Phase Behavior of Solutions of Polymers with Multiply Aggregating Groupsстатья
Статья опубликована в высокорейтинговом журнале
Информация о цитировании статьи получена из
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Дата последнего поиска статьи во внешних источниках: 18 июля 2013 г.
Аннотация:We have theoretically investigated phase diagrams
of solutions of aggregating polymers. In our model
all polymer chains in the solution carry a certain number
of aggregating groups (ªstickersº), capable of the formation
of thermoreversible aggregates, each assumed to consist
of exactly m stickers. The treatment of aggregation
corresponds to the Flory-like theory of gelation. We have
studied the dependence of the phase diagram on the parameters
of aggregation, such as its strength (fraction of
monomeric units carrying stickers and aggregation constant)
and cooperativity (aggregation number). In the considered
system of homopolymer chains the stickers have
been found to always promote phase separation. The
value of aggregation number m is crucial for the topology
of the phase diagram: for m F 5 the triple point may
appear in the phase diagram. Conditions on the properties
of the system ensuring the appearance of this feature have
been obtained. The interrelation between gelation and
phase separation for different values of parameters is elucidated.