Nanostructure in Real Space CDF

Multidimensional chord distribution functions [13, 14] (CDF) visualize the nanostructure of the studied materials and its evolution in real space. Figs. 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10. The general course of the peak intensities in the CDFs is identical to the development observed in the SAXS patterns. The materials exhibit an initial increase of peak intensities that is followed by a decrease for higher strain. 

Already in the unstained materials the CDF peaks are only moderately extended in horizontal direction, which is the direction perpendicular to the strain. This means that the corresponding hard domains show only a moderate lateral extension that decreases somewhat with increasing strain. Thus the hard domains cannot be addressed lamellae from the beginning, but only anisotropic granules that degrade with increasing strain becoming less and less extended. This is the well-known transition process from layer stacks to microfibrillar stacks [11, 12]. 

4 Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers Under Uniaxial Deformation 

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