Neutron scattering has become quite widely applied to the study of problems in polymer science and technology. This text has been designed to introduce newcomers to the experimental techniques and basic theories necessary in order to understand research results.

Also, to help students gain a unified view of diffraction, the distinction between wide-angle diffraction and small-angle scattering is postponed until late in the text."--BOOK JACKET.

This book reflects the recent progress made in the field of scattering in polymers. A wide range of scattering studies on different polymer systems, including block copolymers, semicrystalline polymers, complex fluids, multicomponent systems, polymeric surfaces, and polymer processing are included, as well as new experimental techniques and theoretical treatments. This volume provides a comprehensive reference for those researchers who need to know how scattering techniques can be used to tackle different polymer problems, and is ideal for graduate polymer scientists studying scattering techniques.

Small-angle scattering of X rays and neutrons is a widely used diffraction method for studying the structure of matter. This method of elastic scattering is used in various branches of science and technology, includ ing condensed matter physics, molecular biology and biophysics, polymer science, and metallurgy. Many small-angle scattering studies are of value for pure science and practical applications. It is well known that the most general and informative method for investigating the spatial structure of matter is based on wave-diffraction phenomena. In diffraction experiments a primary beam of radiation influences a studied object, and the scattering pattern is analyzed. In principle, this analysis allows one to obtain information on the structure of a substance with a spatial resolution determined by the wavelength of the radiation. Diffraction methods are used for studying matter on all scales, from elementary particles to macro-objects. The use of X rays, neutrons, and electron beams, with wavelengths of about 1 A, permits the study of the condensed state of matter, solids and liquids, down to atomic resolution. Determination of the atomic structure of crystals, i.e., the arrangement of atoms in a unit cell, is an important example of this line of investigation.

Neutrons, which are a penetrating yet non destructive probe, are ideally suited to studying the structure, organisation and motion of molecules responsible for the physical properties of materials under a variety of conditions. Applications are in fields as diverse as colloid and polymer science, earth sciences, pharmaceutics, biology and engineering. This book will be of interest to both present and potential future users of neutron sources working in these areas, as both a useful reference and a comprehensive overview.