A visualized analysis of small-angle neutron scattering intensity: concentration fluctuation in alcohol–water mixtures

Abstract

Small-angle neutron scattering measurements have been performed on tert-butyl alcohol–water mixtures with alcohol concentrations from 0.05 to 0.30 mole fractions at 298, 313 and 328 K. Concentration fluctuations of the mixtures are analysed in terms of fractals. The structure of the concentration fluctuation is visualized by means of a large-scale reverse Monte Carlo technique. Percolation analysis of the visualized structure shows that the concentration fluctuation is characterized by polydisperse mass fractals, as found for 1-propanol–water mixtures. It seems that polydisperse mass fractals are a common structural characteristic in various alcohol–water mixtures.