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Chemical Etching Technique for the Investigation of Melt-crystallized Isotactic Polypropylene Spherulite and Lamellar Morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2002

Jemyung Park*
Affiliation:
Research and Development Center, Samsung General Chemicals, 103-6, Moonji-Dong, Yusong-Ku, Taejeon, South Korea 305-380
Kyuyoung Eom
Affiliation:
Research and Development Center, Samsung General Chemicals, 103-6, Moonji-Dong, Yusong-Ku, Taejeon, South Korea 305-380
Ohjun Kwon
Affiliation:
Research and Development Center, Samsung General Chemicals, 103-6, Moonji-Dong, Yusong-Ku, Taejeon, South Korea 305-380
Sangsun Woo
Affiliation:
Research and Development Center, Samsung General Chemicals, 103-6, Moonji-Dong, Yusong-Ku, Taejeon, South Korea 305-380
*
*Corresponding author
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Abstract

The spherulitic and lamellar morphologies of melt crystallized isotactic polypropylene (iPP) have been investigated according to various crystallization temperatures and times. In this study, an appropriate chemical etching condition for the observation of iPP morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is determined. The optimum etchant formulation is 3 wt% potassium permanganate with the mixed solvent of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid. The morphologies after etching reveal the microstructure of iPP clearly, such as the characterization of α/β spherulites and the different lamellar growth patterns.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2001

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