Based on seven measured sections from Svalbard, the marine strata of the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation are arranged into seven transgressive–regressive sequences (TR1–TR7) of c. 4–5 Ma average duration, each bound by a maximum regressive surface. Facies, including heterozoan-dominated limestones, spiculitic cherts, sandstones, siltstones and shales, record deposition within inner, middle and outer shelf areas. The lowermost sequence, TR1, comprises most of the basal Vøringen Member, which records a transgression across the Gipshuken Formation following a hiatus of unknown duration. Temperate to cold, storm-dominated facies established in inner to middle shelf areas between the latest Artinskian and Kungurian. Prolonged deepening during sequences TR2 and TR3 was succeeded by a long-term shallowing-upward trend that lasted until the latest Permian (TR4–TR7). A major depocentre existed in central and western Spitsbergen while to the north, Dickson Land remained a shallow platform, leading to a shallow homoclinal ramp in NE Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet. The Middle Permian extinction (late Capitanian) is recorded near the base of TR6 in deeper parts of the basin only; elsewhere this sequence is not recorded. Likewise the youngest sequence, TR7, extending to the upper formational contact of latest Permian age, is found only in the basin depocentre. Comparison with age-equivalent strata in the Sverdrup Basin of Canada reveals a remarkably similar depositional history, with, for example, two (third-order) sea-level cycles recorded in the Late Permian of both regions, in keeping with the global record. Sequence stratigraphy may therefore be a powerful correlative tool for onshore and offshore Permian deposits across NW Pangaea.

Previous small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies [1] of heterogeneous ethylene-hexene linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) copolymers have confirmed the existence of a dispersed minority phase (volume fraction φ ∼ 10−2) consisting of highly branched, amorphous material. However, these experiments were conducted via a pinhole SANS spectrometer with an upper resolution limit ∼ 103 Å, whereas microscopy indicates that the dimensions of the disperse phase extend to the μm-range. We have therefore complemented these investigations via a Bonse-Hart ultra-small angle neutron scattering (USANS) instrument which increases the instrumental resolution in reciprocal space by a factor - 100, and thus particle size up to 30 μm can be resolved. The sensitivity of the USANS camera has recently been increased by two orders of magnitude by using the modified channel cut crystals [2], and the performance is therefore comparable to the best x-ray Bonse-Hart cameras. Xylene extraction removes the highly branched molecules and hence the volume fraction of the disperse phase is higher (φ ∼ 0.3) in the extracted material.

A combination of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and contrast matching techniques is used to determine the size and quantity of voids incorporated during fabrication of polyethylene/carbon black composites. The analysis used to extract void morphology from SANS data is based on the three-phase model of microcrack determination via small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) developed by W. Wu12 and applied to particulate reinforced composites.

The rich phase behaviour displayed by phospholipid bilayers and their structural relationship to biological membranes have made them fascinating objects of study. Despite being one of the most often examined of these model membrane systems, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) continues to be a source of interest for scientists. In particular, the ripple phase, Pβ′, of fully hydrated DPPC has generated a great deal of attention over the years as scientists have tried to understand the structural details of this novel phase1–5.

The solid-state morphology and liquid-state homogeneity of blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS). The solid state morphology was investigated as a function of composition and cooling rate from the melt. After slow cooling, the evidence indicated that the mixtures were either completely (HDPE-rich blends) or almost completely (LDPE-rich blends) phase separated into separate HDPE and LDPE lamellae over the whole compositional range. In contrast, for rapidly quenched blends the components are extensively co-crystallized for all concentrations, though the SANS data indicated that the branched component had a tendency to be preferentially located in the inter-lamellar regions. In the liquid state, the blends were homogenous at all compositions, showing that the solid state morphology is not determined by the melt structure, but is a function of the crystallization kinetics. Further evidence for blend homogeneity in the liquid is presented. In particular we examine the hypothesis that a phase separated mixture might give a scattering pattern similar to a homogenous blend if the domain sizes were larger that the maximum spatial resolution of the SANS experiment (D > 2π/Qmin ~ 2000Å). In this scenario, the differential scattering cross section dΣ/dΩ(Q) ~ Q-2, though phase separation decreases the cross section in this Q-range with respect to the homogenous blend. For HDPE/LDPE blends in the melt, this decrease in intensity was not observed, thus ruling out the possibility of phase separation.

Crystalline Morphologies of poly (e-caprolactone) (PCL) and deuteratedpolycarbonate (PC) blends in both the semicrystalline/amorphous state andsemicrystalline/semicrystalline state were probed by small-angle neutron andX-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS). Due to the different contrast between thephases for neutrons and X-rays, SANS exhibited a monotonie drop in intensitywith increasing scattering angle while SAXS showed lamellar (peak)scattering.

Crystal- and amorphous-phase thickness were determined from the correlationfunction calculated from SAXS. This correlation function analysis suggesteda transition from interlamellar exclusion to interlamellar incorporation ofamorphous PCL in the PC lamellae. A two-correlation length model provided anexcellent fit for the SANS data over the entire composition range. ThisModel not only reproduced the shape but also the absolute magnitude of thescattering profiles. The long range correlation length (∼102 Å)and the short range correlation length (∼ 10 Å) derived from this model wereinferred to be associated with the crystalline PC domains and the localclusters found in the amorphous phase, respectively.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study blends ofpolystyrene (PS) and poly (p-Methylstyrene) (PpmS). The presence of twoglass transitions on heating after quenching was interpreted as evidence ofphase separation at the temperature of the liquid before quenching. Thesmall difference between the glass transitions of the homopolymers in thePS/PpmS system of “13 K limits the reliable detection of double glasstransitions for blends to concentrations between 30 and 70%. The results ofthe DSC technique are supported by comparison with small angle neutronscattering (SANS) data.

Molten and semi-crystalline mixtures of PEO and PMMA have been investigated by small angle neutron and X-ray scattering. It has been found that the Flory Huggins interaction parameter, evaluated from the intermolecular scattering function, is quite small and is apparently dominated by entropic contributions. Scattering profiles from the semi-crystalline mixtures clearly show that the PMMA is incorporated within the amorphous phase between the crystalline PEO lamellae.

Amorphous Polymethylmethacrylate/Polyethyleneoxide blends deformed by solid-state coextrusion exhibit anomalous anisotropic Small Angle Neutron scattering patterns in the low q range. It is shown that upon drawing the samples have undergone phase separation to some extent. The resulting structure of the system is characterized by combining scattering techniques with Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

Over the past decade small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), has found numerous applications in the fields of biology, polymer science, physical chemistry, materials science, metallurgy, colloids., and solid state physics. A number of excellent references are available [1–4] which contain basic neutron scattering theory though these text books reflect the origins of the technique and the examples are largely drawn from physics e.g., single crystals, simple liquids, monatomic gases, liquid metals, magnetic materials, etc. In view of the large numbers of nonspecialists who are increasingly using neutron scattering, the need has become apparent for presentations which can provide rapid access to the method without unnecessary detail and mathematical rigor. In the field of polymer science several reviews have been written to meet this need [5–8] including a recent comprehensive survey of neutron scattering studies of polymers [9] to Which reference will be made for detailed derivations of the expressions used below. This article, along with others in this volume, is meant to serve as a general introduction to the symposium “Scattering Deformation and Fracture in Polymers,” and is intended to aid potential users who have a general scientific background, but no specialist knowledge of scattering, to apply the technique to provide new information in areas of their own particular interests. In view of space limitations, the general theory will be given in the case for neutron scattering and analogies and differences with photon scattering (x-rays) will be pointed out at the appropriate point.

A double rotation goniometer has been mounted in the neutron beam in order to characterize the molecular deformation in polymers subjected to various strain conditions.

The results provide a direct verification of the fiber symmetry in solid state coextruded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polypropylene (PP) homopolymers.

In the case of the shear banding phenomenon, we have been able to test the validity of the simple shear assumption: it also provides a direct estimate of the finite shear strain involved in the process. As a last illustration ofthe method, we also consider the biaxial deformation of PP and PMMA squeezed under various temperature and strain-rate conditions.

Binary mixtures of the perdeuterated and protonated isotopes of four amorphous polymerspolystyrenes, 1,4-polybutadienes, 1,2-polybutadienes, and 1,2-polybutenes – have been examined by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). In each case, evaluation of the SANS results based on the RPA theory of de Gennes indicates non-ideal mixing characterized by a Flory-Huggins interaction parameter 10-4 < χ 10-3. All four χ parameters can be closely predicted based on the measured change in the carbon-hydrogen bond polarizability with deuterium substitution. These findings are discussed in the context of past SANS studies of amorphous polymers.