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Phase separation in star polymer-colloid mixtures

J. Dzubiella·A. Jusufi·C. N. Likos·C. von Ferber·H. Lowen·J. Stellbrink·J. Allgaier·D. Richter·A. B. Schofield·P. A. Smith·W. C. K. Poon·P. N. Pusey
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Abstract

We examine the demixing transition in star polymer-colloid mixtures for star arm numbers f=2,6,16,32 and different star-colloid size ratios. Theoretically, we solve the thermodynamically self-consistent Rogers-Young integral equations for binary mixtures using three effective pair potentials obtained from direct molecular computer simulations. The numerical results show a spinodal instability. The demixing binodals are approximately calculated, and found to be consistent with experimental observations.

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J. Dzubiella, A. Jusufi, C. N. Likos, C. von Ferber, H. Lowen, J. Stellbrink, J. Allgaier, D. Richter, A. B. Schofield, P. A. Smith, W. C. K. Poon, P. N. Pusey. 2000-10-12. Phase separation in star polymer-colloid mixtures. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.64.010401

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