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Closed-cell foam skin thickness measurement using a scanning electron microscope.

Clifford S Todd1, Valentina Kuznetsova

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Microscopy and Microanalysis : the Official Journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a scanning electron microscope (SEM) method to measure polymer foam skin thickness using backscatter electron (BSE) imaging. Varying accelerating voltages allows for detailed characterization of skin thickness across the foam surface.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Surface Characterization

Background:

  • Closed cell polymer foams are widely used in various industries.
  • Accurate characterization of foam skin thickness is crucial for performance.
  • Existing methods for skin thickness measurement can be limited in scope or resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a non-destructive method for assessing closed cell polymer foam skin thickness.
  • To demonstrate the utility of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with backscatter electron (BSE) imaging for this purpose.
  • To establish a technique applicable across a range of SEM instruments and experimental conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing SEM to acquire BSE images of polymer foam samples at varying accelerating voltages (5 keV to 30 keV).
  • Employing Monte Carlo modeling to correlate electron beam penetration depth with observed image contrast and skin thickness.
  • Applying image analysis techniques for semiquantitative assessment of skin thickness distribution over large surface areas.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that BSE imaging in SEM can effectively differentiate polymer skin thickness based on image contrast.
  • Established a relationship between accelerating voltage and the detectable skin thickness, with higher voltages enabling measurement of thicker skins (up to ~4 μm).
  • Showcased the method's applicability to real foam samples, allowing for qualitative and semiquantitative skin thickness assessments.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed SEM-based BSE imaging technique provides a versatile and effective approach for characterizing polymer foam skin thickness.
  • This method is accessible with standard SEM equipment capable of variable accelerating voltages and low-vacuum imaging.
  • The technique offers a sensitive means to assess skin thickness distribution, crucial for optimizing foam properties and performance.