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Kinetics of phase separation of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates exhibiting lower critical solution temperature

ORAL

Abstract

Measurements on a common linear oppositely-charged polyelectrolyte complex, potassium-poly(styrene sulfonate) and poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium bromide), shows liquid-liquid phase separation upon heating, or lower critical solution temperature behavior. The experimental accessibility of the binodal temperature occurs for a narrow range of monovalent salt concentration. We will report new results on the kinetics of phase separation studied by scattering techniques as a function of quench depth from the binodal. The growth rate of concentration fluctuations will be discussed and compared to available theories.

Presenters

  • Vivek Prabhu

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Authors

  • Samim Ali

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Yuanchi Ma

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Yimin Mao

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Vivek Prabhu

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899