| Description |
Many polymers exhibit complex and highly temperature-sensitive structural behavior, which can strongly influence their macroscopic properties. This work focuses on the combined thermodynamic and structural characterization of polymer systems, with in-situ variable-temperature X-ray diffraction (VT-XRD) serving as the primary analytical technique. VT-XRD enables direct observation of temperature-dependent structural changes, such as phase transitions, crystallization and melting behavior, segmental ordering, and other thermally induced rearrangements in amorphous and semi-crystalline materials. Additional experimental methods, such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), electron microscopy (EM), or microindentation (MHI) may be employed to provide complementary thermal, mechanical, or morphological information and to support the interpretation of VT-XRD results. Theoretical modeling approaches can also be incorporated to enhance the understanding of temperature-dependent behavior and to offer predictive insight into structural evolution. |
