biostudies-literatureWang SSichuan Province Science and Technology Support ProgramNational Natural Science Foundation of China564-572https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11957403biostudies-literatureUnknown58(Pt 2)This study investigated the effects of solvent vapor annealing on the microphase separation structure of polyurethane (PU) using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and complementary techniques. Solvent annealing, as an alternative to thermal annealing, offers a lower-temperature method to refine the microstructure of PU. We examined the impact of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone and toluene vapors on a commercial polyether PU, focusing on changes in microphase structure, adsorption kinetics and thermal stability. The SAXS data, analyzed by a polydisperse hard-sphere model, indicated that the degree of phase separation increased upon solvent annealing, and the order of influence exerted by the solvent vapors on the microphase structure follows MEK > acetone > toluene. The <i>in situ</i> Journal of applied crystallographySolvent-annealing-induced microphase separation in polyether polyurethane: a small-angle X-ray scattering study.PMC11957403519032282022JDTD0017U2230130Chen KWang SAlmasy LSong JHenderson MJTian QfalseSolvent-annealing-induced microphase separation in polyether polyurethane: a small-angle X-ray scattering study.This study investigated the effects of solvent vapor annealing on the microphase separation structure of polyurethane (PU) using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and complementary techniques. Solvent annealing, as an alternative to thermal annealing, offers a lower-temperature method to refine the microstructure of PU. We examined the impact of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone and toluene vapors on a commercial polyether PU, focusing on changes in microphase structure, adsorption kinetics and thermal stability. The SAXS data, analyzed by a polydisperse hard-sphere model, indicated that the degree of phase separation increased upon solvent annealing, and the order of influence exerted by the solvent vapors on the microphase structure follows MEK > acetone > toluene. The <i>in situ</i> 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2026-04-12T19:10:48.828Z2025-07-04T03:05:42.293ZS-EPMC119574034017097110.1107/S1600576725001633