X-ray Diffraction Methodology for Crystal Structure Analysis in Characterization of Polymer

Because of complicated multi-scale structure for the polymer material, studying microscopic structure of polymer and clarifying the relationship between structure and physical property are the major goal and challenge in the polymer science. For the crystalline polymer, crystal structure should be analyzed and established at first. X-ray diffraction is the most classical and conventional method for the crystal structure analysis in polymers, which gives the detailed information of molecular chain conformation, chain aggregation in the crystal lattice. This article reviews the main principles and experimental techniques of X-ray diffraction methodology, and also summarizes the progress and application in the polymer field over the past decade. By utilizing X-ray diffraction method, the crystal structure of newly synthesized crystalline polymers can be analyzed, which may help us recognize crystal phase transition and hierarchical structure evolution by the external force, and also study towards the microscopic clarification of structure-property relationship. By combining other techniques such as neutron scattering, electron diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, vibrational spectroscopy and computer simulation, the crystal structure of polymers with higher reliability can be established, leading us to the highly quantitative discussion from the molecular level. For this purpose, the study of polymer crystal structure is still on the way, and the contents may be helpful for the beginners and researchers.