Polymer Processing: using synchrotron radiation to follow structure development in commercial and novel polymer materials

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 macrostructure and WAXS gives information on the atomic level of ordering (microstructure). 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. PACS Codes: 01.30.C; 07.85; 89.02; 89.20