Polymer chain dynamics in a random environment: heterogeneous mobilities

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Apr 20;98(16):168301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.168301. Epub 2007 Apr 17.

Abstract

We present a neutron scattering investigation on a miscible blend of two polymers with greatly different glass-transition temperatures Tg. Under such conditions, the nearly frozen high-Tg component imposes a random environment on the mobile chain. The results demand the consideration of a distribution of heterogeneous mobilities in the material and demonstrate that the larger scale dynamics of the fast component is not determined by the average local environment alone. This distribution of mobilities can be mapped quantitatively on the spectrum of local relaxation rates measured at high momentum transfers.

MeSH terms

  • Complex Mixtures / chemistry
  • Computer Simulation
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate / chemistry*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate