Popis: |
Microphase separation of as-reacted polyester-polyurethane samples based on α-hydro-ω-hydroxypoly(oxyethyleneoxyadipoyl)/4,4′-methylenedi(phenyl isocyanate)/1,4-butanediol/2-ethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (mole ratio 1:3,2:1,9:0,1) was studied using transmission electron microscopy. A new staining technique was applied which uses ruthenium tetroxide vapour for the treatment of the polymer. Ruthenium tetroxide reacts preferably with the hard-segment-rich microdomains of the polyester-polyurethane. Therefore, a well-contrasted pattern is formed by staining which reflects the microdomain structure of the polymer. The hard-segment-rich microdomains have irregular, mostly globular shape, and their sizes range from about 2 to 8 nm. |