Chemically and thermally initiated phase separation of binary polymer blends in spinodal and binodal regions

The nonlinear Cahn-Hillard-de Gennes equation, which was earlier used only for describing polymer mixtures in the spinodal region, was shown to be suitable for the description of uniform structures in the metastable region as well. Results were obtained for one-dimensional and two-dimensional models. A fine structure of the phase diagram was revealed in the spinodal region. Thermally and chemically initiated phase separations were considered. The role of long-lived unstable structures was discussed.