MONTE-CARLO SIMULATION OF POLYMERS AT INTERFACES

Polymers at interfaces pose challenging problems to statistical physics because their configurations often differ greatly from the bulk. Computer simulation of coarse-grained models then gives valuable insight and allows stringent tests of various theoretical predictions. Three examples are briefly treated: chain configurations of B-chains in the surface-enriched B-rich layer of an (AB) binary polymer mixture; ''frustrated'' lamellar ordering in ultra-thin block-copolymer films; and the collapse of polymer brushes in bad solvents.