Structure Formation in Soft Matter Solutions Induced by Solvent Evaporation

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent theoretical and simulation studies on how solvent evaporation influences structure formation in soft matter solutions, impacting material properties in various industrial applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in understanding the physico-chemical processes during solvent evaporation in soft matter solutions.

Findings

Identification of key physico-chemical processes involved

Insights into flow, diffusion, crystallization, gelation, and glass transition during evaporation

Enhanced understanding of structure formation mechanisms

Abstract

Solvent evaporation in soft matter solutions (solutions of colloidal particles, polymers and their mixtures) is an important process in material making and in printing and coating industries. The solvent evaporation process determines the structure of the materials, and strongly affects their performance. Solvent evaporation involves many physico-chemical processes: flow, diffusion, crystallization, gelation, glass transition, etc., and is quite complex. In this article, we report recent progresses in this important process, with a special focus on theoretical and simulation studies.