TIT# Nanostructure Evolution Studies of Bulk Polymer Materials with
     Synchrotron Radiation. Progress in Method Development
AUT# Stribeck, Norbert;
SOU# Anal. Bioanal. Chem. (2003), 376(5), 608-617
LOC# xv080
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ABS# The prospects of a modern analysis of nanostructure evolution during the
      processing of polymer materials by means of scattering from synchrotron
      radiation are demonstrated in examples. After that the beam sources have
      gained stability, shortages are located in beamline setups and in method
      development for the quantitative analysis of voluminous data sets.
      Using the proposed multidimensional chord distribution function (CDF)
      analysis method nanostructure information from small-angle X-ray
      scattering (SAXS) data are extracted and visualised. The method can be
      automated if the beamline setup is able to deliver a full data set with
      simple constraints. In this case even a simultaneous data evaluation is
      possible (While one pattern is accumulated, the previous one is analysed).
      The advantages of the method are demonstrated in a study of the
      straining of a thermoplastic elastomer. The possibilities of an
      automated analysis are demonstrated in an investigation of the
      crystallisation behaviour of high-pressure injection-moulded polyethylene
      (HPIM-PE). The achievable results of nanostructure analysis of polymer
      materials are discussed. It is shown that the time-resolved SAXS of
      polymer materials studied during a transformation and analysed by the
      CDF method is not only a powerful tool to investigate the relation
      between structure and properties of materials. Equally important is the
      information that can be gained concerning the processes that control
      nanostructure evolution. In the future the enlightenment of such
      relations may help to tailor polymer materials with respect to their
      properties and, beyond that, to improve assessments concerning their
      aging.