Homogenization of Mutually Immiscible Polymers Using Nanoscale Effects: A Theoretical Study

Abstract

A theoretical study to investigate homogenization of mutually immiscible polymers using nanoscale effects has been performed. Specifically, the miscibility behavior of all-polymer nanocomposites composed of linear-polystyrene (PS) chains and individual cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate)-nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) has been predicted. By using a mean field theory accounting for combinatorial interaction energy and nanoparticle-driven effects, phase diagrams were constructed as a function of PMMA-NP size, PS molecular weight, and temperature. Interestingly, complete miscibility (i.e., homogeneity) was predicted from room temperature to 675 K for PMMA-nanoparticles with radius less than ∼7 nm blended with PS chains (molecular weight 150 kDa, nanoparticle volume fraction 20%) in spite of the well-known immiscibility between PS and PMMA. Several nanoscale effects affecting miscibility in PMMA-NP/PS nanocomposites involving small PMMA-nanoparticles are discussed.

Highly stretchable composites from PDMS and polyazomethine fine particles

“…3 Theoretical investigations of allpolymer composites, either self-reinforced or based on immiscible polymers, have been reported. 4,5 A special case is that of all-polymer composites with high dielectric permittivity, achieved with conductive polymer particles in high concentration, near the percolation threshold. 6,7 Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are morphologically similar systems.…”