BY DERIVATIZATION ELECTRON-PROBE X-RAY-MICROANALYSIS

An analytic method referred to as ''derivation-electron probe X-ray mi croanalysis (EPMA)'' has been developed to determine the distribution in polymers of 0.1% order functional groups with micrometer level late ral resolution. It is designed to increase the sensitivity and the res olution by chemical derivatization and EPMA, respectively. Fundamental performances of EPMA in analyzing derivatized polymers have been inve stigated. The detection limit for the concentration of Br in the bromi nated epoxy resin was 0.05% and the lateral resolution was 3 micromete rs. In addition, the depth distribution of C=C bonds in amine-degraded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been analyzed by this method. The result s agreed well with those obtained by micro-IR spectroscopy. The sensit ivity of this method was 30 times higher, and the lateral resolution w as 4 times higher than those of micro-IR spectroscopy. These results p roved this analysis is useful for the characterization of polymers and studies on polymer degradation.