Phase ordering in blend films of semi-crystalline and amorphous polymers

A combination of optical and atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used for prob ing changes in the morphology of polymer blend films that accompany phase o rdering processes (phase separation and crystallization), The phase separat ion morphology of a "model" semi-crystalline (polyethyleneoxide or PEG) and amorphous (polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA) polymer blend film is compared to previous observations on binary amorphous polymer blend films of polysty rene (PS) and polyvinylmethylether (PVME). The phase separation patterns ar e found to be similar except that crystallization of the film at high PEO c oncentrations obscures the observation of phase separation. The influence o f film defects (e.g., scratches) and clay filler particles on the structure of the semi-crystalline and amorphous polymer films is also investigated.