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Polymer research

Controlling pore-size in a membrane, optimizing processing conditions of packing materials, determining the orientation of plastics under stress?

Characterization at the nanoscale can help you find answers.

With X-ray scattering in your lab, you can for example:

Determine the phase of self-assembled block-copolymers or liquid crystalline polymers
Reveal spatially resolved structural variations due to processing such as injection molding
Test the tensile properties of plastics or follow the degree of crystallinity during controlled cooling
Investigate thickness and morphology of polymer and composite films
Characterize the size, shape and distribution of rubber-fillers or polymeric colloids and micelles in dispersion

Contact us to discuss your needs

Using wide-angle X-ray scattering to measure low-level crystallinity

Determination of crystalline fractions in a polyolefin down to 0.3% during a kinetic experiment using integrated temperature control.

Read this application example

With SAXS and WAXS you can study polymer samples in situ

Internal structure, interfaces, effect of stress and strain, temperature or humidity…
What are you looking at?

Want to learn more on SAXS for polymer research?

Analysing polymer nanocomposites with X-ray scattering

Nanocomposites are a class of high-performance materials which are attracting attention in various industries such as for example the automotive industry […]

SAXS/WAXS results help elucidate structure-funtion relationships in foams

Foams – gas trapped in solids or liquids – are common materials, found all around us. Liquid foams can be found in cosmetic formulations, home care products and food, whereas solid foams find use in […]

Polymer phase transformation

Simultaneous SAXS/WAXS measurements of a semi-crystalline polymer during thermal processing enables determination of route for phase transformation.

Silk fiber nanostructure investigation

SAXS/WAXS measurements enable the determination of the characteristic dimensions and the semi-crystalline structure of Bombyx mori cocoon silk fibers.

Determination of polymer crystallinity

The level of crystallinity of a polyolefin was determined during a kinetic experiment using the Xeuss SAXS/WAXS system in combination with an integrated temperature control stage, the Linkam HFSX350.

Some of our customers

using X-ray scattering for their study of polymers

“ In electron microscopy, you must prepare your sample by slicing and cutting the sample and therefore it gives no chance to study the properties in situ, during for example thermal treatment or mechanical testing . But with SAXS you can do it.”

Prof. Yongfeng Men, CIAC, Chinese Academy of Science

Customer publications

Discover how scientists use Xenocs instruments for their research & publications

See more publications

Cavitation in Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) during Tensile Deformation
Chen, R.; Lu, Y.; Jiang, Z.; Men, Y.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2018

Blocked Shape Memory Effect in Negative Poisson’s Ratio Polymer Metamaterials
Boba, K.; Bianchi, M.; McCombe, G.; Gatt, R.; Griffin, A. C.; Richardson, R. M.; Scarpa, F.; Hamerton, I.; Grima, J. N.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016

Products

Discover our products relevant to polymer research.

Nano-inXider

Smart nanoscale characterization

Discover more

Xeuss Pro

The Ultimate Solution for Nanoscale Characterization using SAXS/WAXS/GISAXS/USAXS/Imaging

Discover more

Xeuss Pro The Ultimate Laboratory SAXS/WAXS/GISAXS/USAXS Beamline

Services

We are here to help.

Discover our services offer

Accessories

A wide range of accessories are available for your research
in polymer science.

Discover our accessories

XSACT software

X-ray Scattering Analysis and Calculation Tool.

Discover our analysis software

Polymer Nanostructure Characterization

Polymer Nanostructure Characterization – Check It In Situ With SAXS

Polymer Nanostructure Characterization – Check It In-Situ With SAXS WAXS. Understand Material Behavior By Measuring In Operando Its Atomic & Nanoscale Order



Source	Microfocus sealed tube: Cu, 30W/30µm, point focus. ( DIN EN 12543-5) Polychromatic Copper microfocus source for imaging a field of view of 14 mm x 14 mm. MetalJet D2+ 70 kV source (Ga). Motorized Dual or Triple source (Cu/Mo/Cr/Ga).
Optics	Patented 3D single reflection multilayer optics.
Detector	In-vacuum motorized 3-axis detectors for 2D SAXS/WAXS (Q-Xoom): --Eiger2 R (500K, 1M or 4M) hybrid photon counting detectors Optional WAXS detectors for SWAXS: --Motorized 3-axis Eiger2 R 500K hybrid photon counting detector
Sample chamber	Large vacuum chamber. On-axis sample viewing (parallax free). Attachments for operation of sample in air. XL station: Dedicated air-space tailored for accommodating extra-large sample environments
Key features	Clean Beam technology: High flux and low background beamline. Beamstopless measurement: SAXS acquisition continuously without any beamstop. Q-Xoom: Automatic change of measurement configuration over all instrument Q-range with no movement of sample measuring position and automatic callibations. Virtual detector mode: Surfaces of detection > 200 mm x 200 mm.
Measurement capability	Nanoparticles size up to 250 nm, 500 nm or 900 nm in diameter depending on the Xeuss model. Nanoparticles size up to > 2.5 microns with optional motorized Bonse-Hart module for automatic sequential USAXS/SAXS/WAXS measurements. Nanoparticles sizes down to 50 nm can be measured using the AuX source on spot sizes of 150 microns and with measuring times in the range of a minute or less. Scattering measurements up to 2Ɵ > 70° with Q-Xoom. Qmax > 49 nm-1 The X-ray imaging option extends the range of structural information from Å to mm while the Dark-field and Phase-contrast imaging (DF-PCI) option reveals nanostructure differences, interfaces and orientation.
Sample environment	Standard holders (multi-samples): solids, capillaries, powders and gels. Flowcells for liquids: --- Low noise flowcell --- Capillary flowcell --- Automatic Sample Changer --- BioCube measuring cell with dynamic monitoring (compatible with pipetting robot) Temperature stages: --- Multi-purpose X-Ray temperature stage (-30°C to 150°C) --- High temperature sample stage (-150°C to 350°C) --- Extended high-temperature sample stage (ambient to 1000°C) Mechanical stress stages: --- Tensile Stage (0 N to 600N). --- Couette stage for shear SAXS. --- Cryo-Shear Cell (-50°C to +450°C). Humidity stage (5% to 95% humidity at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 70°C). Temperature compatible advanced GISAXS stage with incidence angle control and additional rotation for texture or in-plane scattering analysis Other sample stages available under request
Software	Comprehensive Software Suite: Xplore: command and control software for intuitive data acquisition with automatic data reduction in absolute units and live data display providing also real-time equipment monitoring and scripting capabilities from any programming language. XSACT Pro (X-ray Scattering Analysis and Calculation Tool) for data analysis and interpretation including unique modules for particle shape determination through direct modeling or AI-powered classification.
General parameters	Models & Footprint: Xeuss Pro C (1 m x 3.5 m), HR (1 m x 5 m), UHR (1 m x 8 m). Maximum power consumption: 4.8kW (single phase power)


Mirror type	Figure	Optic efficiency (calculated over mirror length for 70µm source)
Standard Montel mirrors		Eff = 42%
Xenocs FOX 3D mirrors		Eff = 62%


Model	Beam size at focus (mm) with 60 µm source	Divergence (mrad)	Typical application
FOX 3D Cu 14-39 (♦)	0.19 x 0.19	5.4	Protein crystallography (♦) Powder diffraction
FOX 3D Cu 12-53	0.3 x 0.3	3	Protein crystallography (Long Unit Cells) Powder diffraction
FOX 3D Mo 10-31	0.13 x 0.13	4	Small molecule crystallography High pressure diffraction
FOX 3D Ag 10-30	0.13 x 0.13	3	Small molecule crystallography High pressure diffraction
FOX 3D Cr 8-30	0.20 x 0.20	6	Protein crystallography (S-SAD) Stress analysis
FOX 1D Cu 12-53	0.3	3	XRD, Powder Diffraction


Model	Beam size at focus (mm) with 60 µm source	Divergence (mrad)	Typical application
FOX 2D Mo 25-25 (♦)	0.08 x 0.08	5	Small mollecule crystallography High pressure crystallography
FOX 2D Cu 25-25 (♦)	0.08 x 0.08	5.3	Protein crystallography (♦) Micro Diffraction, Reflectometry
FOX 3D Cu 21-21 HC (♦)	0.08 x 0.08	70 x 35	Rapid x-ray Reflectometry (full beam) Scanning x-ray Reflectometry (with slit) Micro-XRF
FOX 3D Cu 28-10	0.04 x 0.04	17	Stress Analysis, Micro-diffraction, Micro-XRF
FOX 3D Cr 30-8	0.04 x 0.04	17	Stress Analysis, Micro-diffraction, Micro-XRF


Model	Beam size at focus (mm) with 60 µm source	Divergence (mrad)	Typical application
FOX 2D Cu 12-INF (♦)	1.2 x 1.2	1	Small angle x-ray scattering (♦) High resolution x-ray diffraction (♦) Surface scattering (♦) Thin film analysis (reflectometry stress) (♦) Microdiffraction on synchrotron (♦)
FOX 2D Mo 25-INF (♦)	0.85 x 1.3	0.5	Small angle x-ray scattering High resolution x-ray diffraction Surface scattering
FOX 2D 12-60 L (♦)	0.18 x 0.2	0.5 x 2	High resolution diffraction Small sample analysis
FOX 1D Cu 12-INF (♦)	1.2	0.8	High resolution x-ray diffraction, Powder diffraction, Reflectometry, Small angle x-ray scattering


Model	Beam size at focus (µm)	Divergence (mrad)	Flux (ph/sec)	Typical application
GeniX 3D Cu High Flux *	< 190	6	> 400 x 10⁶	Protein crystallography Micro stress analysis Powder diffraction
GeniX 3D Mo High Flux	< 130	5	> 25 x 10⁶	Small Molecule crystallography High pressure
GeniX 3D Cr High Flux	< 190	6	> 300 x 10⁶	Stress Analysis
GeniX 3D Cu High Convergence *	60	70 x 35	> 400 x 10⁶	Rapid X-ray Reflectometry (full beam) Scanning x-ray reflectometry (with slit) Micro x-ray fluorescence Small spot diffraction on thin film
GeniX 3D Cu Low Convergence *	< 250	3	> 120 x 10⁶	Small Angle X-ray Scattering Protein Crystallography


Model	Detailed specifications
Synchrotron scatterless slits (♦)	Please contact us for any technical information Discover what our customers say about it!
X-ray alignment camera (♦)	Please contact us for any technical information
Pin Diode detector (♦)	Please contact us for any technical information
Beam stop with integrated Pin Diode	Please contact us for any technical information


BioXolver configurations	BioXolver	BioXolver L
Utilisation	Research on biological macro-molecules in solution	Research on biological macro-molecules, including large complexes and interactions
X-ray source	Microfocus GeniX 3D, MetalJet, add-on to RAG	0.02-0.3nm
Optic	Aspheric single reflection multilayer optic
Collimation	Motorized scatterless point collimation	variable
Sample cell	Xenocs thermalized BioCube flow-cell with camera and pump
Sample handling	Pipetting robot with disposable tips
Sample capacity	Up to 2 x 96 well plates (thermalized)
Minimum sample volume	Down to 5 μL
Cleaning	Automated cleaning and drying with three cleaning fluids
Detector	Dectris in-vacuum hybrid pixel photon counting detector
Detector configuration	Fixed detector distance	Variable detector distance
Data reduction and analysis software	RAW and ATSAS
Q-range and typical protein size*	0.006 Å-1 / MW < 200 MDa / Rg < 135 Å	0.003 Å-1 / MW < 1.5 GDa / Rg < 270 Å
Overall length	3.2 m (2.7 m as add-on to existing source)	4.2 m
Options	UV-Vis, separate temperature control for sample trays and BioCube	UV-Vis, separate temperature control for sample trays and BioCube
Services	Installation, training, hot-line, maintenance contract	Installation, training, hot-line, maintenance contract



Source and optics	Microfocus sealed tube: Cu, 30W/30µm, point focus. ( DIN EN 12543-5) Patented 2D single reflection multilayer optics.
Detector	Dectris Pilatus 3 hybrid photon counting detectors. Two fixed detectors for continuously and simultaneously. SAXS and WAXS acquisition up to 2θ=60°.
Beam Path	Windowless beam path entirely under vacuum from beam delivery system to detector sensor
Key features	Clean Beam technology: high flux and low background beamline. Beamstopless measurement: SAXS acquisition continuously without any beamstop. Virtual detector mode: > 200° azimuth coverage with rotation of sample.
Measurement capability	Nanoparticles size up to 250 nm in diameter.
Sample environment	Standard holders: solids, capillaries, powders. Sample holders for powders and gels. Flow cells for liquids: --- Low noise flow cell --- Capillary flow cell Automatic Sample Changer Temperature stages: --- Multi-purpose X-Ray Temperature Stage (-20°C to 150°C) --- High temperature sample stage (-150°C to 350°C) --- Extended high temperature sample stage (amb - 700°C) Tensile Stage (0-200N). GiSAXS stage compatible with high temperature sample stage. Custom stages on request.
Software	Acquisition software with automatic data reduction in absolute units and live data display. XSACT (X-ray Scattering Analysis and Calculation Tool) for data analysis and interpretation.
General parameters	Fooprint: < 1x1 m². Weight: ~ 520 kg. Maximum power consumption: < 2000 W (single phase power). Self-contained: no external fluids required.
Warranty	Two years warranty and three years on X ray source.


Element of interest	Reference
O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S	XAN-1
Nitrogen	XAN-2
Carbon	XAN-3
Boron	XAN-4
Mg, Al , Si	XAN-5
Be	XAN-6

Polymer research

Controlling pore-size in a membrane, optimizing processing conditions of packing materials, determining the orientation of plastics under stress?

Characterization at the nanoscale can help you find answers.

With X-ray scattering in your lab, you can for example:

Using wide-angle X-ray scattering to measure low-level crystallinity

Determination of crystalline fractions in a polyolefin down to 0.3% during a kinetic experiment using integrated temperature control.

With SAXS and WAXS you can study polymer samples in situ

Internal structure, interfaces, effect of stress and strain, temperature or humidity… What are you looking at?

Want to learn more on SAXS for polymer research?

Nanocomposites are a class of high-performance materials which are attracting attention in various industries such as for example the automotive industry […]

Foams – gas trapped in solids or liquids – are common materials, found all around us. Liquid foams can be found in cosmetic formulations, home care products and food, whereas solid foams find use in […]

Simultaneous SAXS/WAXS measurements of a semi-crystalline polymer during thermal processing enables determination of route for phase transformation.

SAXS/WAXS measurements enable the determination of the characteristic dimensions and the semi-crystalline structure of Bombyx mori cocoon silk fibers.

The level of crystallinity of a polyolefin was determined during a kinetic experiment using the Xeuss SAXS/WAXS system in combination with an integrated temperature control stage, the Linkam HFSX350.

Some of our customers

using X-ray scattering for their study of polymers

“ In electron microscopy, you must prepare your sample by slicing and cutting the sample and therefore it gives no chance to study the properties in situ, during for example thermal treatment or mechanical testing . But with SAXS you can do it.”

Customer publications

Discover how scientists use Xenocs instruments for their research & publications

Cavitation in Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) during Tensile Deformation Chen, R.; Lu, Y.; Jiang, Z.; Men, Y. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2018

Blocked Shape Memory Effect in Negative Poisson’s Ratio Polymer Metamaterials Boba, K.; Bianchi, M.; McCombe, G.; Gatt, R.; Griffin, A. C.; Richardson, R. M.; Scarpa, F.; Hamerton, I.; Grima, J. N. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016

Products

Discover our products relevant to polymer research.

Nano-inXider

Smart nanoscale characterization

Xeuss Pro

The Ultimate Solution for Nanoscale Characterization using SAXS/WAXS/GISAXS/USAXS/Imaging

Services

We are here to help.

Accessories

A wide range of accessories are available for your research in polymer science.

XSACT software

X-ray Scattering Analysis and Calculation Tool.

Polymer Nanostructure Characterization

Polymer Nanostructure Characterization – Check It In Situ With SAXS

Useful links

X-ray Optics

Xenocs proposes a wide range of optics for both XRD and XRF applications.

2D-3D Beam shaping X-ray Optics

High Flux Optics

Small Spot Optics

Collimating Optics

1D Beam shaping X-ray Optics

High Flux Optics

Collimating Optics

X-ray beam delivery system

The combination of an innovative design and the FOX3D single reflection optics makes the GeniX3D a unique solution on the market.

High flux solutions

Small spot solutions

X-ray beam accessories

In addition to our high quality optical components and beam delivery systems, we propose accessories to optimize the performance of your setup.

Xeuss 3.0 specifications

Plenty of space for sample environment

With its large chamber and concept ensuring stationary sample during measurement, the Xeuss 3.0 is the perfect X-ray scattering platform instrument for now and the future.

Ultimate performance

The Xeuss 3.0 offers a maximum flexibility of measurement configurations to get the best possible data quality on any type of sample.

Xeuss 3.0 shown with Q-Xoom transparency to illustrate the moving detector.

Maximum flexibility

Provide structural tools to a large community of users with full remote operation capability and access to a unique range of length-scales.

Q-Xoom – enjoy the flexibility of full-range computer-controlled detector travel

Measure probe lengths as large as 4.5 microns together with nanoscale information

Optimize your experiment to any type of sample (absorption, fluorescence, characteristic dimensions)

Simultaneously from atomic to nanoscale

No need to repeat SAXS and WAXS measurement, you get two measurements within one exposure.

Extensive and powerful suite of data analysis algorithms

XSACT includes an extensive array of analysis modules for sample characterization of size, structure and texture of multiple types of materials including nanoparticles and polymers.

Low cost of ownership

Get nanoscale information on a day to day basis to improve your material process or validate your research models.

Accurate and high dynamic range measurement

Focus your attention on science and data interpretation, you can rely on your data.

Publication quality figure presentation

XSACT is a time saver as it bundles all the tools to create publication-ready figures without the need for another visualization software.

High quality SAXS data in the lab

Measurements previously only possible at synchrotron facilities can now be done in the lab.

High throughput measurements and results

Full automation from sample to final results on up to 192 samples.

In-line SEC and UV-Vis combined with SAXS – also in the lab!

Obtain the structure of small and large protein species through in-line gel filtration

BioXolver specifications

*Theoretical limit assuming globular proteins

Internal structure, interfaces, effect of stress and strain, temperature or humidity…
What are you looking at?

Cavitation in Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) during Tensile Deformation
Chen, R.; Lu, Y.; Jiang, Z.; Men, Y.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2018

Blocked Shape Memory Effect in Negative Poisson’s Ratio Polymer Metamaterials
Boba, K.; Bianchi, M.; McCombe, G.; Gatt, R.; Griffin, A. C.; Richardson, R. M.; Scarpa, F.; Hamerton, I.; Grima, J. N.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016

A wide range of accessories are available for your research
in polymer science.