ISSN:
0392-6737
Keywords:
Macromolecular and polymer solutions (solubility, swelling, etc.)
;
polymer melts
;
Critical point phenomena
;
Liquid-liquid transitions
;
Monte Carlo and statistical methods
;
Conference proceedings
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Summary The unmixing transition of both symmetrical polymer blends AB (i.e. chain lengthsN A=N B=N) and asymmetrical ones (N B/N A=2,3) is studied by large-scale Monte Carlo simulations of the bond fluctuation model. Combination of semi-grand-canonical simulation techniques, «histogram reweighting» and finitesize scaling allows an accurate location of the coexistence curve in the critical region. The variation of the critical temperature with chain length (N) is studied and compared to theoretical predictions. For the symmetrical case, use of chain lengths up toN=512 allows a rough estimation of crossover scaling functions for the crossover from Ising to mean-field exponents. The order-disorder transitions in melts of both symmetric (compositionf=N A/(N A+N B)=1/2) and asymmetric (f=3/4) block copolymers is studied for very short chains (16≤N≤60). The interplay between structure and chain configuration is emphasized. Qualitative evidence for «dumbell formation» of chains and vacancy enrichment in A-B-interfaces and near hard walls is presented.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02456709
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