of polymers strongly confirm the existence of a close relationship between the
morphology of the structural formations of polymers and their mechanical properties.
The reference data [6, 7] shows that the formation of globular structures is known as
characteristic of amorphous polymers, accompanied by a deterioration of their
mechanical properties. Polymers become brittle and break easily under shock loads.
Introducing the fillers can significantly improve the mechanical properties, because
they are able to influence the overmolecular structure formation of polymers. The
impact on the structure by means of various solid additives may be used for aimed
adjustment of the mechanical properties of polymers, which sets the problem of
studying structures of these materials as a priority task.
Morphological studies were carried out with an electron microscope UEMV-100,
using the replica method. Replica shadowing was performed with the help of platinum.
As can be seen from Fig. 1 phenylone is an amorphous polymer and has a globular
structure. Cleavage surface is uniformly covered with the spheric structures of
approximately 30 nm, which is consistent with the references [8, 9].
Figure 1. Image of electron
microscopy of
the surface’s cold break of APP, х
20000
For amorphous polymers with flexible
circuits, globular type structure is the simplest
one, consisting of one or many macromolecules
rolled
into
spherical
particles.
The
macromolecules’ ability to roll into a ball is
determined by their high flexibility and the
predominance of intramolecular interaction
forces over intermolecular ones [10]. The
globules may be considered [11] as three-
dimensional formations of macromolecules or
their segments, but possessing short-range order
of chain molecule axes’ arrangement
Electron microscopy investigation of metal-containing polymers (Fig. 2, 3) shows
significant changes in the nature of phenylone cleavage in the presence of metal
particles. The greatest changes occur in the boundary and interfacial layers. In filled
systems containing aluminum (Fig. 2 a) in the layers bordering with the filler, the
formation of multimolecular globules is observed. In systems with copper and bronze
(Fig. 2 b, c) ordering with the formation of globular slats is observed. Nickel (Fig. 2 d)
provides for the formation of individual folded structures. Titanium initiates the
formation and orientation of globular slats that provide for a crown-shaped structure
(Fig. 2 e).
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