Self-Consistent Model of Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation

TL;DR

This paper introduces an exactly solvable self-consistent kinetic model for polymerization-induced phase separation, combining theories for different stages of spinodal decomposition, and validates it against experimental data.

Contribution

It develops a novel, exactly solvable model for PIPS that integrates early and late stage theories, providing new insights into the kinetics of phase separation.

Findings

Model shows good qualitative agreement with experimental data

Identifies scaling regimes in PIPS

Provides a unified theoretical framework for PIPS kinetics

Abstract

We propose an exactly solvable self-consistent kinetic model of polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) via spinodal decomposition. Using modified Cahn-Hilliard and Glotzer-Coniglio theories for early and late stages of spinodal decomposition, we find scaling regimes and compare the obtained results with existing experimental and theoretical information on PIPS kinetics, finding a good qualitative agreement.