Nanorods in a binary phase separating mixture
The development of polymneric mixture models will yield the ultimate equilibrium structures. It is of particular interest to capture the structural evolution of the system as it moves toward this final state. To determine the dynamic properties of polymer/particle mixtures, Dr. Balazs and her research personnel have developed a hybrid model that couples the phase-separation dynamics of binary blends or diblocks with the Brownian motion of the nanoparticles. These models will allow researchers to determine how, for example, the concentration and shape of the particles affects the structural evolution of the mixture and the steady-state morphology. Models will also aid in the introduction of an imposed flow, such as simple shear, and determination of how processing conditions affect the dynamic behavior of the system.