SAXS investigations of polyethylene modified with methacrylic acid

The polyethylene/poly(methacrylic acid-co-divinylbenzene), PE/poly(MA-co-DVB), interpolymer type carboxylic membranes were studied using small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXS) in order to deduce the effect of DVB content on their morphology. SAXS curves exhibit a maximum which indicates that the interpolymers have morphology of domain type. Using the standard theory for a two-phase system mean distance between domains and their sizes were calculated from the SAXS data. Analysis of the SAXS curves suggests a fractal behaviour of the internal surface, associated with this two-phase system. Results obtained from SAXS studies are consistent with the general model of these interpolymers revealed by microscopic investigations.