Abstract.A popular concept which describes the structure of polymer interfaces by "intrinsic profiles" centered around a two dimensional surface, the "local interface position", is tested by extensive Monte Carlo simulations of interfaces between demixed homopolymer phases in symmetric binary (AB) homopolymer blends, using the bond fluctuation model. The simulations are done in an L × L × D geometry. The interface is forced to run parallel to the L × L planes by imposing periodic boundary conditions in these directions and fixed boundary conditions in the D direction, with one side favoring A and the other side favoring B. Intrinsic profiles are calculated as a function of the "coarse graining length" B by splitting the system into columns of size B × B × D and averaging in each column over profiles relative to the local interface position. The results are compared to predictions of the self-consistent field theory. It is shown that the coarse graining length can be chosen such that the interfacial width matches that of the self-consistent field profiles, and that for this choice of B the "intrinsic" profiles compare well with the theoretical predictions. Our simulation data suggest that this "optimal" coarse graining length B 0 exhibits a dependence of the form B 0 = 3.8 w SCF (1 − 3.1/χN ), where w SCF is the interfacial width, N the chain length and χ the Flory-Huggins parameter.

We study spatially ordered phases in a rod−coil diblock copolymer melt. In the weak segregation limit, we solve the self-consistent field equations by a partial numerical evaluation of the single chain partition function. In the strong segregation limit, we resort to a brushlike approximation. The structural asymmetry of the blocks has a pronounced influence on the phase diagram. We find that the only stable morphologies are those in which the coils are on the convex side of the rod−coil interface. The results are compared to experiment.

Companies today have to adopt strategies that embrace both a closer reaction to the customers' needs and efficiency. Mass customisation meets this challenge by offering individually customised goods and services with mass production efficiency. According to a number of recent surveys, there is evidence for the increasing importance of this strategy in various industries. But what do the customers think? This paper addresses mass customisation from the customer perspective. If the market demand for customisation is not large enough, then all investments in a mass customisation system would likely be senseless. We will use the example of the footwear industry to provide insight into the consumers' demand for customisation in regard to fit, style and functionality. Also, we will comment on the willingness to pay (WTP) for customised goods. The analysis is based on data from the EUROShoE market study and a meta-analysis of other empirical studies in the field. Our analysis shows that better fit is regarded as the most important benefit by consumers of customisation, followed, by far, by style and functionality.

In the phase diagram of the surfactant system sodium oleate/octanol/water a very stiff gel phase has been found, which is usually not present in similar systems. The phases of this system have been characterized by electric conductivity and rheological measurements. The structures present have been investigated by means of freeze-fracture electron microscopy and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). These experiments have shown that addition of octanol to the surfactant solution for concentrations higher than 130 mM Na oleate leads to the formation of small unilamellar vesicles. For sufficiently high octanol content these vesicles are so monodisperse that they are able to form a densely packed system with long-range order and with a shear modulus that is about 100 times higher than normally found for vesicle systems. Upon dilution with water the vesicles swell while keeping the packing fraction constant until a maximum diameter of about 450 Å is reached, beyond which no further growth of the vesicles can take place. This is the first system of such type that forms a cubic-phase-like arrangement of monodisperse vesicles.

The properties of diluted symmetric A-B diblock copolymers at the interface between A and B homopolymer phases are studied by means of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of the bond fluctuation model. We calculate segment density profiles as well as orientational properties of segments, of A and B blocks, and of the whole chain. Our data support the picture of oriented "dumbbells", which consist of mildly perturbed A and B Gaussian coils. The results are compared to a self consistent field theory (SCFT) for single copolymer chains at a homopolymer interface. We also discuss the number of interaction contacts between monomers, which provide a measure for the "active surface" of copolymers or homopolymers close to the interface.