A simple approach to determine the equilibrium shape and position of sandwiched polymer droplets

The thermodynamic shape and position of a polymer drop sandwiched between two polymer melt plates were predicted by simulating the change of the interfacial energy according to various shapes and position of the drop. The calculation results were in a precise coincidence with the experimental results exhibiting lens, spreading, and encapsulation. The simple formula and easy concept of the calculation can be useful to predict the morphology of immiscible ternary blends with the information of the interfacial tensions. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.