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Kinetics of phase separation in thin films: simulations for the diffusive case
Subir K Das1, Sanjay Puri, Jürgen Horbach
1Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, D-55099 Mainz, Staudinger Weg 7, Germany.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|February 21, 2006
Summary
Surface-directed spinodal decomposition in thin films leads to metastable layered states. These states transition to coarsening pancake domains, revealing complex phase separation dynamics influenced by wall interactions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Phase separation in binary mixtures is fundamental to materials processing.
- Thin-film geometries introduce confinement effects influencing material behavior.
- Surface interactions significantly alter bulk phase separation phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate diffusion-driven phase separation kinetics in a confined symmetric binary mixture.
- Analyze the interplay between phase separation and wetting phenomena at confining walls.
- Characterize the crossover from metastable states to asymptotic coarsening regimes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Langevin simulations to model the system dynamics.
- Studied thin films confined between parallel walls with varying preferential attractions.
- Focused on surface-directed spinodal decomposition (SDSD) phenomena.
Main Results:
- Observed the formation of SDSD waves leading to metastable stratified morphologies.
- Identified a crossover from these metastable states to a coarsening regime of pancake domains.
- Analyzed the influence of wall wetting properties on phase separation kinetics.
Conclusions:
- Wall interactions critically influence phase separation pathways in thin films.
- Metastable layered states are transient, preceding coarsening domain growth.
- The study provides insights into the complex dynamics of wetting and phase separation.