TEM - micrograph of High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)

Applications

Leica EM UC6

The Leica EM UC6 ultramicrotome was used at room temperature to prepare the polymer samples for Transmission Electron Microscopy according the following procedure: The samples were trimmed with the Leica Ultracut UC6 at room temperature using a DIATOME diamond trimming knife, stained overnight with OsO4 vapour and ultra-thin sectioned with a Leica EM UC6 ultramicrotome usind a DIATOME 35 degrees diamond knife. The section thickness was 70 nm (setting). The ultra-thin sections were placed on a 300 mesh carbon coated copper grid and studied with a Philips CM12 transmission electron microscope operating at 120 kV. TEM-micrographs were made of representative areas of the samples at different magnifications. The TEM-micrographs were made using a Fuji FDL5000 digital luminograph and printed on a Fuji Pictrography 3000 digital printer The polybutadiene (rubber) phase of the HIPS is stained with OsO4 vapour and appears as the dark phase in the TEM-micrograph. Cellular (salami-type) rubber particles are formed with a broad particles size distribution. Image provided by: B. Vastenhout, The Dow Chemical Company, The Netherlands