Flow-induced phase separation in polymer solutions

A correct description of phase behaviour in polymer solutions requires a coupling between configurational statistics and thermodynamics. The effect of flow-induced chain deformation on the polymer-solvent interaction energy depends on the concentration and on the polymer architecture. It will be demonstrated, using thermodynamic arguments, that for linear polymers this may give rise to a large flow-induced demixing. For more complex architectures such as ring polymers and branched polymers, a maximum in the critical temperature vs. flow rate is predicted.