Neutron scattering and amorphous polymers

During the past ten years neutron scattering has become a much more widely used technique. The use of neutron scattering to study the conformation and dynamics of polymer chains in the bulk amorphous state and in solution is reviewed here. The basic theory of neutron scattering is introduced. The types of instruments which are currently used and the factors affecting neutron scattering experiments are discussed. The following sections are each concerned with a different type of scattering experiment and the information which has been obtained. At the beginning of each of these sections the theory relating to the particular topic under discussion is introduced. The three topics covered by this review are: conformation studies of polymers; dynamics of polymer chains and studies of side group motion in polymers.