Phase separation with multiple length scales in polymer mixtures induced by autocatalytic reactions

Qui Tran-Cong; Junji Kawai; Yukihiro Nishikawa; Hiroshi Jinnai

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.60.R1150

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Phase separation with multiple length scales in polymer mixtures induced by autocatalytic reactions

Qui Tran-Cong, Junji Kawai, Yukihiro Nishikawa, and Hiroshi Jinnai

Phys. Rev. E 60, R1150(R) – Published 1 August 1999

Abstract

A ternary polymer blend with two components photo-cross-linked independently in its miscible region undergoes phase separation, exhibiting morphology with multiple length scales. Contrary to the case of thermally induced phase separation, the morphology exhibits a $unimoda \vec{l} multimodal$ transition. It is shown that these multiple length scales are caused by the inhomogeneous freezing kinetics of the cross-linking process. This inhomogeneity arises from the autocatalytic feedback driven by the couplings between concentration fluctuations and the photo-cross-linking reactions.

Received 16 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.60.R1150

Authors & Affiliations

Qui Tran-Cong^*, Junji Kawai, Yukihiro Nishikawa^†, and Hiroshi Jinnai

Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan

^*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic address: qui@ipc.kit.ac.jp
^†Present address: Department of Polymer Chemistry, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan.

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Vol. 60, Iss. 2 — August 1999

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