An in situ rapid heat-quench cell for small-angle neutron scattering

A dual-temperature sample environment has been developed enabling the rapid heating and quenching of samples in situ for small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The rapid heat and quench cell (RHQC) allows samples to be rapidly heated up to 600 K and then quenched to 150 K, or vice versa, in a single shot or cycle mode, with the sample in position for data collection. Measured cooling rates of up to 11 K s-1 and heating rates up to 19 K s-1 have been recorded during the testing stages. First results using the RHQC on a hydrogenated/deuterated paraffin blend quenched from the melt illustrate the value of the device in accessing the early stage phase separation kinetics with SANS.