Phase-field simulation of microstructure evolution in binary polymer blends under electric fields
Polymer composites exhibit superior properties that are absent in individual polymeric materials.To investigate the microstructural evolution and kinetic processes of binary polymer blends under electric fields(E-fields),numerical simulation based on the morphology and anisotropy parameter was carried out by a phase-field method.The modified nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard-Cook(CHC)diffusion equation was numerically solved by adopting high-accuracy semi-implicit Fourier spectral method.The simulated results show that the application of E-field remarkedly affects the phase-separating structure and kinetic process of polymer blends.Under the applied E-fields,the anisotropy parameter gradually increases with time and then reaches to an equilibrium,and stronger E-field leads to larger initial values of anisotropy parameter.In addition,the effect of initial composition on the orientation kinetics of E-field is significant and for the system with the critical composition,the orientation kinetic process is faster and stronger than the system with an off-critical composition.This study reveals the mechanism of E-field action on the polymer blend undergoing phase separation.Meanwhile,it can be used as a theoretical basis to design and guide the synthesis of polymer composites with anisotropic microstructures and superior properties.
electric fieldbinary polymer blendsphase separationphase-field simulationmicrostructure
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