SAXS examination of the water evaporation process from silica materials coated with a polysaccharide-polyimine copolymer layer

We present small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of the water evapora tion process from controlled porosity glass (CPG) coated with a polysacchar ide-polyimine copolymers layer. The comparison of SAXS data with power law scattering and the level of scattering intensity for the material from whic h water is evaporated shows that SAXS is useful in defining a stage of evap oration or its degree. The results show the applicability of the SAXS metho d regarding the observation of changes in the thickness of the surface poly mer layer during water evaporation. The possibility of estimating the polym er transition layer thickness in dried and wetted samples is an additional advantage of the SAXS method employment in the investigation of polymer-por ous material systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.