Transmission electron microscopy of polyamides

Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the lamellae morphology of polyamide-6

“…Thin sections (60 nm) were cut from the composite after melt compounding under cryogenic conditions using a Leica Ultracut microtome with a diamond knife. The sections were stained by an aqueous solution of phosphotungstic acid (H 3 PO 4 $12WO 3 ) and benzyl alcohol [31]. Benzyl alcohol helps diffusion of WO 3 in amorphous polyamide layers, so the crystalline lamellae of polyamide matrix are revealed.…”

Crystalline organization and toughening: example of polyamide-12

“…Osmium tetroxide (OsO 4 ) vapor was used to selectively stain SBM particles in PA12/SBM systems. An aqueous solution of phosphotungstic acid (H 3 PO 4 , 12WO 3 ) and benzyl alcohol was used to stain the polyamide matrix and reveal the crystalline lamellae [24]. Benzyl alcohol acts as a dyeing assistant and helps diffusion of WO 3 which preferentially stains the amorphous polyamide layers.…”

The electron microscope characterization of the fine structure of nylon 6: I. The supermolecular structure in melt-cast, isotropic bulk material

“…In the meantime, Weber et al [13][14][15] have proposed a new staining method using a mixture of formaldehyde and osmium tetroxide in an aqueous solution. PTA-staining has been used recently by Martinez-Salazar and Cannon [16] for investigations on nylon 6 thin films, and Geigenfeind and Owen [17] applied OsO4-staining to oriented foils of nylon 12.…”