Diffuse polymer interfaces in lobed nanoemulsions preserved in aqueous media.
Using valence electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the cryo-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we found that the polymer-polymer interface in two-phase nanocolloids of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) and copolymer (methyl acrylate (MA)-methyl methacrylate (MMA)-vinyl acetate (VA)) preserved in water was diffuse despite the fact that equilibrium thermodynamics indicates it should only be on the order of a few nanometers. The diffuse interface is a result of the kinetic trapping of the copolymer within the PDMS phase, and this finding suggests new nonequilibrium pathways to control interfaces during the synthesis of multicomponent polymeric nanostructures.
Kim
Ginam
G
Dow Corning Corporation, Science and Technology, Midland, Michigan 48640, USA. g.kim@dowcorning.com
Sousa
Alioscka
A
Meyers
Deborah
D
Shope
Marilyn
M
Libera
Matthew
M
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry; D046590:Spectroscopy, Electron Energy-Loss; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012828:Silicones; C036549:pioloform; D014867:Water; C013830:baysilon; C013114:methyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer