CONFIRMATION OF PREDICTED POLYMER BLEND MORPHOLOGIES FROM BULK SPECIMENS

The morphologies of polymer blends predicted by simulation of spinodal decomposition were compared to bulk blends made by compositional quen ching. After selective staining with ruthenium and osmium tetroxide, t he experimental blends were investigated microscopically using a 1.2 M eV electron microscope. Due to the penetration power of megavolt elect rons, thick specimens, 0.75 mu m, were examined and allowed the blend structures to be studied in all three spatial dimensions. The simulati on model was successful in the prediction of the gross morphology but did not predict details such as micelle formation. With the model, it is possible to produce a desired morphology with a minimal amount of e xperimentation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.