Characterization of solid complex multiphase systems based on oscillatory photon correlation spectroscopy

The particle loading and dispersion profiles are two significant properties directly affecting the engineering properties and performance characteristics of polymer nanocomposites. Current measurement techniques are often destructive, require special sample preparation, are limited to small, unrepresentative sample size, and/or cannot discriminate between the two aforementioned parameters. This Letter demonstrates the application of photon correlation spectroscopy on mechanically oscillated solids; experimental results show that this technique can discriminate between different grades of such materials.