Electric field dependence of lower critical phase separation behavior in polymer–polymer mixtures

Abstract

Abstract The electric field dependence of the cloud point temperature of a poly(vinyl methyl ether)–polystyrene mixture has been experimentally measured in a laser light scattering experiment. It is found that the cloud point temperature is depressed linearly with the square of the applied electric field. A thermodynamic derivation of the electric field dependence of the spinodal temperature for polymer–polymer mixtures is also presented. A large disagreement between the experimental and theoretical findings is noted and possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.