Component segmental mobilities in an athermal polymer blend: Quasielastic incoherent neutron scattering versus simulation

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Abstract
The local dynamics of the miscible blend of cis-1,4 polyisoprene (PI) (70% by weight) with 1,2 polybutadiene (PVE) (30% by weight) is studied. Quasielastic incoherent neutron scattering (QENS) experiments have provided the dynamic structure factor for each component in the blend far above the glass transition temperature. Molecular dynamics simulations on the same system have given segmental relaxation functions in good agreement with the experiments. Both methods reveal differences in the mobilities of each component, even at high temperatures, emphasizing intramolecular factors. Remarkably, the segmental relaxation of the PVE component in the PI/PVE blend rich in PI resembles that of PI and not of the pure PVE.