Title: Reconstruction of three-dimensional anisotropic structure from small-angle scattering experiments

Abstract

When subjected to flow, the structures of many soft-matter systems become anisotropic due to the symmetry breaking of the spatial arrangements of constituent particles at the microscopic level. At present, it is common practice to use various small-angle scattering techniques to explore flow-induced microstructural distortion. However, there has not been a thorough discussion in the literature on how a three-dimensional anisotropic structure can be faithfully reconstructed from two-dimensional small-angle scattering spectra. Here, in this work, we address this issue rigorously from a mathematical perspective by using real spherical harmonic expansion analysis. We first show that, except for cases in which mechanical perturbation is sufficiently small, the existing small-angle scattering techniques generally do not provide complete information on structural distortion. This limitation is caused by the linear dependence of certain real spherical harmonic basis vectors on the flow-vorticity and flow-velocity gradient planes in the Couette shear cell. To circumvent the constraint imposed by this geometry, an alternative approach is proposed in which a parallel sliding plate shear cell is used with a central rotary axis along the flow direction. Finally, from the calculation of rotation of the reference frame, we demonstrate the feasibility of this experimental implementation for a fully resolvedmore » three-dimensional anisotropic structure via a case study of sheared polymers.« less

Authors:

Huang, Guan-Rong ^[1]; Wang, Yangyang  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Wang, Yangyang"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7042-9804"

Wu, Bin ^[3]; Wang, Zhe  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Wang, Zhe"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4103-0751"

Do, Changwoo  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Do, Changwoo"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8358-8417"

Smith, Gregory Scott  ^[3];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-5659-1805"

Bras, Wim  ^[3];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-5070-4039"

Porcar, Lionel ^[4]; Falus, Péter ^[4]; Chen, Wei-Ren  ^[5]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Chen, Wei-Ren"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-5192-0777"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Hsinchu (Taiwan). Physics Division; Univ. of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Shull Wollan Center; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Biology and Soft Matter Division
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Science (CNMS)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Biology and Soft Matter Division
4. Institut Laue-Langevin (France)
5. Univ. of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Shull Wollan Center; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Biology and Soft Matter Division

Publication Date:

Mon Aug 28 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1423001

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1377129

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physical Review. E

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 96; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0045

Publisher:

American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE