Reversible Heteropolymer Gelation -Phase Diagrams of Mixed Networks-

Abstract

This paper presents possible phase diagrams of binary polymer mixtures A/B in which mixed networks are formed. To ensure the thermal equilibrium of the system, we consider reversible cross-links which are created and destroyed by thermal motion of the chains. On the basis of the lattice-theoretical picture, we develop a statistical-mechanical theory of network-forming polymer solutions. We derive possible phase diagrams of alternating networks, interpenetrating networks and randomly mixed networks with special attention to the interference effects among different phase transitions.