Surface Depth-Profiling of Polymer Compounds Using Step-Scan Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (S-2 PAS)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2001

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

Depth-profiling of talc/polypropylene (PP) compounded polymers with 5, 10, 15 and 20% talc weight percents were examined to delineate concentration effects on surface stratification. This was achieved by utilizing step-scan photoacoustic spectroscopy (S-2 PAS) phase analysis to discriminate molecular concentration changes for each species across a distance of 9 mu m from the sample surface. From phase analysis results, it was determined that not only does talc lie 1-2 mu m closer to the surface than PP, but a layering effect results from an increase in talc concentration. This layering effect results in depths 0-3 mu m becoming saturated with talc molecules at lower talc concentrations, and layers 3-9 mu m showing evidence of saturation at higher concentrations. At these higher concentrations and greater depths, it is postulated that PP is displaced by talc molecules giving rise to a boundary layer consisting mostly of talc. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Polymer

Volume

42

Issue

1

First Page

337

Last Page

344

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