Rheo-Optiics for Multicomponent Liquids

Abstract

AbstractThe application of techniques in optical rheometry for the study of multicomponent systems is reviewed. Small angle light scattering (SALS) patterns are related to the structure of concentration fluctuations with length scales of the order of the wavelength of light. Scattering techniques such as SALS and scattering dichroism have been applied to monitor the transient evolution of anisotropic concentration fluctuation enhancement during simple shear induced phase separation in a semi-dilute solution of polystyrene (PS) in dioctyl phthalate(DOP). Furthermore, the Onuki- Doi theory relating scattering dichroism and structure factor has been used to verify the consistency between scattering dichroism and anisotropy in structure factor. Infrared polarimetry is a useful technique in probing the transient microstructural orientation of individual chemical species in multicomponent systems. The simultaneous measurement of intrinsic infrared dichroism and birefringence is particularly effective and has been employed to monitor component relaxation dynamics in miscible blends of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(methyl methacrylate). Polarization Modulated Laser Raman Scattering (PMLRS) has been successfully employed to study the orientation dynamics of a polymer melt subjected to transient uniaxial extension. PMLRS provides quantitative information about the time evolution of both the second and fourth moments of the orientation distribution function of molecular segments.