Designing surfaces with patterns of varying wettability is of significant importance for many applications. This fascinating feature is inspired by nature where it is vital for the survival of some living creatures. This research shows that an inherent incompatibility between different soft segments of segmented polyurethanes can play a pivotal role in designing such surfaces. We employed experimental techniques as well as coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG MD) simulations to illustrate the microphase separation between soft segments with significantly different wettability. We started with poly(hexamethylene carbonate) polyurethane and partially replaced the polycarbonate diol (PC), the hydrophobic soft segment, with poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG), the superhydrophilic soft segment. Experimental analyses indicated a phase separation between PEG and PC, as soft segments, and our simulations merely confirmed it. This led to a core-shell morphology in which the hard segments are squeezed between two incompatible soft segments. Our combined simulation and experimental analyses proved a concurrent phase mixing of hard/soft segments with phase separation between soft segments. Moreover, the CG MD simulations elucidated the evolution of microphase organization as the polymerization proceeds and our further analysis shed light on the microarchitecture of the individual PU chains.

设计具有不同润湿性的图案的表面对于许多应用而言非常重要。这种引人入胜的功能是受大自然启发的，它对于某些生物的生存至关重要。这项研究表明，嵌段聚氨酯的不同软链段之间固有的不相容性可以在设计此类表面时发挥关键作用。我们采用实验技术以及粗粒分子动力学（CG MD）模拟来说明具有明显不同润湿性的软链段之间的微相分离。我们从聚碳酸六亚甲基酯聚氨酯开始，用疏水性软链段的聚碳酸酯二醇（PC）部分取代了超亲水性软链段聚乙二醇（PEG）。实验分析表明，PEG和PC之间的相分离为软链段，而我们的模拟仅证实了这一点。这导致了核-壳形态，其中硬段被挤压在两个不兼容的软段之间。我们结合的模拟和实验分析证明，硬/软链段同时发生相混合，软链段之间发生相分离。此外，CG MD模拟阐明了聚合过程中微相组织的演变，我们的进一步分析揭示了各个PU链的微结构。我们结合的模拟和实验分析证明，硬/软链段同时发生相混合，软链段之间发生相分离。此外，CG MD模拟阐明了聚合过程中微相组织的演变，我们的进一步分析揭示了单个PU链的微结构。我们结合的模拟和实验分析证明，硬/软链段同时发生相混合，软链段之间发生相分离。此外，CG MD模拟阐明了聚合过程中微相组织的演变，我们的进一步分析揭示了各个PU链的微结构。