Small-angle light scattering from thin polymer films: Multiple scattering from samples with rodlike morphology

Hartel's theory for multiple scattering has been generalized to the case of small-angle light scattering (SALS) by polymers having a roadlike morphology. It is shown that multiple scattering tends to make the scattering tends to make the scattering patterns more diffuse and leads to an underestimation of the size of the units (rods) measured from such patterns. The error induced by neglecting multiple scattering has been estimated at 10% for a transmittance of 75% and at 22% for a transmittance of 50%. A correction method based on Hartel's procedure is suggested.