Abstract

The technique of freeze-etching, in which the sample is frozen, fractured and replicated, has been used to prepare specimens of commercially available acrylic emulsions for electron microscopic investigation. In this way it was possible to study the finishes in the concentrated form in which they are supplied, and to detect the presence of additives. Deformation of the soft polymer particles occurred, even at the low temperatures used, but accurate particle size measurements were still performed. Differences in polymer hardness were of no direct significance in terms of specimen appearance, and all preparations had a mean particle diameter of 65-120 nm.