Computer simulation study on the compatibility of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

The compatibility of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends was studied over a wide range of compositions at 270 K, 298 K and 400 K, by atomistic and mesoscopic modelling. Calculations at higher temperature, 400 K, a relatively higher positive chi parameters, which means the blends tend to undergo phase separation, in good agreement with the results reported by others. Both block copolymer and the shear effect can influence the phase morphology, but the influences depend on the compositions of the blends, especially when the blends are rich in either PEO or PMMA. The study of blends doped with nanoparticles shows that the mesoscopic phase is influenced by not only the properties of the nanoparticles, such as the size and density, but also the compositions of the blends. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.