Flory-Huggins Model of Equilibrium Polymerization and Phase Separation in the Stockmayer Fluid

Published

January 1, 2004

Author(s)

J Dudowitz, Karl Freed, Jack F. Douglas

Abstract

We investigate the competition between dynamic chain formation and phase separation in the Stockmayer fluid (SF) of dipolar particles using a Flory-Huggins (FH) model. In addition to a van der Waals interaction, the FH model describes the association of dipolar particles into chains in terms of two energetic parameters, the association enthalpy and entropy of polymerization. The FH model compares favorably with simulations of SF critical properties (e.g., Tc, critical composition) over a wide range of the dimensionless dipolar energy, once the van der Waals interaction is renormalized to ensure consistency of the SF and FH theta points. The polymerization transition is shown to preempt phase separation in the SF for a large dipole energy interaction.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Volume

92

Issue

No. 4

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

dipole interaction, phase separation, polymerization, polymerization transition, stockmayer fluid, theta point

Citation

Dudowitz, J. , Freed, K. and Douglas, J. (2004), Flory-Huggins Model of Equilibrium Polymerization and Phase Separation in the Stockmayer Fluid, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=852225 (Accessed November 3, 2025)