Polymerization-induced phase separation can be initiated either through thermally induced polymerization or photopolymerization.
[3][4][5] The process general occurs through spinodal decomposition, commonly resulting in the formation of co-continuous phases.
Tran-Cong-Miyata and co-workers using periodic irradiation in photoreactive polymer blends to control morphology, specifically width of the resultant spinodal modes in the phase separated morphology.
[8] Recently, Hosein and co-workers demonstrated that nonlinear optical pattern formations that occur in photopolymer systems may be used to direct the organization of blends to have the same morphology as the light pattern.
[9] The process is commonly used in control of the morphology of polymer blends, for applications in thermoelectrics, solid-state lighting, polymer electrolytes, composites, membrane formation, and surface pattern formations.