Abstract: | Neutron transmission of polydimethylsiloxane has been measured as a function of neutron wavelength in the range 4–10 Å, at room temperature. Scattering cross sections per hydrogen atom have been obtained and the slope (12.2 ± 0.2) barns/Å has been derived. Comparison with calibration curves relating the slope to the barrier hindering internal rotation as well as comparison with calculated neutron cross sections using the Krieger–Nelkin formalism for different dynamical situations indicates practically free rotation of CH3 groups about their C3 symmetry axes. |