Phase equilibria and phase separation dynamics in a polymer composite containing a main-chain liquid crystalline polymer

Kim, D.*; Kyu, T.*; Hashimoto, Takeji

Various topological phase diagrams of blends of main-chain liquid crystalline polymer (MCLCP) and flexible polymer have been established theoretically in the frame-work of Matsuyama-Kato theory by combining Flory-Hussing (FH) free energy for isotropic mixing, Maier-Saupe (MS) free energy for nematic ordering in the constituent MCLCP, and free energy pertaining to polymer chain-rigidity. The calculated phase diagrams exhibit liquidus and solidus lines along with a nematic-isotropic (NI) transition of the constituent MCLCP. Subsequently, thermodynamic parameters estimated from the phase diagrams hitherto established have been employed in the numerical computation to elucidate phase separation dynamics and morphology evolution accompanying thermal-quench induced phase separation of the MCLCP/polymer mixture.