TEM-CROSS SECTION INVESTIGATIONS OF PLASMA POLYMER SILVER COMPOSITE FILMS

Plasma polymer silver composite films were investigated by means of cr oss section transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The silver is enc apsulated in the form of small particles in a nearly homogeneous plasm a polymer matrix. The shape and the size of the particles vary with th e polymerization power density. At lower polymerization power density the silver particles appear almost spherical and a three-dimensional p article distribution can be found in the polymer matrix. However the s hape of particles at higher power density is more elliptic and the par ticle distribution is two-dimensional. The different kinds of encapsul ation can be interpreted as being due to the different densities and p orosities of the plasma polymer matrix.