- Access by Xinjiang University
Random copolymers as effective compatibilizing agents
Phys. Rev. E 52, 5061 – Published 1 November, 1995
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.52.5061
Abstract
We introduce a mean field model that allows us to determine the interfacial behavior of AB random copolymers. Through this model, we calculate the reduction in interfacial tension γ that occurs when the random copolymers localize at the interface between immiscible homopolymers A and B. We also isolate the conditions under which the random copolymers are most efficient at reducing γ and therefore act as efficient compatibilizers. The calculations are useful in designing low-cost copolymer additives that significantly improve the properties of polymer blends.
References (9)
- S. H. Anastasiadis, R. Gancarz and J. T. Koberstein, Marcomolecules 22, 1449 (1989); R. Fayt, R. Jerome and P. Teyssie, J. Polym. Lett. 24, 25 (1986); L. Leiber, Makromol. Chem., Makomol. Symp. 16, 1 (1988); J. Noolandi and K. M. Hong, Macromolecules 17, 1531 (1984); K. Shull, A. J. Kellock, V. R. Deline, and S. A. J. MacDonald, J. Chem. Phys. 97, 2095 (1992).
- H. R. Brown, K. Char and V. R. Deline, Macromolecules 26, 4155 (1993); K. Char, H. R. Brown and V. R. Deline, ibid. 26, 4164 (1993); C. Dai, B. J. Dair, K. H. Dai, C. K. Ober, E. J. Kramer, C.-Y. Hui and L. W. Jelinski, Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 2472 (1994).
- C. Yeung, A. C. Balazs and D. Jasnow, Macromolecules 25, 3685 (1992); D. Gersappe, W. Li and A. C. Balazs, J. Chem. Phys. 99, 7209 (1993).
- J. M. H. M. Scheutjens and G. J. Fleer, J. Chem. Phys. 83, 1619 (1979).
- G. Fleer, M. A. Cohen-Stuart, J. M. H. M. Scheutjens, T. Cosgrove, and B. Vincent, Polymers at Interfaces (Chapman and Hall, London, 1993).
- M. Doi and S. F. Edwards, The Theory of Polymer Dynamics (Oxford Science, Oxford, 1986); P.-G. de Gennes, Scaling Concepts in Polymer Physics (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1979).
- B. van Lent and J. M. H. M. Scheutjens, J. Phys. Chem. 94, 5033 (1990).
- A. Nesarikar, M. Olvera de la Cruz and B. Crist, J. Chem. Phys. 98, 7385 (1993).
- The total amount of copolymer is partitioned among these 500 sequences with each sequence contributing equally to the total amount of copolymer. The concentration profile of the random copolymer shown is the sum of the profiles of the individual sequences.