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 32 to 74 nm), while the rocking curve measurements revealed that the mean orientation of these structures is slightly tilted (about 0.01 degrees) 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 15 months.