Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS)

DoITPoMS Micrograph Library Full Record for Micrograph 647

Full Record for Micrograph 647

Micrograph no
647
Brief description
A spherulite imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Keywords
atomic force microscopy Link to MATTER Glossary entry for atomic force microscopy, polymer Link to MATTER Glossary entry for polymer, spherulite Link to MATTER Glossary entry for spherulite, texture
Categories
Polymer
System
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)
Composition
Not specified
Standard codes
Reaction
Processing
Applications
PHB is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, and has properties similar to such commonly used plastics as polypropylene and polyethylene. Because of the polymer's biological origin it is completely biodegradable. However, unlike most other biological polymers, it is relatively hydrophobic, and, being a thermoplastic, melt processable, opening up the possibility of use as a packaging material.
Sample preparation
Technique
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Length bar
3 μm
Further information
Imaging at low resolution (this image is ~15 microns square) we can obtain information similar to that seen optically, with the added advantage of height data. This image shows a single spherulite surrounded by uncrystallized melt at room temperature. The band structure (commonly observed optically) can be seen as concentric ridges and valleys. Growth rates can be measured from consecutive images and are in good agreement with optical data.
Contributor
J Hobbs
Organisation
Scanning Probe Microscopy Group, Bristol University
Date
03/10/02
Licence for re-use
DoITPoMS standard terms of use
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