Small-angle neutron scattering on polymer gels: phase behavior, inhomogeneities and deformation mechanisms

Recent developments in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) investigations on polymer gels are reviewed by encompassing (i) volume phase transition and microphase separation, (ii) inhomogeneities in polymer gels, (iii) pressure dependence of hydrophobic interaction and (iv) structural characterization of super-tough gels. These developments owe much to the understanding of gel inhomogeneities and advances in the precision analyses of SANS, such as the contrast variation method coupled with singular value decomposition and the accurate evaluation of incoherent scattering intensity. As one of the fruitful outcomes, deformation mechanisms in various types of super-tough gels are elucidated. Polymer Journal (2011) 43, 18-34; doi:10.1038/pj.2010.110; published online 17 November 2010