- Author
- Sung, L. P. | Jasmin, J. | Gu, X. | Nguyen, T. | Martin, J. W.
- Title
- Use of Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy for Quantitative Characterization of Physical Changes of Polymer Coatings After UV Exposure.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) Technical Program Annual Meeting, 81st. November 12-14, 2003, Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, Blue Bell, PA, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
- Keywords
- coatings | lasers | microscopy | exposure | atomic force microscopy | degradation | film ablation | ablation | Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy | laser scanning confocal microscopy | morphology | surface roughness | thickness measurement | ultraviolet exposure
- Abstract
- Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) has become a powerful tool for monitoring physical changes in polymeric coatings following ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Physical changes caused by UV exposure include film ablation, formation of pits and other surface defects, and increases in surface roughness. The physical changes as a function of exposure time were compared to chemical degradation measured with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was found that after 400 h of UV exposure, film thickness changes measured by LSCM were not correlated to the thickness predicted by chemical degradation in an acrylic urethane coating. Local physical changes (pit formation and surface deformation) were observed that might contribute to chemical changes.