Shock wave stability under the spinodal decomposition of binary mixtures

Abstract

A diffusion equation for a binary mixture and spinodal decomposition in the case of phase separation are considered. It is shown that, if the binding force between polymer chain links is weak, the diffusion equation for a binary mixture allows for the reduction to the Burgers equation with “viscosity”; that is, the coexistence of rarefaction waves and shock density waves is a possibility. The effect of strong bonds between polymer chain links on the spinodal decomposition dynamics is studied. It is demonstrated that strong bonding may cause a multiflux wave system with alternate stability to arise when the viscosity varies.