Nano and microstructures of SEBS/PP/wax blend membranes: SAXS and WAXS analyses

Elastomeric polymers are interesting materials for polymer chemists and other novel material designers in the field of industrial and technological science, because of their physical (mechanical, thermal and electrical) properties. In the context of this study, 35% and 68% styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS) containing mixtures, namely SEBS35 and SEBS68, were focused on among of our novel synthesized SEBS blends which compose of microstructures. The structural changes, globular contents (globules) and uniformities of the samples at nanoscale and microscale were investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) methods. The obtained structural results were compared with a calculation of the scattering profiles using a convenient geometrical model defined by lamellar ordered and elliptical polydispersed cylindrical globules, which have approximately the same lengths in the range of 203.6-205.2 nm. Separation lengths and wide distributions of the cylindrical globules with elliptic cross sections and their lamellar stackings were also determined. At the end of the study, it was indicated that the microstructures of these newly designed polymers may be described by fractal structures composed of polydisperse elliptical cylinders.