Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2023
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.06136 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866917638367608832 |
|---|---|
| author | Qiang, Yicheng Luo, Chengjie Zwicker, David |
| author_facet | Qiang, Yicheng Luo, Chengjie Zwicker, David |
| contents | Elastic microphase separation refers to equilibrium patterns that form by phase separation in elastic gels. Recent experiments revealed a continuous phase transition from the homogeneous phase to a regularly patterned phase, whose period decreased for stiffer systems. We here propose a model that captures these observations. The model combines a continuous field of the elastic component to describe phase separation with nonlocal elasticity theory to capture the gel's microstructure. Analytical approximations unveil that the pattern period is determined by the geometric mean between the elasto-capillary length and a microscopic length scale of the gel. Our theory highlights the importance of nonlocal elasticity in soft matter systems, reveals the mechanism of elastic microphase separation, and will improve the engineering of such systems. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2307_06136 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Theory of Elastic Microphase Separation Qiang, Yicheng Luo, Chengjie Zwicker, David Soft Condensed Matter Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Pattern Formation and Solitons Elastic microphase separation refers to equilibrium patterns that form by phase separation in elastic gels. Recent experiments revealed a continuous phase transition from the homogeneous phase to a regularly patterned phase, whose period decreased for stiffer systems. We here propose a model that captures these observations. The model combines a continuous field of the elastic component to describe phase separation with nonlocal elasticity theory to capture the gel's microstructure. Analytical approximations unveil that the pattern period is determined by the geometric mean between the elasto-capillary length and a microscopic length scale of the gel. Our theory highlights the importance of nonlocal elasticity in soft matter systems, reveals the mechanism of elastic microphase separation, and will improve the engineering of such systems. |
| title | Theory of Elastic Microphase Separation |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Pattern Formation and Solitons |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.06136 |