Screening of interactions in polymer blends

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Abstract
This paper discusses the screening of interactions in compatible binary polymer blends. It is shown that before the spinodal is reached a θ-like point exists, where the effective potential is essentially zero and the chain behaves ideally. A general expression for the radius of gyration of a single chain in the blend as a function of the concentration of the two components and the Flory interaction parameter is calculated by perturbation theory. This shows a progressive shrinking from a value above that of ideal Gaussian chains until the process reaches completion with the phase separation. This is of relevance in neutron scattering experiments, where the single chain structure factor of a single chain can be measured as a function of the temperature (χF-parameter) directly

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