9629825 Schultz This is a grant under the GOALI initiative in the Polymer Program in the Division of Materials Research. The principal investigators, Dr. Jerold Schultz (University of Delaware) and Dr. B. S. Hsiao (DuPont Central Research and Development) are proposing to study the development of structure in polymers in situ during processing. Primary to this study is the use of synchrotron radiation to obtain small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering results during spinning and post-spinning processes. The research will focus especially on the earliest stages of structure formation, where the structure which ultimately controls fiber behavior is initiated and in which the course of the remainder of the transformation is set. The synchrotron work will be carried out at NSLS and APS in this country and at DESY in Germany, using one- and two-dimensional detectors, with processing apparatus which simulates industrial practice operating at the beamline. %%% This study utilizes the GOALI initiative to weld industrial and academic personnel and resources for long range fiber research. The objective of this study is to obtain new knowledge towards fundamental fiber manufacturing processes, using newly available and highly appropriate synchrotron X-ray techniques. Such knowledge is lacking today, but is crucial to future process and product improvement in the fiber industry. Additionally, the project will provide a unique opportunity for graduate students to apply state-of-the-art science to industrially relevant problems in a joint university/industry setting. ***