CHAPTER 4: Polymer Blend Systems With an Added Solvent

Bijels formed by the phase separation of polymer blends are described. After introducing applications of polymer nanocomposites formed from bijels, the fundamental thermodynamic and dynamic properties are reviewed. Because they underpin the formation of bijels and thin-film stability, the principles of spinodal decomposition, wetting and dewetting are described. These principles are applied to understand bijel formation, phase evolution and dewetting in poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile) blends containing poly(methyl methacrylate)-grafted silica nanoparticles. The parameters that determine whether nanoparticles preferentially locate at the interface are described. Advances in numerical simulations help interpret experimental observations and guide future studies aimed at developing new functional bijel structures, with applications ranging from three-dimensional printing to membrane-based separations.