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Phase Diagram Characterization Using Magnetic Beads as Liquid Carriers
Published on: September 4, 2015
Microphase separation induced by interfacial segregation of isotropic, spherical nanoparticles
Michael J A Hore1, Mohamed Laradji
1Department of Physics, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|July 7, 2007
Summary
Nanoparticles prevent polymer phase separation by aggregating at interfaces. Domain size saturates with nanoparticle size and volume fraction, except for very small particles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Computational Physics
Background:
- Immiscible polymer blends often phase separate.
- Nanoparticles can aggregate at polymer-polymer interfaces.
- Previous studies suggest nanoparticles can inhibit phase separation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate nanoparticle behavior in immiscible binary fluid mixtures.
- Determine conditions for nanoparticle segregation at interfaces.
- Analyze the effect of nanoparticles on blend morphology and domain size.
Main Methods:
- Large-scale simulations using dissipative particle dynamics.
- Modeling immiscible binary fluids (A-B) with spherical nanoparticles (N).
- Systematic variation of nanoparticle volume fraction and interactions.
Main Results:
- Nanoparticles preferentially segregate at interfaces when chi(AB) > |chi(AN) - chi(BN)|.
- Average domain size saturates to L ~ R(N)/phi(N) at later times.
- Full phase separation occurs for very small nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle interfacial aggregation is a key mechanism to control polymer blend morphology.
- The study provides a quantitative relationship for domain size saturation.
- Particle size is critical in determining whether phase separation is inhibited.
