Eur. Phys. J. E (2003) 12: 211-214
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2003-10048-0

Evolution of 3D structures in a phase-separating polymer blend film confined by symmetric flat walls

¹ Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Techniques, AGH - University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 , Kraków, Poland
² M. Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagellonian University, Reymonta 4, 30-059 , Kraków, Poland
³ Fakultät für Physik, Universität Freiburg, H. Herder Straße 3, 79104 , Freiburg i. Br., Germany
⁴ Faculty of Metallurgy and Materials Science, AGH - University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 , Kraków, Poland
⁵ Joint Centre for Chemical Analysis and Structural Research, Jagellonian University, ul. Reymonta 23, 30-059, Kraków, Poland
⁶ Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramic, AGH - University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland

^* e-mail: ufrysz@if.uj.edu.pl

Abstract

The recently extended imaging mode of dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy as well as its depth profiling variant were used to study three-dimensional structures in a phase-separating polymer blend film. Formation of layered morphology and its further reorganisation into columns were observed in a system confined by symmetric flat surfaces. The integral-geometry-based morphological image analysis provided a quantitative description of the evolution of the phase morphology.