Phase Transitions In Polymers The Role Of Metastable States

Phase Transitions in Polymers: The Role of Metastable States

A classical metastable state possesses a local free energy minimum at infinite sizes, but not a global one. This concept is phase size independent. We have studied a number of experimental results and proposed a new concept that there exists a wide range of metastable states in polymers on different length scales where their metastability is critically determined by the phase size and dimensionality. Metastable states are also observed in phase transformations that are kinetically impeded on the pathway to thermodynamic equilibrium. This was illustrated in structural and morphological investigations of crystallization and mesophase transitions, liquid-liquid phase separation, vitrification and gel formation, as well as combinations of these transformation processes. The phase behaviours in polymers are thus dominated by interlinks of metastable states on different length scales. This concept successfully explains many experimental observations and provides a new way to connect different aspects of polymer physics.* Written by a leading scholar and industry expert* Presents new and cutting edge material encouraging innovation and future research* Connects hot topics and leading research in one concise volume

Statistical Physics of Polymers

This book is an introductory textbook on the statistical mechanics of poly mers and complex fluids aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate stu dents and non-specialist researchers who are starting research in this field. Modern statistical mechanics on polymers and complex fluids is based on many fields, such as chemical physics, statistical mechanics, quantum me chanics, stochastic processes, theory of phase transitions, hydrodynamics, rheology, and so on. This book provides an overview of the basic concepts and methods used in current research on the physics of polymers and complex fluids. Using simple but essential examples, we describe how to derive the physical properties of polymers theoretically, focusing on the structure and dynamics on mesoscopic scales. Here, the term 'mesoscopic scales' means intermediate lengths and time scales between the microscopic atomic scale and the macroscopic scale. Properties on mesoscopic scales are the central issue of the physics of polymers and complex fluids, because these materials are well characterized by spatiotemporal structures on these scales, where we can extract universal properties that are independent of the microscopic details of the system.

Fluid Mechanics: Soviet Research