I am working on HDPE (High density polyethylene)-Polypropylene (PP) composite characterization. For micro structure study is it efficient to use Polarized light microscope or SEM. How PLM is differentiated from SEM for polymer micro-structure study ?
Hi Harekrushna,
as you know for light microscope only very thin (around 0.1 um) samples can be used while for SEM you can have thicker samples of 5um or maybe more. SEM require complicated sample preparations and way higher cost than OM. but using SEM you get higher magnification. many parameters involved but you need to decide what you are looking for? if you can meet the requirement with light Microscope use it, if not then go for SEM. if simple surface properties are target and sample is thin enough then light microscope is a good option
Please see this link re application of P light micriscope
https://www.microscopyu.com/techniques/polarized-light/polarized-light-microscopy
Regards
Amin
Polarized microscophy is very important in case of liquid crystaline compounds or polymers, in order to see different liquid crystaline phases, if not, it is more or less like to use standard microscophy.
Hi
SEM would be better. because in optical microscopy the scattering effect wont get on polymer surface. So better go for FESEM.
Best
Dr.arun
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