Dynamic Simulations of the "Bricks-and-Mortar" Mesophase in Miktoarm Block Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends
ORAL
Abstract
A new mesophase in binary blends of A-b-(B-b-A')n miktoarm star block copolymers and A homopolymers has recently been discovered experimentally and explored with field theoretic simulations. This mesophase consists of aperiodic discrete domains of A embedded in a continuous matrix of B up to extremely high concentrations of homopolymers. We investigate the structural and dynamic properties of the phase, including its linear rheological behavior, response to shear, and response to uniaxial tension using three-dimensional particle-based simulations. We highlight the role of molecular bridging on dominating the mechanical properties of the phase, as well as the unique response of the mesophase to shear, including the evident destruction of the bricks-and-mortar phase upon the application of shear.
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Presenters
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Cody Bezik
University of Chicago
Authors
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Cody Bezik
University of Chicago
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Abelardo Ramirez-Hernandez
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio
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Juan De Pablo
University of Chicago, Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago