MRSEC Participant: Laura Copp

MRSEC Faculty Advisor: Chris Macosko

Effect of the Addition of Poly(isoprene-b-dimethylsiloxane) on the Interfacial Tension of Polyisoprene/Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Blends

The effect of poly(isoprene-b-dimethylsiloxane) on the inerfacial tension of an immiscible polymer blend of polyisoprene and poly(dimethylsiloxane) homopolymers was investigated. A PI drop will be added to a PDMS matrix containting P(I-b-DMS), in an attempt to simulate equilibrium between the PI and PDMS polymers. A spinning drop tensiometer will be used to calculate the interfacial tension as the concentration of block copolymer in the tertiary system is varied. It is expected that the interfacial tension will approach zero when the proper concentration of P(I-b-DMS) is added if the system is in pseudo-equilibrium state, assuming that the concentration of block copolymer is less than the critical micelle concentration.