Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy of phase-change microcapsules

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.