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Theoretical Modeling Of The Phase Separation Dynamics In Blends Of Reactive Monomers, Gregory Yandek, Thein Kyu

Thein Kyu

Experimental observations of the dynamics of phase behavior for blends of reactive constituents, i.e. diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), curing agent methylene dianiline (MDA), and a reactive liquid rubber (R45EPI), have been theoretically modeled by coupling system thermodynamics governed by a summation of the free energies of mixing and network elasticity with reaction kinetics and diffusion equations. Snap-shots of the temporal evolution of ternary phase diagrams have been established based on the self-condensation reactions of DGEBA-MDA and R45EPI as well as a cross-reaction between the two constituents forming a copolymer. Numerical solution of the proposed mean-field model provides good …