Polymer Blends: Thermodynamics and Phase Diagrams

This lecture delves into the thermodynamics of polymer blends, explaining the Flory-Huggins theory to rationalize the immiscibility of different polymers. It covers topics such as mixing enthalpy, phase diagrams, miscible polymer blends, applications of miscible blends, and macroscopic phase segregation. The lecture also explores the construction of phase diagrams, spinodal decomposition, the effect of flow on mixing, and various strategies for producing phase-separated mixtures. Additionally, it discusses block copolymers, their characteristics, and the comparison between polymer blends and block copolymers. The lecture concludes by highlighting the applications of polymer science in thermoplastic elastomers, emulsifiers, nanotechnology, and compatibilization/additive processes.