<title>Is progress introducing new polymeric architectures and systems followed by research and development of scattering techniques?</title>

Abstract

The general remarks on material structure investigation and preparation of hierarchical polymer structures and properties are characterised. The application of small angle X ray (SAXS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) are discussed particularly for to selected problems of polymer science: molecular weight determination and surface and interface studies are described. These techniques are briefly compared with reflectometry and other known modem methods of surface and interface investigations. It is shown that the state of art of scattering techniques is adequate to to-day's needs. There are still many problems which are intense experimental and theoretical progress emerging from the development in preparation, processing and application of polymers.After general remarks on material structure and its investigation, some aspects of preparation and hierarchical structure formation in polymers are given. Next selected problems of new polymeric architectures and systems as seen by scattering techniques, including molecular mass and surfaces/interfaces, are discussed. Final remarks, conclusion, acknowledgements, and a selection of representative references end the paper.