A heatable stretching device for dynamic X-ray studies

In this paper a heatable stretching device is presented which enables the performance of real‐time X‐ray experiments during deformation. The construction of the oven makes it possible to perform experiments with detectable X‐ray diffraction angles (2θ) of up to 30°. It is shown that the apparatus can be used to study morphological changes occurring during the deformation/drawing of polymer materials, using the benefits of synchrotron facilities. A series of small‐angle (SAXS) and wide‐angle (WAXS) X‐ray scattering patterns obtained during the drawing of melt‐crystallized ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMW‐PE) at 373 K is presented.