Creating structures in polymer blends via a dissolution and phase-separation process

We show how three-dimensional structures can be formed in polymer blends from pre-existing structures. "Tape" of one polymer is inserted into a matrix of an alternative polymer to form an array of parallelepipeds. We subject this regular structure to partial dissolution in the one-phase re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 72; no. 1 Pt 1; p. 011807
Main Authors Buxton, Gavin A, Clarke, Nigel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.2005
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ISSN1539-3755
DOI10.1103/PhysRevE.72.011807

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Summary:We show how three-dimensional structures can be formed in polymer blends from pre-existing structures. "Tape" of one polymer is inserted into a matrix of an alternative polymer to form an array of parallelepipeds. We subject this regular structure to partial dissolution in the one-phase region, before quenching the system into the two-phase region. The interplay between dissolution and phase separation can result in complex hierarchic structures. In particular, arrays of microchannels of one polymer species can be formed inside the other polymer.
ISSN:1539-3755
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.72.011807