MONTE-CARLO CALCULATIONS IN COMPARISON TO NEUTRON-SCATTERING STUDIES .3. ON THE STRUCTURE OF 12-ARM STAR MOLECULES

The small-angle neutron scattering curves of polystyrene 12-arm star molecules exhibit deviations from the Gaussian star model according to Benoit. These deviations are comparable with those observed in the scattering curves of simulated polymethylene 12-arm star chains. They can be partially interpreted in terms of chain stiffness within the arms. If the simulated chains contain a specific star centre, their scattering curves, normalized by the radius of gyration, are in good agreement with the normalized experimental scattering curves. For very short arms the scattering curves of the simulated chains with a specific star centre approach the particle scattering factor of the rod-like star model.