| POLYMERS Vol.58 No.10 |
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COVER STORY
Polymer Science by Quantum Beam Source |
| Polymer Science and I: A Personal Account |
| Analytical Techniques of Invisible Phenomena | Kazuhiro KAMIGUCHI |
| <Abstract>For the purpose of exploring one of the guiding principles for materials R&D, the author has been studying polymer properties and analytical chemistry by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. |
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| My World Expanded through Research Life | Ayae SUGAWARA |
| <Abstract>It had always been my dream to be a scientist. After I went into research life, I started to realize that it is a privilege and also a responsibility of scientists to be involved in this society through the scientific point of view. |
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| COVER STORY: Highlight Reviews |
| Current and Future Trends in Synchrotron Radiation Experiments on Polymers | Naoto YAGI |
| <Abstract>Advanced experimental methods using a synchrotron radiation source, especially
those useful for polymer sciences, are reviewed. With the advent of the
third generation sources, several new methods have been developed in the
last decade. Not only the improvements of the scattering and diffraction
measurements, X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy and various imaging
techniques have been improved and applied to polymers. In addition to the
technical development, importance of the applications should be stressed. Keywords: Synchrotron Radiation / X-ray / Ultra-Small-Angle Scattering / X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy / Polymer Science |
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| Neutron Scattering for Polymer Science at Reactor and Spallation Sources | Satoshi KOIZUMI |
| <Abstract>The neutron, having a variety of intrinsic properties (no charge, mass,
spin and magnetic moment), is a marvelous probe to explore the structure
of polymer materials. We report characteristic methods of small-angle neutron-neutron
scattering (SANS), which are performed at reactor and spallation sources.
A time-of-flight method at a spallation source employs neutrons of wide
wavelength distribution in order to observe a wide length scale from ångström
to nanometer (from small-angle to wide-angle scattering regions). At a
reactor source, on the other hand, a monochromatic neutron is utilized
for precise observation of ultra-small-angle scattering, corresponding
to a range from nano to micron meters. By combining both facilities, polymer
science is further improved into exploring hierarchical structures in polymeric
materials. Keywords: Small-Angle Neutron Scattering / Spallation Source / Research Reactor / Time of Flight Method / Neutron Spin Echo / Neutron Reflectometry |
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| Advanced Polymer Research using High-Intensity Positron Beam | Ryoichi SUZUKI |
| <Abstract>The positron is known to be sensitive to atomic/nano scale voids, which
affects macroscopic properties of polymers. High-intensity positron beams,
generated by accelerators or atomic reactors, enable us to perform high-speed
measurements on near surface regions, thin films, small regions, etc. We
report on the present status of high-intensity positron beam technology
and applications to polymer research. Keywords: Positron / Lifetime Measurement / Accelerator / Polymer Research |
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| COVER STORY: Topics and Products |
| In-situ Observation of Structure Formation in Polymer Processing | Hiroki MURASE |
| <Abstract>In-situ X-ray scattering in polymer processing is a crucial method to elucidate
the mechanism of structure formation in the process. Fiber spinning is
one such process primarily imposing extensional deformation on polymeric
melt at the spinline during rapid cooling. In-situ small-angle X-ray scattering
using synchrotron radiation on the spinning process allows direct observation
of the transient structure developing in the process. Keywords: Synchrotron Radiation / Small-Angle X-ray Scattering / Fiber Spinning / Crystallization |
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| Structural Analysis of Block Copolymer in Self-Assembling Process using Time-Resolved GI-SAXS | Kazuyuki OKADA |
| <Abstract>The Self-Assembling method is one of the important technologies for nanofabrication.
We performed the structural analysis of block copolymer in a self-assembling
process using Time-Resolved GI-SAXS. Keywords: Time-Resolved GI-SAXS / Block Copolymer / Self-Assembling |
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| Morphology Observation of Polymer Composites with X-Ray Imaging Techniques | Hiroyuki KISHIMOTO |
| <Abstract>X-ray imaging with synchrotron radiation is a useful technique for the
observing of microscopic structures in soft materials. We carried out the
real-time observation of contact behavior between the icy road and studless
tire containing glass fibers by the use of refraction-contrast imaging
technique. Additionally the determination of three-dimensional structure
of filler in rubber was performed by imaging X-ray tomography coupled with
phase-contrast techniques. Keywords: Refraction-Contrast imaging / Imaging CT / Phase Contrast CT / Rubber / Soft Material |
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| Structural Analysis of Polymer Gel Network by SANS | Kazutoshi HARAGUCHI |
| <Abstract>We analyzed the structure of nanocomposite gels with a unique organic (polymer)/inorganic
(clay) network in both its static and deformed states by small angel neutron
scattering (SANS) using the contrast variation method. Keywords: SANS / Nanocomposite / Hydrogel / Network |
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| Polyolefin Structure Analyses by Neutron Scattering | Yoshinobu NOZUE and Takashi SAKURAI |
| <Abstract>Molecular chain information such as interaction between polymers and chain
response to the flow field is essential for the molecular design of polymer
with better properties. In this topic, neutron scattering applications
to the miscibility evaluation of polyolefins and to the molecular analysis
of shish-kebab structure are shown. Keywords: Neutron Scattering / Miscibility / Shish-Kebab |
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| Analysis of Polymer thin Films and Interfaces | Masashi HARADA |
| <Abstract>Neutron reflectivity (NR) is a helpful tool for analyzing polymer thin
films and interfaces. Swelling behavior of Nafion thin films and interdiffusion
at bilayer interfaces, which are difficult to investigate by the other
methods, have been studied. Accessibility to NR is growing as the number
of NR instruments is increasing around the world. Keywords: Thin Films / Interfaces / Neutron Reflectivity / Nafion / Swelling / Bilayers / Interdiffusion |
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| Local Vacancies in Optical Modulation Polymers Studied by Positron Annihilation Lifetime Measurements | Akira SHIMAZU |
| <Abstract>The ability of a slow positron beam to probe vacancies at the surface and
in bulk regions of optical modulation polymers was demonstrated. A slow
positron beam system was found to be a powerful tool to study the change
in the microstructure driven by photopolymerization of novel optical modulation
polymers. Keywords: Positron Annihilation Lifetime (PAL) / Vacancy / Slow Positron Beam / Polyvinylmethacrylate / Photopolymerization / Free Volume / Refractive Index |
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| Front-Line Polymer Science |
| Design of New Nanobiomaterials by Nanogel Engineering | Yoshihiro SASAKI and Kazunari AKIYOSHI |
| <Abstract>Nanosize hydrogels (nanogels) are polymer nanoparticles with three dimensional
networks that are formed by chemically and/or physically cross-linking
of polymer chains. Recently, various nanogels have been designed especially
for biomedical applications. In this review, recent progresses in syntheses
of nanogels and nanogel-based materials for applications to nanomedicine
such as drug delivery system and bioimaging are described. Keywords: Nanogel / Hydrogel / Associating polymer / Amphiphilic polymers / Polysaccharide / Drug Delivery System / Biomedical Applications |
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| Copyright(C) 2009 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan All Rights Reserved. |