Polymer science with synchrotron radiation

The advent of synchrotron radiation has revolutionised the structural studies of hard and soft condensed matter In this paper we discuss the future potential of synchrotron radiation for the study of soft condensed matter with the emphasis on Polymer Science. The brilliance of third-generation synchrotron sources is such that time-resolved studies are feasible in the millisecond range, hence allowing studies of structural changes in polymer systems under processing conditions that involve fast kinetics. Microfocusing devices, the potential of nano-sized beams and the parallel development of fast counting devices in conjunction with adequate software offer new, unprecedented challenges for the structural polymer scientist.