The characterization of polymer interfaces

Abstract

The techniques described in the first half of this review should give the reader a flavor of the types of experiments that are possible for characterizing polymer surfaces and interfaces. Most of the techniques are not new and are, in most cases, routine and simple to use. Only recently has it been shown that these techniques could be used with polymers and have become of great importance in understanding the physics and chemistry of polymer interfaces. The studies that have been selected as examples to illustrate these techniques show that quantitative analysis of polymer interfaces can be done. It should be realized and emphasized that it is only by a successful integration of several techniques that one can develop a quantitative picture of the behavior of polymers on the segmental level. Each technique has its own strengths and weaknesses and the combination of the techniques allows one to use each to its fullest.