Fundamentals of Phase Separation in Polymer Blend Thin Films

Beschreibung

 This work sheds new light on fundamental aspects of phase separation in polymer-blend thin films. A key feature underlying the theoretical models is the unification of one-dimensional thermodynamic phase equilibria with film evolution phenomena in two- and three dimensions. Initially, an established 'phase portrait' method, useful for visualising and calculating phase equilibria of polymer-blend films, is generalised to systems without convenient simplifying symmetries. Thermodynamic equilibria alone are then used to explain a film roughening mechanism in which laterally coexisting phases can have different depths in order to minimise free energy. The phase portraits are then utilised to demonstrate that simulations of lateral phase separation via a transient wetting layer, which conform very well with experiments, can be satisfactorily explained by 1D phase equilibria and a 'surface bifurcation' mechanism. Lastly, a novel 3D model of coupled phase separation and dewetting is developed, which demonstrates that surface roughening shadows phase separation in thin films.
This work sheds new light on fundamental aspects of phase separation in polymer-blend thin films. A key feature underlying the theoretical models is the unification of one-dimensional thermodynamic phase equilibria with film evolution phenomena in two- and three dimensions. Initially, an established 'phase portrait' method, useful for visualising and calculating phase equilibria of polymer-blend films, is generalised to systems without convenient simplifying symmetries. Thermodynamic equilibria alone are then used to explain a film roughening mechanism in which laterally coexisting phases can have different depths in order to minimise free energy. The phase portraits are then utilised to demonstrate that simulations of lateral phase separation via a transient wetting layer, which conform very well with experiments, can be satisfactorily explained by 1D phase equilibria and a 'surface bifurcation' mechanism. Lastly, a novel 3D model of coupled phase separation and dewetting is developed, which demonstrates that surface roughening shadows phase separation in thin films.

Nominated as an outstanding Ph.D. thesis by the University of Sheffield, UK Offers an ideal presentation for new PhD student: focused review of the primary literature, results are developed organically from beginning to end Provides detailed derivation of diffusion equations with numerical implementation that reproduces simulations Full-color demonstration of phase portraits, a valuable tool for identifying equilibria in simulations Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Sam Coveney

Themen in »Fundamentals of Phase Separation in Polymer Blend Thin Films«

3D Dewetting Model Dewetting Coupled to Phase Separation Diffusion Simulations of Polymer Films Hamiltonian Phase Portraits Phase Equilibria of Polymer Films Phase Portraits of Polymer Films Phase Separation in Polymer-blend Thin Films Roughening of Polymer-blend Thin Films Thermodynamics of Polymer Films Thin Film Morphology

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