Attenuation of concentration fluctuations after a quench to a temperature in the single-phase region

Attenuation of concentration fluctuations in a polystyrene/poly(2-chlorostyrene) blend after a quench from a temperature in the spinodal region to one in the single-phase region was studied by using the time-resolved light scattering technique and a scanning electron microscope. The characteristic wave number qm, where the maximum of the scattered light intensity was located, move towards smaller values during the attenuation process. The corresponding growth of the wave length of the dominant concentration fluctuation was clearly observed by the electron microscope. The scattered light intensities at small wave numbers were found to increase before they attenuated. In the later period the power-law behavior qm∼t−0.3 was observed. The exponent was smaller than the value (0.5) obtained on the basis of the non-linear theory by Akcasu and collaborators.