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Effect of Compatibilizers on the Structure and Dynamics at Polymer Blend Interfaces

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Abstract

We use coarse grained Molecular Dynamics simulations to determine the effect of diblock copolymers and inorganic sheet like compatibilizers at polymer blend interfaces. Previous studies have shown that the interfacial region is prone to slip if an external shear force is applied to the polymer blend. While a number of theoretical and computational studies have examined the effect of copolymer compatibilizers, the effect of adding sheet-like compatilibilizers (for e.g. nanoclay) has not been investigated computationally. Thus, while experiments have shown that sheet-like filler are effective, the exact mechanisms are unknown. Our results indicate that sheet like fillers that have equal affinity to either polymer in a binary blend can produce a larger reduction of interfacial tension when compared to diblock copolymers at equal volume fractions. However, the localization of sheet fillers at the interface can be a possible limiting factor. We also show that sheet fillers reduce slip, thus providing for improved stress transfer across the interface, leading to a stronger blend.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof Miriam Rafailovich and Prof Sherif Abdelaziz for useful discussions. This research was sponsored by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and was accomplished under Cooperative Agreement Number W912HZ2020054. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Army Research Office, ERDC or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation herein.

Funding

This research was sponsored by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and was accomplished under Cooperative Agreement Number W912HZ2020054.

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  1. Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

    Shoumik Saha, Di Xu & Dilip Gersappe

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  1. Shoumik Saha
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Correspondence to Dilip Gersappe.

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Saha, S., Xu, D. & Gersappe, D. Effect of Compatibilizers on the Structure and Dynamics at Polymer Blend Interfaces. Tribol Lett 69, 61 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-021-01435-9

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