ABSTRACT
To determine the physical and chemical properties of polymer blends, surface analysis techniques such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, static secondary ion mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, attenuated internal reflection infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic contact measurements are essential. The surface properties of polymers are important for many applications such as adhesion, biomaterials, protective coatings, friction and wear, composites, microelectronics devices, and thin-film technology. Static secondary ion mass spectrometry has proved to be a valuable method for determining the composition and structure of polymer surfaces. A detailed analysis of the positive and negative ion spectra can provide structural and chemical information about the polymer surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been applied to study the surface composition and structure of polymer blends and copolymers because the binding energy of a core level electron depends on its chemical environment within the molecules.
