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Monte Carlo simulation of the compatibility of graft copolymer compatibilized two incompatible homopolymer blends: Effect of graft structure
Author(s) -
Zhu Yutian,
Ma Zengwei,
Li Yunqi,
Cui Jie,
Jiang Wei
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.26174
Subject(s) - copolymer , materials science , monte carlo method , compatibility (geochemistry) , polymer chemistry , side chain , polymer blend , polymer , composite material , chemical engineering , mathematics , statistics , engineering
Compatibility of graft copolymer compatibilized two incompatible homopolymer A and B blends was simulated by using Monte Carlo method in a two‐dimensional lattice model. The copolymers with various graft structures were introduced in order to study the effect of graft structure on the compatibility. Simulation results showed that incorporation of both A‐ g ‐B (A was backbone) and B‐ g ‐A (B was backbone) copolymers could much improve the compatibility of the blends. However, A‐ g ‐B copolymer was more effective to compatibilize the blend if homopolymer A formed dispersed phase. Furthermore, simulation results indicated that A‐ g ‐B copolymers tended to locate at the interface and anchor two immiscible components when the side chain is relatively long. However, most of A‐ g ‐B copolymers were likely to be dispersed into the dispersed homopolymer A phase domains if the side chains were relatively short. On the other hand, B‐ g ‐A copolymers tended to be dispersed into the matrix formed by homopolymer B. Moreover, it was found that more and more B‐ g ‐A copolymers were likely to form thin layers at the phase interface with decreasing the length of side chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007