title: Reaction-induced phase separation of pseudo-interpenetrating polymer networks in polydisperse polymer blends: a simulation study.
abstract: We develop a minimal model for the process of reaction-induced phase separation in a polydisperse polymer blend. During the reaction, one component undergoes polymerization, leading to phase separation via spinodal decomposition. The effect that changing the final degree of polymerization has on the phase-separation process is studied. Finally an elastic energy term is included mimicking the cross-linking process and the generation of a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. We show that the scaling of the dominant lengthscale with time varies according to the reaction conditions.
authors.affiliation: University of Durham, South Road, Durham, UK. i.c.henderson@durham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clarke