Analysis of polycarbonate degradation at melt/FeCr-alloy interfaces as a function of the alloy composition by means of combinatorial thin film chemistry

Abstract Interfacial reactions at the polycarbonate (PC)/FeCr-alloy interface during melt contact were studied as function of Fe:Cr ratio within alloy. Thin Fe/Cr films with lateral composition gradients deposited by magnetron sputtering; analysis was done microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The local interfacial polymeric film formation could be therefore directly correlated ratio. thickness structure formed residue analyzed means imaging ellipsometry, atomic force well Fourier-transform infrared under grazing incidence XPS. Moreover, confocal fluorescence PC melt/alloy reveal minor degradation products in interphase region. results show that already an 2 : 1 leads to a strong inhibition thermal comparison unalloyed iron, general, enrichment chromium passive effective suppression degradation. data contributes improving mechanistic understanding role iron this process. Additionally, critical concentration alloys used for processing can deduced.