LIGHT AND X-RAY-SCATTERING BY POLYSTYRENE GLASSES

Polarized and depolarized components of the light scattered by atactic polystyrene samples prepared from monomer of varying purity were investigated at 25 °C. In addition, small angle X-ray measurements were made on a well purified sample. These investigations show that the angular dependence and the magnitude of the scattered intensity are strongly influenced by dust-like solid impurities. The scattering observed with polystyrene glasses prepared from the purest monomer is consistent with a model in which the glass is a structureless liquid-like material. No evidence for any ordered regions is seen in these clean glasses by either light or X-ray scattering. Further consideration shows, however, that light and X-ray scattering are not very sensitive to the presence of small isotropic regions. While depolarized light scattering may be more sensitive to order through orientational correlations, quantitative interpretation of the Hv intensities is difficult. Nevertheless, from the observation that the light scattering is unaffected by thermal history, one can be reasonably certain that no structure is present beyond that expected in a supercooled liquid. © 1979 Dr. Dietrich Steinkopff Verlag.