CONSTRUCTION OF A SHEAR CELL FOR SAXS AND FREEZE FRACTURE STUDIES

Abstract

Two variants of a sample holder were constructed for SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) and freeze fracture studies of colloid systems during shear stress. The detailed construction of both variants is described. The SAXS investigations give information about the structural changes in the range of nm´s, and the freeze fracture technique makes possible the imaging of the \mum-scale morphology. Combining these methods the origin of certain macroscopical features, e.g. shear induced structural formations (like tixotropy) can be examined in a wide size range of the colloid dimensions.