Polymer processing: Using synchrotron radiation to follow structure development in commercial and novel polymer materials

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Vol. 238; no. 1-4; pp. 21 - 27
• Main Authors: Heeley, E.L., Gough, T., Bras, W., Gleeson, A.J., Coates, P.D., Ryan, A.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2005
• Subjects: Novel comb polymers; Polymer processing; Small and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS); 89.02; 89.20; 01.30.C; Small and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS); 07.85; Novel comb polymers; Polymer processing
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2005.06.012

Exploring the macro- and micro-structure development associated with crystallization in polymer materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be achieved using Small-and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering techniques (SAXS/WAXS). Here, SAXS probes the long range ordering or macro-structure and WAXS gives information on the atomic level of ordering (micro-structure). Following structure development and hence the crystallization process in polymers, is particularly important as it leads to the stabilisation of the final product. The crystallinity in a polymer material influences its aesthetic and mechanical properties and so to develop useful materials it is essential to have a deep understanding of the kinetics involved with this process, which can be explored with a variety of scattering techniques.