Keywords

Phase transitions, Thermodynamic functions, Thermal fluctuations, Glass transitions, Mathematical modeling, Interface diffusion, Complex fluids, Hydrodynamics, Capillary flows, Viscoelasticity

Abstract

Using phase-field simulations, we investigate the bulk coarsening dynamics of ternary polymer solutions undergoing a glass transition for two models of phase separation: diffusion only and with hydrodynamics. The glass transition is incorporated in both models by imposing mobility and viscosity contrasts between the polymer-rich and polymer-poor phases of the evolving microstructure. For microstructures composed of polymer-poor clusters in a polymer-rich matrix, the mobility and viscosity contrasts significantly hinder coarsening, effectively leading to structural arrest. For microstructures composed of polymer-rich clusters in a polymer-poor matrix, the mobility and viscosity contrasts do not impede domain growth; rather, they change the transient concentration of the polymer-rich phase, altering the shape of the discrete domains. This effect introduces several complexities to the coarsening process, including percolation inversion of the polymer-rich and polymer-poor phases—a phenomenon normally attributed to viscoelastic phase separation.

Original Publication Citation

J. Chem. Phys. 159, 214904 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0173992

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2023-12-06

Publisher

AIP Publishing

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering

Department

Chemical Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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