STUDY OF STRUCTURE-PROPERTY CORRELATIONS IN POLYMERS BY TECHNIQUES OFELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

A very direct way to determine correlations between structure and mech anical properties of polymers is provided by electron microscope inves tigations. The several techniques of electron microscopy do not only a llow the detailed determination of structure or morphology of polymers , but also the investigation of micromechanical processes of deformati on and fracture. Some examples are given for several groups of polymer s: For amorphous polymers the formation of crazes is studied as a func tion of macromolecular structure as well as in connection with an unex pected embrittlement effect in rubber toughened polymers. In semicryst alline polymers effects of lamellar orientation and in rubber-modified and particle-filled semicrystalline polymers effects of cavitation an d interfacial debonding on the toughness are discussed.