Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:47:39.826Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Domain Growth and Wetting in a Low Molecular Weight Binary Fluid System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

Bill Q. Shi
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Department of Physics, Gainesville, FL 32611
Andrew W. Cumming
Affiliation:
University of Florida, Department of Physics, Gainesville, FL 32611
Get access

Abstract

We present the results of phase-separation experiments performed on the pseudo-binary fluid system guaiacol-glycerol-water. Elastic light scattering and optical microscopy were used to follow the phase-separation after quenches into the coexistence region of the phase diagram. For critical quenches, we observed the well known bicontinuous infinite cluster morphology normally associated with spinodal decomposition, but with two distinct growth modes. In the bulk, at early times we observed L(t)t1/3 consistent with diffusion driven dynamics, crossing over to L(t)t1 at later times, as hydrodynamics became important. Near the sample walls, there obtained a novel fast growth with L(t)t3/2, just as in the case of recent studies with polymer blends, inconsistent with either diffusion or interface driven dynamics. We attribute this large exponent to wetting effects, and the observation of the same phenomenon in such disparate systems as polymer blends and polar organic solvents is strong evidence that the phenomenon is generic to binary systems.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Huse, D., Phys. Rev. B 34, 7845 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2 Siggia, E., Phys. Rev. A 20, 595 (1979).Google Scholar
3 Snyder, H. L. and Meakin, P., J. Chem. Phys. 79, 5588 (1983).Google Scholar
4 Wiltzius, P. and Cumming, A., Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 3000(1991).Google Scholar
5 Johnston, R. G. et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 49 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6 Guenoun, P., Beysens, D. and Robert, M., Phys. Rev Lett. 65, 2406 (1990).Google Scholar
7 Redon, C., Brochard-Wyart, F., and Rondelez, F., Phys. Rev. Lett., 715 (1991).Google Scholar
8 Chen, Z., Noolandi, J. and Izzo, D., Phys. Rev. Lett., 727 (1991).Google Scholar
9 Cumming, A. W., Wiltzius, P., Bates, F. S. and Rosedale, J. H., Phys. Rev. A, 7b Appear Jan. 15, 1992.Google Scholar
10 Komura, S., Phase Transitions 12, 3 (1988).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11 Cahn, J. W., J. Chem. Phys. 66, 3667 (1977).Google Scholar