Interface-Induced Coarsening Process in Polymer Blends.
The coarsening process of the droplets in a two-phase polymer blend (PP/EVAc) was studied under two-dimensional and three-dimensional conditions using a phase contrast microscope and computer image analyzer. The results showed that under three-dimensional conditions the growth of the droplet's radius with time follows r(3) approximately t(1.01), corresponding to the evaporation-condensation theory of Lifshitz-Slyozov, r(3) approximately t, while under two-dimensional conditions the growth law is r(3) approximately t(1.31). The growth rate of the droplets under two-dimensional conditions is faster than that under three-dimensional conditions. This difference is caused by an interfacial interaction (wetting effects) between the substrates and polymer blend. The existence of the interface promoted the coarsening process of the polymer blend under two-dimensional conditions. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.