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Miscibility and phase separation in polymer blends studied by laser light scattering
Author(s) -
Kammer W. H.,
Kressler J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
makromolekulare chemie. macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 0258-0322
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19880180106
Subject(s) - lower critical solution temperature , miscibility , spinodal decomposition , materials science , phase (matter) , upper critical solution temperature , polymer blend , light scattering , thermodynamics , polymer , random phase approximation , scattering , copolymer , chemical physics , polymer chemistry , optics , chemistry , physics , condensed matter physics , organic chemistry , composite material
In this paper major emphasis has been placed on the phase behavior of miscible polymer blends, especially on blends containing random copolymers. Blends containing random copolymers generally tend to phase separation at elevated temperatures (LCST behavior). Experimental determination of miscibility areas as a function of temperature and copolymer composition by laser light scattering provides the interaction parameters necessary for theoretical explanations and predictions of various phase separation phenomena. Just above the LCST polymer blends exhibit regular highly interconnected two‐phase morphologies. The rate of decay of these structures is estimated. The phase separation kinetics can be pursued by laser light scattering and is discussed in terms of CAHN's linearized theory. It can be shown that the linear theory adequately describes the early stage of phase decomposition. The linear theory is also applicable to the reverse phenomenon, the phase dissolution below LCST. unlike the case of phase separation the diffusion‐controlled regime is that in the late stage of phase dissolution.