SANS from Polymers—Review of the Recent Literature

Abstract

This paper reviews the recently published literature on Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) from polymers. Papers published over the past three years and resulting from the use of the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) are included. Those with which this author is most familiar are summarized in a brief format. The intent of this review paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of the SANS technique and its impact on polymer research. SANS is a structural characterization method and a good probe for miscibility thermodynamics in polymer mixtures. SANS topics covered include polymer solutions, copolymers, polymer blends, branched or grafted polymers, polymer gels, polymer networks, polymer micelles, polymeric nanomaterials, and polymer membranes.

Keywords:

• small range neutron scattering
• polymer structures
• nanoscale
• polymer solutions
• copolymers
• blends
• gels
• networks
• branched polymers