Removal of some approximations in calculation of the effect of a block copolymer on the interfacial tension in polymer blends

Block and graft copolymers with blocks that are identical, miscible with, or adhere to related components of a polymer blend can serve as compatibilizers. In the previously used models established by Leibler and Noolandi, simple solutions were published for special cases called dry brush and wet brush regime. We have tried to find a more general solution which is still relatively uncomplicated. The solution found is consistent with the dry brush regime for higher copolymer concentrations at the interface and shorter copolymer, and with the wet brush regime for lower copolymer concentrations and longer copolymer.

Automated summary

Through studying various models, this paper provides a more general solution to the compatibility issues in polymer blends, which is consistent with the previous dry brush and wet brush models.