Development of sustainable materials requires methods capable of probing the molecular composition of samples not only at
the surface but also in depth. Static secondary ion mass spectrometry (S-SIMS) characterises the distribution of organic and
inorganic compounds at the surface. Ultra-low-angle microtomy (ULAM) has been studied as an alternative or complementing method
to the molecular depth profiling with, e.g. C60+ projectiles. Acrylate-based multilayers relevant to industrial inkjet printing have been sectioned at a cutting angle below
1°. In this way, analysis of the section over a distance of 1 µm allows a depth range in the order of a few nm in the original
sample to be achieved. Adequate procedures to optimise the ULAM step and minimise or control the cutting artefacts have been
developed. The combination of ULAM with S-SIMS has allowed a depth resolution of 10 nm to be obtained for components at a
distance of 35 μm from the surface.
Keywords Polymers - Interface/surface analysis - Mass spectrometry/ICP-MS - Organic compounds/trace organic compounds