Use of laser scanning confocal microscopy for characterizing changes in film thickness and local surface morphology of UV-exposed polymer coatings |
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Authors: | Li-Piin Sung Joan Jasmin Xiaohong Gu Tinh Nguyen Jonathan W Martin |
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Affiliation: | (1) Polymeric Materials Group, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 20899-8615 Gaithersburg, MD |
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Abstract: | Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) has been used to characterize the changes in film thickness and local surface morphology
of polymer coatings during the UV degradation process. With the noninvasive feature of LSCM, one can obtain thickness information
directly and nondestructively at various exposure times without destroying the specimens or deriving the thickness values
from IR measurement by assuming uniform film ablation. Two acrylic polymer coatings were chosen for the study, and the physical
and chemical changes of the two systems at various exposure times were measured and analyzed. Those measurable physical changes
caused by UV exposure include film ablation, formation of pits and other surface defects, and increases in surface roughness.
It was found in both coatings that changes in measured film thickness by LSCM were not correlated linearly to the predicted
thickness loss using the changes in the CH band obtained by the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements
in the later degradation stages. This result suggested it was not a uniform film ablation process during the UV degradation.
At later stages, where surface deformation became severe, surface roughness and profile information using LSCM were also proven
to be useful for analyzing the surface degradation process
Presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, November 13–14, 2004 in Philadelphia,
PA. |
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Keywords: | Atomic force microscopy FTIR laser scanning confocal microscopy photodegradation durability physical properties weatherability surface roughness surface morphology |
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