Neutron Spin Echo Studies on Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Gel in a Mixture of Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Water

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kanaya, T. | Takahashi, N. | Nishida, K. | Kaji, K. | Seto, H. | Nagao, M. | Kawabata, Y. | Takeda, T.

Affiliations: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto-fu 611-0011, Japan | Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokai, Naka, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan | Faculty of Integrated Arts and Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Dynamics of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gel have been investigated using a neutron spin echo technique. The intermediate scattering function I(Q,t) of the gel shows a very rapid decay and a non-decaying component in time ranges shorter and longer than about 3 ns, respectively, in the Q range of 0.03–0.1 Å−1. This Q range corresponds to the so-called Porod’s region, suggesting that we are seeing the dynamics of cross-linking points of the gel. We therefore analyzed the data assuming that the cross-linking point performs a random motion in a restricted region around its quasi-equilibrium position.

Keywords: Neutron spin echo, Poly(vinyl alcohol) gel, Cross-linking points, Static fluctuations, Dynamic fluctuations, Mean square displacement

DOI: 10.1080/1023816021000020644

Journal: Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 10, no. 3, 4, pp. 149-153, 2002