Analytical electron microscopy for the structural study of grafted polymers

A procedure for the selective staining of phenyl groups of PS and the formation of sulfoacidic groups is proposed. For PE with grafted PS, the combined use of scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis in the proposed procedure for staining and structural etching of cross sections in high-frequency oxygen discharge plasma makes it possible to gain information about the distribution of grafted PS in the cross section of the material and the phase state of the system. In grafted polymers, diffusion coefficients of sulfuric acid are estimated. The duration of staining is calculated. The X-ray microanalysis allows a quantitative estimation of the ratio between sulfoacidic groups and sulfonic bridges between phenyl groups.