Any electron microscopical study of the morphology of bulk polymers has throughout the years been hampered by the lack of any real ability to produce meaningful surface variations for replication. True etching of polymers should show crystalline and amorphous regions in some form of relief. The use of solvents, acids, organic vapors, and inert ion bombardment to etch samples has proved to be useful only in limited applications. Certainly many interpretations of these results are subject to question.The recent use of a radiofrequency (R. F.) plasma of oxygen to degrade and remove organic material with only minor heating has opened a new possibility for etching polymers. However, rigid control of oxygen flow, time, current, and sample position are necessary in order to obtain reproducible results. The action is confined to surface layers; the molecular weight of the polymer residue after heavy etching is the same as the molecular weight of the polymer before attack, within the accuracy of measurement.
