The conformational statistics of amphiphilic polymers with distinct topological structures at the interface between two phases

Abstract The distribution and conformational state of compatibilizer polymers at the interface between two phases are challenging to obtain in detail through experimental research due to spatial scale limitations. This paper employs dissipative particle dynamics simulation to statistically analyze the size variations of compatibilizer copolymers at the interface of a binary blend system. The study examines the impact of factors such as the chain length of blended homopolymers, the topological structure of the compatibilizer and component interactions on the size distribution of compatibilizer copolymers at the interface. The scaling exponent between the size of the compatibilizer copolymers and their chain length is determined and compared with theoretical values under melt conditions. The reasons for the variation in the scaling exponent are analyzed, providing theoretical supplementation for the distribution, size changes and compatibilization effects of compatibilizers during the blend modification process. The results reveal discrepancies between the scaling exponent of chain size and chain length at the interface and theoretical values, analyze the significant impact of compatibilizer copolymer topological structure on the scaling exponent and present the influence of the component interaction parameter α on the scaling exponent's variation pattern. The simulation outcomes offer theoretical support for the design and selection of compatibilizers in a blend system. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.