Scaling of Interfacial Properties in Ternary Polymer Blends
Resource
Europhysics Letters,34(3),171-175.
Journal
Europhysics Letters
Journal Volume
34
Journal Issue
3
Pages
171-175
Date Issued
1996-04
Date
1996-04
Author(s)
Cruz, M. Olvera de la
Abstract
We analyze interfaces between A-righ and B-rich phases in symmetric ternary polymer blends with a non-selective C minority component. The interfacial tension σ and the interfacial thicknesses of the composition profiles of φA(cursive Greek chi) - φB(cursive Greek chi), and φC(cursive Greek chi), L1 and L2, respectively, are calculated by solving the linearized equation resulting from minimizing σ as a function of the average composition of C, φ̄C = 1 - φ̄, with φ̄/2 = φ̄A = φ̄B&, and the net, interaction per thermal energy between components A and B, χAB = χ (χAC = χBC = ηχ). As φ̄C increases the interfacial thickness increases and the interfacial tension decreases. Our results are in excellent agreement with the steady-state solution of the non-linear spinodal decomposition equations.
Type
journal article