Thermal Characterization of Polypropylene Block-copolymer by Temperature Controlled Scanning Probe Microscope

Nobuaki Okubo, and Takehiro Yamaoka

Seiko Instruments Inc. 563 Takatsukashin-den Matsudo-shi, Chiba 270-2222, Japan

We demonstrated Temperature Controlled Scanning Probe Microscopy to characterize thermal behavior of polypropylene block-copolymer. Morphology of polypropylene block-copolymer was measured at temperature ranging from -100Åé to 120Åé by VE-AFM (Visco-Elasticity Atomic Force Microscope). We successfully observed the transition process from glass state to rubber state through glass transition of Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) dispersed in polypropylene matrix. We propose that the Temperature Controlled Scanning Microscope is a powerful tool to characterize thermal behavior of very small area of organic polymers.