A NOVEL-APPROACH TO EXTRACT MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABLES IN CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS FROM TIME-RESOLVED SYNCHROTRON SAXS DATA

A novel approach to extract morphological variables in crystalline pol ymers from time-resolved SAXS data using the method of correlation and interface distribution functions has been devised. The principle of t he calculation is based on two alternative expressions of Pored's law using the form of the interference function. The approach enables the continuous estimate of the Pored constant, and corrections for liquid scattering and finite interface between the two phases, from the time- resolved data. A model of lamellar morphology has been implemented to interpret the calculated correlation and interface distribution functi ons. Many detailed morphological variables such as lamellar long perio d, thicknesses of crystal and amorphous phases, interface thickness, a nd scattering invariant can be estimated. An example analysis of isoth ermal crystallization in PET measured by synchrotron SAXS is demonstra ted.