Are polymer chains in blends "localized" before their phase separation? Variational treatment and prediction of anomalous scattering results

Abstract

In this communication we suggest, using the droplet picture in phase transitions, that polymer chains are localized before the phase separation in polymer mixtures. The effect is expected to be significant when the correlation length is of the order of the size of the polymer chain, i.e. usually for conventional polymers well above the phase separation. Several influences on experimental results are suggested. The first concerns the dynamic scattering function. This quantity does not relax to zero, but remains constant for longer times, as already indicated in first experiments. The static structure factor should show a hump in the Kratky plot.