Case studies
Surface
analysis of bottle labels
The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in slip behaviour
between two different label samples. The labels were examined using
X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometry (XPS) which characterises the chemistry of
surfaces, giving such information as elemental ratios and chemical make-up.
Time-of-flight SIMS (ToF SIMS) can also be used to provide a mass spectrum
of the surface coatings to provide further information on
the composition of the surface layers.
Polymer
fracturing
In this instance, compositional differences in polymer ladders were
investigated to determine why fracturing was occurring in some
cases. The surfaces were examined using Field Emission Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM) which gives high resolution physical imaging
of surfaces. Other techniques used were Differential
Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) which measures the amount of energy absorbed
or released by a sample as it is heated, thus identifying phase changes
and reactions and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) which is used to
analyse the composition of materials, in particular, polymers.