ANALYSIS OF POLYMERS BY AUGER-ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY WITH A COLD STAGE

In order to analyse polymers by AES, the electron discharge from the s ample surface and the reduction of electron irradiation damage most be taken into account. A cooling device for a scanning Auger microprobe was developed that allows five axis movements, especially allowing a l arge dynamic range of tilt movement, The electron beam irradiation eff ects were examined for Cl LVV and C KLL transitions at temperatures of -185, -150, -100 and 24 degrees C using slices of polyvinyl chloride specimen of similar to 200 nm in thickness. At -185 degrees C, the all owed dosage for the analysis without causing any remarkable damage is up to 0.3 C cm(-2), The electron dosage effects are not so strong The logarithmic concentration ratio log(C-Cl/C-C) falls down linearly agai nst the logarithmic electron dosage log(electron dose) with a slope of about -0.22. At higher temperatures the damage take place immediately after electron irradiation, and it cannot be avoided This immediate d amage is not due to the dosage effects but to the temperature elevatio n.