Application of the Electron Density Correlation Function for Structural Analysis of X-ray Scattering/Diffraction Information from Polymer-based Nano-Composites. Issue 1754 (20th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Kenan; Zhang, Yiying; Tajaddod, Navid; Minus, Marilyn L.
• Editors: Barabash, R.; Benning, L.G.; Genc, A.; Kim, Y.; Lereu, A.; Li, D.; Lienert, U.; Liss, K.D.; Ohnuma, M.; Ovchinnikova, O.; Passian, A.; Rimer, J.D.; Tetard, L.; Thundat, T.; Zenobi, R.; Zorba, V.
• Is Part Of: MRS proceedings. Issue 1754:(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-08-20
• Subjects: x-ray diffraction (XRD), -- composite, -- structural; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/opl.2015.760
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-9172

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Modern diffraction and scattering methods of X-ray radiation allow for multi-scale probing of the material morphology for both polymer-based composite films and fibers. These approaches and analyses tools can be used to map the makeup of individual grain structures in various polymer nano-composites in order to examine the effects of the fillers on nano-scale structural changes in the materials. The electron intensity correlation function, derived from Fourier transformations of the X-ray scattering pattern provides a path to analyze acquired data for space resolved domains. Here in this study, polymer-based nano-carbon composite systems are analyzed. The polymers used include polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, and polyacrilonitrile as matrix materials. The nano-carbon filler contribution to the grain size evolution is tracked by X-ray scattering/diffraction characterization. These results show that the relevant sizes of crystalline and amorphous domains within the lamellae structures correspond to the dispersion/distribution of the nano-filler in the composite materials. This work mainly illustrates an effective use of the correlation function to provide global morphological analysis in the composite system.