Association behavior of binary polymer mixtures under elongational flow

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influence of elongational flow on the association behavior of binary mixtures of functionalized polymers capable of forming single reversible orientationally dependent bonds, such as hydrogen bonds, is studied analytically. Applying a mean-field approach with an external potential representing the effect of the elongational flow, the orientation distribution functions for the dumbbell model and the freely jointed model of a polymer chain were obtained. Two opposite factors determine the association of “linear” diblock copolymerlike chains: the unfavorable extra stretching under flow of associated polymer chains and the favorable orientation of the chains (segments) along the flow direction. The former dominates and the fraction of associated “linear” chains decreases with increasing flow rate. For mixtures of polymers which are capable of forming associated T-chains, the association also decreases, however, more slowly, and this time due to unfavorable orientational effects. If the formation of associated linear and T-polymers as well as complex linear/T-polymers is possible, a strong preference for the formation of associated T-chains is found. At high flow rates any type of association becomes unfavorable.