Premium
Monte Carlo simulation of polymer mixtures: recent progress
Author(s) -
Binder Kurt,
Müller Marcus
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3900(200001)149:1<1::aid-masy1>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - phase diagram , crossover , wetting , monte carlo method , materials science , wetting transition , polymer , phase transition , condensed matter physics , phase (matter) , physics , composite material , mathematics , statistics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science
The phase diagram of symmetrical polymer blends (A,B) confined into thin films is studied, considering both the effect of finite film thickness D and of surface forces at the confining walls that either prefer both the same species, or different species. In the case of <“>neutral<”> walls confinement enhances the compatibility of the blend. The critical temperature is depressed, the coexistence curve gets flattened (reflecting a crossover from 3‐dimensional to 2‐dimensional critical behavior). But if both walls preferentially attract species A, then also the critical composition of the blend is shifted to the A‐rich side of the phase diagram, and the coexistence curve exhibits a bulge just above the wetting transition temperature. If one wall attracts A and the other B, lateral phase separation sets in via a first order transition. Above this transition, an interface parallel to the walls is stabilized in the system.