Monte Carlo Simulation on the Conformation of a PAA/PEO Comb Polymer Adsorbed on the Solid-liquid Interface

The conformation of polyacrylic acid/polyethylene oxide(PAA/PEO) comb polymer adsorbed on the solid-liquid interface was investigated via Monte Carlo simulation method. The conformation images in the liquid and on the solid surface of various architecture polymer molecules were obtained. The microstructure information of various architecture polymer molecules, including the mean square radius of gyration, the thickness of adsorbed layer and the number of various segments adsorbed on solid surface were collected. The results showed that the diffusion coefficients in the liquid gradually reduced and the relative viscosity gradually rose with the polymer grafting number (N-p) increasing. When N-p >= 6, the most carboxyl anion groups of comb polymer were placed outside of the adsorbed layer and the thickness of adsorbed layer approximated the length of the PEO side chains, the conformation of a comb polymer molecule on solid surface mainly played a steric barrier effect and secondly electrostatic repulsive. Meanwhile the polymer molecule should have suitable density of steric scattering and could keep self balance of adsorbing-desorbing.