Melnichenko YB, Wignall GD, Schwahn D. Universal aspects of macromolecules in polymer blends, solutions, and supercritical mixtures.
PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2002;
65:061802. [PMID:
12188751 DOI:
10.1103/physreve.65.061802]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that macromolecules in miscible polymer blends may behave as good, Theta, and poor polymeric solvents for each other. We construct a conceptual phase diagram, delineating the range of validity of the random-phase approximation, outside of which polymers contract or expand beyond their unperturbed dimensions, contrary to common assumptions. Remarkably, the correlation length for polymer blends, solutions, and supercritical mixtures collapses onto a master curve, reflecting universal behavior for macromolecules in polymeric and small-molecule Theta solvents.
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