Fast FTIR imaging: A new tool for the study of semicrystalline polymer morphology

The; distribution of chemical species and the degree of orientation in semi -crystalline polymer systems have been studied using fast Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging. A variety of poly(ethylene glycol) systems, inclu ding pure polymer, high and low molecular weight blends, and blends; with a morphous polymers, were studied. It is shown that fast FTIR imaging call be used to determine the distribution of species with different molecular wei ghts and can be used to determine the degree of segregation of different co mponents in blends with amorphous polymers. Additionally, by employing an i nfrared polarizer, the degree of orientation was determined in these system s by the generation of spatially-resolved dichroic ratio images. (C) 1999 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.