Europhysics Letters (EPL) · 1993 · 19 citations · 13 references
Natural SciencesChemistryMaterials ScienceInterface SciencePhysical ChemistryThin FilmsInterfacial PhenomenaPhase SeparationPolymer InterfacesPolymer MorphologyPolymer PhysicsPolymer Thin FilmsInterfacial PropertiesInterfacial SegregationInterfacial Surface TensionPhase Separation At InterfacesPhase Separation KineticsPolymer Blend Phase SeparationPolymer Phase SeparationPolymer Phase Separation Kinetics
In this letter we examine experimentally the validity of scaling laws for the dynamics of late stages of phase separation in polystyrene-poly(vinyl methyl ether) thin films. This is done using image analysis, UV transmission microscopy and Nomarsky interferometry. We find that scaling laws do not describe the observed phenomena. Contrary to common belief, the redistribution of the components between the phases persists to the very late stages of the phase separation process. Interfacial surface tension is a dominating force governing the evolution of the observed morphology.
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