Phase separation in a dilute polymer solution in a metastable region

The time evolution of phase separation in a supercooled dilute polymer solution (polystyrene in diethyl oxalate) in a metastable region was studied by time-resolved dynamic and static light scattering. The mean radius R(t) and the total number density N(t) of droplets consisting of the minority phase were obtained as R(t){~}t¹ and N(t){~}t⁰ in the growth stage, and as R(t){~}t1/3 and N(t){~}t^-1 in the coarsening stage.