Electron beam radiation damage to organic inclusions in ice as an analytical tool for polymer science

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Abstract
A method is proposed to enhance contrast between microdomains of two‐component polymer systems using electron beam radiation damage. The technique is based on the different damage patterns to crosslinking‐type and scission‐type polymer particles embedded in ice. Whereas the former lose little mass and cavities form in the ice around them, the latter lose much more mass, become cellular in appearance, and occasionally swell. Applications of the technique are demonstrated by revealing the microstructure of two‐stage poly(butylacrylate)/polystyrene latices, their size distributions, and the presence of single‐component particles in the two‐component system.