| Issue |
J. Phys. II France
Volume 6, Number 11, November 1996
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 1547 - 1555 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp2:1996104 | |
J. Phys. II France 6 (1996) 1547-1555
Topologically Driven Compatibility Enhancement in the Mixtures of Rings and Linear Chains
A.R. Khokhlov1 and S.K. Nechaev21 Physics Department, Moscow State University, 119899 Moscow, Russia
2 L.D. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, 117940 Moscow, Russia
(Received 19 March 1996, revised 30 May 1996, accepted 1 August 1996)
Abstract
The thermodynamics of the bicomponent melts of linear chains A and unknotted unentangled closed
chains B (trivial rings) is considered within the framework of the usual Flory approach. It is shown
that such melts exhibit a compatibility enhancement in comparison with the corresponding melts of
linear chains. The reason for such effect is due to the topological entropy gain of mixing of A- and
B-chains: if B-chains are unentangled since the A-chains play the role of a "diluent" softening the
topological restrictions imposed on the B-chains. This result is in agreement with recent
experimental findings of McKnight et al.
© Les Editions de Physique 1996