Anomalous Phase Separation Behavior in a Binary Mixture of Poly(Vinyl Methyl Ether) and Water under Deep Quench Conditions

We have found anomalous phase separation in a binary mixture of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and water under deep levels of quenching conditions near the critical composition. After the quick formation of small PVME-rich droplets in motion, a coarse graining effect does not proceed for a very long time. The phase-separated state observed may be stable or metastable. This might be a new type of phase transition which is governed by the competition between the collision dynamics and the dynamics of polymer interdiffusion causing coalescence of droplets. Namely, the phase-separated structure of the droplet is probably stabilized dynamically and not thermodynamically.