Depth profiling of polymer films by confocal Raman spectroscopy |
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Authors: | Stephen J. Spells Helmut Reinecke Javier Sacristán Jack Yarwood Carmen Mijangos |
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Affiliation: | 1. Materials Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB, U.K.;2. Institute de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain |
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Abstract: | Confocal Raman microspectroscopy has many potential applications in the study of polymer-solvent interactions, including the determination of solvent and polymer-solvent complex depth profiles. This contribution focuses on preventing the formation of polymer-solvent complexes, using surface chemical modification of PVC films. While the surface-specific nature of the film modification is easily demonstrated,[1] confocal Raman measurements clearly show the effects of film refractive index: the modifier depth profile shows a lack of symmetry and the film thickness is underestimated. A spectral normalisation method is described, and this is shown to result in a modifier depth profile which is in good agreement with data obtained by Raman microspectroscopy following physical cross-sectioning of a sample. Alternative techniques for Raman depth profiling are also discussed. |
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Keywords: | confocal Raman spectroscopy depth profile polymer PVC films |
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