Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy of phase-change microcapsules

Micron. 2008;39(3):275-9. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2007.04.002. Epub 2007 Apr 8.

Abstract

A synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM) is used to investigate Micronal phase-change microcapsules. Prolonged X-ray illumination of the specimen leads to the breaking of the microcapsules' protective polymer shell and a partial separation of the core-shell species occurs. The paraffin wax and acrylic polymer components are characterized by carbon K-edge near X-ray edge absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and components distribution mapping of the beam-damaged specimen is performed.