Structure Development via Reaction-Induced Phase Separation in Polymer Mixtures: Analysis of Early- and Late-Stage Demixing and Computer Simulations at Non-Isoquench Depths

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe effects of phase separation during polymerization of a monomer/polymer mixture were studied. The kinetics of the spinodal decomposition of glycidyl phenyl ether/polystyrene (95/5) during polymerization was investigated using a light-scattering technique. This phase separation during polymerization was comparatively different from the one observed at the isoquench depth such that (i) there was significantly more time before any observable fluctuation, and (ii) the periodic distance of the resulting two-phase structure in the later stages decreased with time. To further investigate the influence of a continually increasing quench depth on phase separation, a diglycidyl aminophenol/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (50/50) system with a simple phase diagram was investigated using ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering analysis, and a similar phase separation behavior was observed. Furthermore, computer simulations using the dynamic self-consistent field method were performed to interpret polymer morphology during the demixing driven by chemical reactions. The simulation results suggested that the periodic distance of the resulting two-phase structure formed in the later stages decreases with time. The time dependence of the concentration fluctuations observed in these simulations provided a satisfying explanation for the morphologies formed as a result of a continuously increasing quench depth.