Summary

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

Content

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Keywords

Polymers, microscopy, specimen preparation

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

Polymères, structures, propriétés, MSE-230, MX, Plummer

 

Important concepts to start the course

Basics of materials science, physics

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques
• Describe the main microscopy tehcniques and their application to polymers
• Recall the principal methods of specimen preparation for SEM/TEM
• Choose a technique for a given problem in polymer science
• Develop a rational approach to solving multiscale problems in polymer science
• Operate an optical microscope in different modes
• Apply basic optical microscopy to the study of polymers
• Assess / Evaluate the use of different microscopy techniques in the literature

Transversal skills

• Make an oral presentation.
• Summarize an article or a technical report.

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra, demonstrations

Expected student activities

Attending lectures and laboratory demonstrations, completing exercises, analysis and presentation of a scientific article from the literature

Assessment methods

Written exam after 4-5 weeks + oral presentation in group of 2 people at the end of the course.
Final grade = (2x presentation grade + 1x written exam grade) /3

Resources

Bibliography

Polymer microscopy - third edition, Sawyer, Grubb & Meyers, Springer , NY 2008

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Polymer microscopy / Sawyer

Notes/Handbook

Copies of the lecture notes

Websites

• http://my.epfl.ch
• http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/