Towards a structural characterization of an epoxy based polymer using small-angle x-ray scattering

The grazing incidence x-ray reflectometry was used in this study to characterize an epoxy based polymer (Striasol 500). The possibility of using complementarily reflection and transmission of diffuse x ray has been emphasized. Measurements were made in both “detector scan” and “rocking curve” modes. For the first mode, results have shown that this polymer presents locally a periodic character, with various spacing structures (from 32to74nm), while the rocking curve measurements revealed that the mean orientation of these structures is slightly tilted (about 0.01°) compared to the surface sample. Reproducibility measurements have been equally demostrated showing a short distance order, as the periodic structures are observed only on some parts of the analyzed sample. At last, a stability study has shown that the structure of superficial and deeper parts of polymer varies differently after 15months.