POLYMER ANALYSIS BY AUGER-ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY USING SECTIONING AND CRYOGENIC COOLING

Efficient polymer analyses have been performed by Auger electron spect roscopy in combination with sectioning and cryogenic cooling, to preve nt surface charging and polymer damage during electron beam exposure. Polymer samples of sub-micron thickness have been found to be free of surface-charge effects, and cryogenic cooling (which was applied to th e polymer AES analysis for the first time) has made it possible to mea sure volatile components (components other than carbon). A high resolu tion Cl Auger image has been obtained for acrylonitrile/vinylidene chl oride copolymer. The distribution of oxygen and nitrogen in the cross- section of oxidized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers has been measured b y this method, with results which show it to be effective for the micr oanalysis of polymer samples.