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Lecture

Polarized Light Microscopy: Techniques and Applications

In course

MSE-451: Polymer morphological characterization techniques

Sample preparation and direct observation techniques (optical microscopy, AFM, electron microscopy) and their practical application to the study of morphology and microdeformation in polymers. ...

Description

This lecture covers the principles and applications of polarized light microscopy, including the behavior of light waves, different types of polarization (circular, elliptical, plane), and the effects of polarizing filters on light. It also discusses the morphological characterization techniques using polarized light microscopy, such as observing spherulites, birefringence in specimens, and the use of sensitive tint plates to identify refractive index tensor axes. The lecture delves into the observation and analysis of various materials like high-density polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, isotactic polypropylene, and polyamide 6 under polarized light microscopy.

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Instructor

John Christopher Plummer

ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland 1989- Collaborateur Scientifique/Chargé de Cours (Lecturer) (1998-) Privat Docent (1998) Laboratoire de Technologie des Composites et Polymères (LTC) (2000-) Laboratoire de Polymères (LP) (1998-2000) UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (UMICH), Ann Arbor, MI, USA 1995-1996 Visiting Scientist, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, UK 1986-1989 Research Assistant, Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group (PCS), Department of Physics UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, UK, Department of Materials 1986 PhD, "Flux Pinning in Type-II Superconductors" UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, UK, 1982 BA/MA Honours Degree in Natural Sciences Awards Prix R&R Haenny, 2007, DuPont Research Award, 2003, Commendation, British Polymer Group, Reading 1989 RECENT PUBLICATIONS Ramier J, Da Costa N, Plummer CJG, Leterrier Y, Manson JAE, Eckert R, Gaudiana R, Cohesion and adhesion of nanoporous TiO2 coatings on titanium wires for photovoltaic applications, Thin solid films, 516, 1913 (2008). Ramier J, Plummer CJG, Leterrier Y, Manson JAE, Eckert B, Gaudiana R, Mechanical integrity of dye-sensitized photovoltaic fibers, Renewable energy, 33, 314 (2008).

Houphouet-Boigny C, Plummer CJG, Wakeman MD, Manson JAE, Hybrid glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic nanocomposites, J. Thermoplast. Comp. Mater., 21, 103 (2008).

Ternat C, Ouali L, Sommer H, Fieber W, Velazco MI, Plummer CJG, Kreutzer G, Klok HA, Manson JAE, Herrmann, Investigation of the Release of Bioactive Volatiles from Amphiphilic Multiarm Star-Block Copolymers by Thermogravimetry and Dynamic Headspace Analysis, Macromolecules 41(19), 7079 (2008). Ruggerone, R., Plummer, C.J.G., Negrete Herrera, N., Bourgeat-Lami, E., Månson, J-EA, Mechanical properties of highly filled latex-based polystyrene/laponite nanocomposites, Solid State Phenomena Vol. 151, 30 (2009). Plummer, CJG, Dalle Vacche, S, Houphouët-Boigny, C, Michaud, V, Månson, JAE, Hybrid Glass Mat Reinforced Polypropylene-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites, Solid State Phenomena Vol. 151, 60 (2009). Ruggerone, R., Plummer, C.J.G., Negrete Herrera, N., Bourgeat-Lami, E., Månson, J-EA, Highly filled polystyrenelaponite nanocomposites prepared by emulsion polymerization, European Polm. J. 45, 621 (2009). Ruggerone, R., Plummer, C.J.G., Negrete Herrera, N., Bourgeat-Lami, E., Månson, J-EA, Fracture mechanisms in polystyrene/laponite nanocomposites prepared by emulsion polymerization, Engineering Fracture Mechanics 76, 2846 (2009) Clausen P., Andreoni W., Curioni A., Hughs E., Plummer C.J.G. Adsorption of low-molecular-weight molecules on the surface of a sodium smectite clay: an ab initio study, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 113, 12293 (2009). Clausen P., Andreoni W., Curioni A., Hughs E., Plummer C.J.G., Water adsorption on a sodium smectite clay surface: an ab initio study, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 113, 15218 (2009). Molberg, M, Leterrier, Y., Plummer, C.J.G., Walder, C., Löwe, C., Opris, D.M., Nüesch, F.A., Bauer, S., Månson, J.-A.E., Frequency dependent dielectric and mechanical behaviour of elastomers for actuator applications, J. Appl. Phys. 106, 054112 (2009) Clausen P., Signorelli M., Schreiber A., Hughes E., Plummer CJG, Fessas D., Schiraldi A., Månson E. J.-A., Equilibrium desorption isotherms of water, ethanol, ethyl acetate and toluene on a sodium smectite clay, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 98, 833 (2009) Micusik, M., Bonnefond, A., Reyes, Y., Bogner, A., Chazeau, L., Plummer, C.J.G., Paulis, M., Leiza, J.R., Morphology of Polymer/Clay Latex Particles Synthesized by Miniemulsion Polymerization: Modeling and Experimental Results Macromol. React. Eng. 2010, 4, 432 (2010). Houphouet-Boigny C., Plummer CJG, Vacche SD, Michaud V, Wakeman MD, Månson E. J.-A., Hybrid Glass Mat-reinforced Polypropylene-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites, J. Comp. Mater. 44, 1975 (2010). Delabarde, C., Plummer C.J.G., Bourban, P.-E., Månson E. J.-A., Solidification behavior of PLLA/nHA nanocomposites, Comp. Sci. & Tech. 70, 1813 (2010). Plummer C.J.G., Ruggerone R., Negrete-Herrera N., Bourgeat-Lami E., Månson J.-A.E., Small Strain Mechanical Properties of Latex-Based Nanocomposite Films, Macromol. Symp. 294, 1 (2010). Dalle Vacche, S., Plummer C.J.G., Houphouet-Boigny C., Månson E. J.-A., Morphology and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene glass mat thermoplastic composites modified with organophilic montmorillonite, J Mater Sci 46, 2112 (2011).

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Optics: Wave polarization

Chemistry

Organic chemistry: Polymer chemistry

Related concepts (32)

Polarizer

A polarizer or polariser (see spelling differences) is an optical filter that lets light waves of a specific polarization pass through while blocking light waves of other polarizations. It can filter a beam of light of undefined or mixed polarization into a beam of well-defined polarization, that is polarized light. The common types of polarizers are linear polarizers and circular polarizers. Polarizers are used in many optical techniques and instruments, and polarizing filters find applications in photography and LCD technology.

Polarization (physics)

Polarization (also polarisation) is a property of transverse waves which specifies the geometrical orientation of the oscillations. In a transverse wave, the direction of the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave. A simple example of a polarized transverse wave is vibrations traveling along a taut string (see image); for example, in a musical instrument like a guitar string. Depending on how the string is plucked, the vibrations can be in a vertical direction, horizontal direction, or at any angle perpendicular to the string.

Circular polarization

In electrodynamics, circular polarization of an electromagnetic wave is a polarization state in which, at each point, the electromagnetic field of the wave has a constant magnitude and is rotating at a constant rate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the wave. In electrodynamics, the strength and direction of an electric field is defined by its electric field vector. In the case of a circularly polarized wave, the tip of the electric field vector, at a given point in space, relates to the phase of the light as it travels through time and space.

Elliptical polarization

In electrodynamics, elliptical polarization is the polarization of electromagnetic radiation such that the tip of the electric field vector describes an ellipse in any fixed plane intersecting, and normal to, the direction of propagation. An elliptically polarized wave may be resolved into two linearly polarized waves in phase quadrature, with their polarization planes at right angles to each other. Since the electric field can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise as it propagates, elliptically polarized waves exhibit chirality.

Birefringence

Birefringence is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. These optically anisotropic materials are said to be birefringent (or birefractive). The birefringence is often quantified as the maximum difference between refractive indices exhibited by the material. Crystals with non-cubic crystal structures are often birefringent, as are plastics under mechanical stress.

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