Finite Size Scaling of Spinodal Suppression in Confined Blends of Strongly Segregating Polymers

Key Points

• To investigate the phase behavior of strongly segregating polystyrene and polydimethylsiloxane blends under confinement.
• Examined phase behavior in thin films of PS/PDMS blends
• Analyzed the effect of confinement on lateral phase separation
• Identified scaling relations related to film thickness
• Lateral phase separation is completely suppressed below a critical thickness
• Identified critical thickness for phase behavior changes
• Observed significant differences in confinement-controlled phase behavior