title: Diffuse polymer interfaces in lobed nanoemulsions preserved in aqueous media.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dow Corning Corporation, Science and Technology, Midland, Michigan 48640, USA. g.kim@dowcorning.com
authors.forename: Ginam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Alioscka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shope
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libera
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012828:Silicones; C036549:pioloform; D014867:Water; C013830:baysilon; C013114:methyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer