Experimental validation of numerical simulation for phase decomposition of a binary polymer thin film on a patterned substrate

Phase separation of polymer blends can be directed by the difference of the attraction factors to the polymers on a patterned substrate to achieve polymer self-assembly. A 2D model of the Cahn-Hilliard equation was established using an unconditionally gradient stable time marching scheme. The morphology development in the early stage of the phase separation on a template guided self-assembly was investigated through numerical simulation. Through the numerical investigation, it was observed that the morphology evolution of the polymer blends depended on the consistency of the initial concentration, strength of forcing function, scaling factor, the gradient energy coefficient, and material properties.