Simulation of phase separation in polymer-liquid crystal mixtures

E. R. SOULÉ; ALEJANDRO D. REY

Charleston, USA

Simposio; Americas Regional Meeting PPS-2008; 2008

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; mso-font-alt:"Century Gothic"; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> In this work we simulate the dynamics of the phase separation – phase ordering process in a polymer – liquid crystal mixture. We analyze the one dimensional growth of the nematic phase, for different ratios of ordering and diffusion mobility. For low values of the mobility ratio, in a region of the phase diagram where isotropic-isotropic phase separation is metastable with respect to nematic-isotropic phase separation, the interface can split in two, one separating the two metastable isotropic phases, and the other one separating one isotropic phase and the stable nematic phase. The dynamics of the first interface is controlled by diffusion, while the second one is controlled by ordering. The velocity of the first interface decreases with time, so after some time both interfaces merge again.