SANS contrast variation method applied in experiments on ferrofluids at MURN instrument of IBR-2 reactor

Abstract

Separate determination of the nuclear and magnetic contributions to the scattering intensity by means of a contrast variation method applied in a small angle neutron scattering experiment of nonpolarized neutrons in ferrofluids in early 90 's at the MURN instrument is reviewed. The nuclear scattering contribution gives the features of the colloidal particle dimensions, surfactant shell structure and the solvent degree penetration to the macromolecular layer. The magnetic scattering part is compatible to the models where is supposed that the particle surface has a nonmagnetic layer. Details on experimental "Grabcev method" in obtaining separate nuclear and magnetic contributions to the small angle neutron scattering intensity of unpolarized neutrons are emphasized for the case of a high quality ultrastabile benzene-based ferrofluid with magnetite nanoparticles. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.