Preparation of cleavages of polyethylene naphthalate track membranes for studying with an electron microscope

Abstract

The possibility of obtaining fracture cleavages of polyethylene naphthalate tracking membrane samples for electron microscope examinations has been investigated. These cleavages allow one to examine the pore channel structure along the whole pore length from one surface to the other. Due to a high radiation and thermal stability of polyethylene naphthalate films, thermal, ultraviolet, and radiation treatment methods applied for obtaining brittle films of such polymers as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, and polypropylene are unsuitable for them. The treatment of the samples with concentrated nitric acid vapors for 1.5 months makes them brittle. It is possible to obtain good cross-section.