Anisotropic phase separation kinetics in a polymer blend solution following cessation of shear studied by light scattering

Abstract

A light scattering instrument capable of monitoring the scattering from samples under the influence of a simple shear field has been constructed. The apparatus consists of transparent cone-and-plate fixtures and a two-dimensional charge coupled device array detector. The detector unit is also capable of measuring the scattering patterns as a function of time. The phase separation kinetics of an 8% solution of a polystyrene/polybutadiene (50:50) blend in dioctyl phthalate following cessation of a steady shear is monitored with this instrument. The sample is two-phase in the quiescent state and the applied shear is sufficient to suppress all scattering observed from the quiescent sample (shear-induced mixing). The evolution of the scattering profiles following cessation of shear is quite different parallel and perpendicular to the original flow direction. In the normal direction, a spinodal growth and coarsening mechanism similar to that observed in temperature quench experiments is observed. In the parallel direction, a different mechanism is followed. We believe this is the first report of this type of anisotropic behaviour in the phase separation kinetics of a polymer blend.