Which is More Efficient as Compatibilizer: Di-block or Multiblock Copolymer?

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations were used to investigate the compatibilizing behaviors of multi-block copolymers with different architectures in A/B/(block copolymer) ternary blends. The volume fraction of homopolymer A, employed as the dispersed phase, was 19%. The simulations illustrate how a di- or multi-block copolymer aggregates at the interfaces and influences the phase behaviour of such incompatible polymer blends. The di-block copolymer chains tend to "stand" on the interface whereas the multi-block chains lie on the interface. In comparison with the di-block copolymer, the block copolymers with 4, or 10 blocks can occupy more areas on the interface, and thus the multi-block copolymers have higher efficiency for the retardation of the phase separation.