Phase equilibria and phase separation dynamics in a polymer composite containing a main-chain liquid crystalline polymer

主鎖型液晶性高分子を含む高分子複合体の相平衡と相分離ダイナミックス

Kim, D.*; Kyu, T.*; 橋本 竹治

Kim, D.*; Kyu, T.*; Hashimoto, Takeji

本研究は主鎖型の液晶高分子と柔軟な高分子との混合系の相平衡を、Flory-Huggins及びMaier-Saupeの理論体系に基づき理論解析した。また本理論に基づき計算機シミュレーションにより、本混合系の相分離過程における相分離構造の時間発展を明らかにし、橋本等の実験結果を理論的に説明した。

Various topological phase diagrams of blends of main-chain liquid crystalline polymer (MCLCP) and flexible polymer have been established theoretically in the frame-work of Matsuyama-Kato theory by combining Flory-Hussing (FH) free energy for isotropic mixing, Maier-Saupe (MS) free energy for nematic ordering in the constituent MCLCP, and free energy pertaining to polymer chain-rigidity. The calculated phase diagrams exhibit liquidus and solidus lines along with a nematic-isotropic (NI) transition of the constituent MCLCP. Subsequently, thermodynamic parameters estimated from the phase diagrams hitherto established have been employed in the numerical computation to elucidate phase separation dynamics and morphology evolution accompanying thermal-quench induced phase separation of the MCLCP/polymer mixture.