Chapter 1
Introduction
This dissertation presents the development of molecular models based on statisti-
cal mechanics to predict the
• thermodynamics and phase behavior of bulk polymer systems, and
• microstructure, phase behavior and other thermodynamic properties of inho-
mogeneous polymer systems.
Bulk polymer systems include polymer melts, polymer solutions and polymer
blends while inhomogeneous polymer systems include self-assembling polymers, poly-
mers near a surface or an interface, and confined polymers. The current chapter
explains the motivation, challenges, specific objectives, basis, and the scope of this
research.