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Elasticity dominated surface segregation of small molecules in polymer mixtures

Krawczyk, J.; Croce, S.; McLeish, T.C.B.; Chakrabarti, B.

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Authors

J. Krawczyk

S. Croce

T.C.B. McLeish

B. Chakrabarti



Abstract

We study the phenomenon of migration of the small molecular weight component of a binary polymer mixture to the free surface using mean field and self-consistent field theories. By proposing a free energy functional that incorporates polymer-matrix elasticity explicitly, we compute the migrant volume fraction and show that it decreases significantly as the sample rigidity is increased. A wetting transition, observed for high values of the miscibility parameter can be prevented by increasing the matrix rigidity. Estimated values of the bulk modulus suggest that the effect should be observable experimentally for rubberlike materials. This provides a simple way of controlling surface migration in polymer mixtures and can play an important role in industrial formulations, where surface migration often leads to decreased product functionality.

Citation

Krawczyk, J., Croce, S., McLeish, T., & Chakrabarti, B. (2016). Elasticity dominated surface segregation of small molecules in polymer mixtures. Physical Review Letters, 116(20), Article 208301. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.208301

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 27, 2016
Online Publication Date May 18, 2016
Publication Date May 18, 2016
Deposit Date Apr 29, 2016
Publicly Available Date May 19, 2016
Journal Physical Review Letters
Print ISSN 0031-9007
Electronic ISSN 1079-7114
Publisher American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 116
Issue 20
Article Number 208301
DOI https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.208301
Related Public URLs http://arxiv.org/abs/1509.07311

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Copyright Statement
Reprinted with permission from the American Physical Society: Physical Review Letters 116, 208301 © 2016 by the American Physical Society. Readers may view, browse, and/or download material for temporary copying purposes only, provided these uses are for noncommercial personal purposes. Except as provided by law, this material may not be further reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, adapted, performed, displayed, published, or sold in whole or part, without prior written permission from the American Physical Society.





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