Abstract
This paper studied the thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS) phenomenon via spinodal decomposition (SD) in a polymer solution under a linear concentration gradient. The one-dimensional model consists of the Cahn–Hilliard theory for SD and incorporates the Flory–Huggins free energy equation, the slow mode mobility theory and Rouse model for polymer diffusion. The model is able to replicate frequently reported experimental observations reported in the literature, which includes the formation of anisotropic polymer membranes using the TIPS method. We show and explain that the anisotropic morphology is due to the polymer solution undergoing SD at different rates along the sample as a result of the initial concentration gradient.
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