Probe-SAXS and Deformation Studies on Nano-composite gels with 2D-Pair Distribution Function Analysis

The information about the spatial distribution of fillers during stretching is essential to investigate a reinforcement effect of the mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials. Small angle scattering during stretching is a powerful tool for this purpose though 2D anisotropic scattering patterns are difficult to interpret. In this study, we propose how to evaluate 2D pair distribution function (2D PDF), which is the statistical information of spatial distribution in real space, from 2D anisotropic scattering patterns. From 2D PDFs, we obtained detailed and concrete structural information about the elongated PDAM-NP gel, such as affine and non-affine displacements of directly attached and homogeneously dispersed silica nanoparticles, respectively. These results strongly indicate that our 2D PDF analysis will provide deep insight into internal structure of polymer nanocomposites hidden in the anisotropic scattering patterns.