Favored conformational distributions in amorphous polymer chains can be perturbed by forming blends of dissimilar polymers, due to the energetic barriers defined by a specific polymer chain structure, and simultaneous contributions from inter-chain packing. In this talk, we will review how advanced variable-temperature solid-state NMR methods, coupled with multi-site exchange models based strictly on trans-gauche conformational dynamics of the type depicted in the schematic below, can be used to understand polymer mixing, compatibility, and in some cases, miscibility. A statistical mechanics view of entropic contributions, coupled with an Adams-Gibbs formulation, provides a route to obtain quantitative configurational entropy changes in a binary polymer system based on experimental NMR data. Flory’s view of preferred chain configurations is the basis for the approach.

Using Flory’s view of conformational populations to probe polymer mixing

2019 Fall National Meeting

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