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Characterization of alumina powder using multiple small‐angle neutron scattering. I. Theory
Author(s) -
Berk N. F.,
HardmanRhyne K. A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of applied crystallography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.429
H-Index - 162
ISSN - 1600-5767
DOI - 10.1107/s002188988501072x
Subject(s) - scattering , small angle neutron scattering , biological small angle scattering , neutron scattering , small angle scattering , volume fraction , materials science , particle size , formalism (music) , neutron , phase (matter) , optics , molecular physics , computational physics , chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , art , musical , visual arts , composite material
Microstructural parameters of high‐purity alumina powder are determined quantitatively throughout the bulk of the material using small‐angle neutron scattering techniques. A unified theoretical and experimental approach for analyzing multiple scattering data is developed to obtain values for particle size, volume fraction and surface area. It is shown how particle size and volume fraction can be measured in a practical way from SANS data totally dominated by incoherent multiple scattering (`beam broadening'). The general phase‐shift dependence of single‐particle scattering is incorporated into the multiple scattering formalism, and it is also shown that the diffractive limit (small phase shift) applies even for phase shifts as large as unity (particle radii of order 1 μm). The stability of the Porod law against multiple scattering and the phase‐shift scale are described, a useful empirical formula for analysis of beam broadening data is exhibited, and the applicability of the formulations to polydispersed systems is discussed.