Temperature Dependence of Single Chain Properties in a Binary Polymer Blend

(Received 2 October 1995, received in final form 27 November 1995, accepted 30 November 1995)

Abstract
The temperature dependence of the correlation length of composition fluctuations and single chain statics and dynamics is studied in a symmetric, binary polymer blend. Our Monte Carlo simulation reveals a pronounced shrinking of the chain in the minority phase at low temperatures. However, only a weak temperature dependence of the single chain properties is found above criticality. Especially there is only a weak coupling between the correlation length of composition fluctuations and the relaxation of the internal chain structure. The coherent dynamic structure factor does not show any signs of a spatial restricted motion for our chain length N=16, which is far below the entanglement length.