Apparatus for simultaneous rheology and small-angle neutron scattering from high-viscosity polymer melts and blends

摘要

In situ study of structural changes in soft matter systems while exposed to shear gives vital information related to the dynamics of polymers. A new shear apparatus has been developed for simultaneous rheology and in situ small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) from high-viscosity polymeric melts and blends. The apparatus described here enables one to perform Theological measurements in a plate-plate geometry under various modes of applied shear viz., steady, oscillatory, and other programmed mode, in a wide range of temperatures that can be varied from ambient to 550 K. A major advantage of this instrument compared to other counterparts (available elsewhere) for a similar geometry of operation is that it is also equipped with a strain sensor for rheological measurements along with the capability to offer both steady state and oscillatory shearing measurements with a single instrument, something hitherto not possible due to the limitations imposed by the conceived design of the instruments. Besides, the parallel plate geometry of the apparatus utilized here offers a distinctive edge over Couette type cells used for similar purposes as the latter is often not suitable for studies on well-entangled concentrated polymeric systems due to high viscosity and associated large sample volume requirements. The details of the design, construction and operation of such device, the Rheo-SANS apparatus, are described in this paper. Preliminary test data obtained from the initial experiments on different samples of blends of deuterated polystyrene and poly(vinyl methyl ether) are presented and discussed within the context of theories known to predict their behaviour.