Phase separation in a dilute polymer solution in a metastable region

Abstract

The time evolution of phase separation in a supercooled dilute polymer solution (polystyrene in diethyl oxalate) in a metastable region was studied by time-resolved dynamic and static light scattering. The mean radius R(t) and the total number density N(t) of droplets consisting of the minority phase were obtained as R(t)∼${\mathit{t}}^1$ and N(t)∼${\mathit{t}}^0$ in the growth stage, and as R(t)∼${\mathit{t}}^{1/3}$ and N(t)∼${\mathit{t}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ in the coarsening stage.