Pressure Induced Phase Separation/Phase Transition in Polymer Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

  Recent topics on pressure-induced phase separation and/or phase transition investigated by means of small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering are reviewed, particularly on (i) pressure-dependence of block copolymer aqueous solutions and protein solutions, (ii) co-nonsolvency of polymers in mixed solvents, and (iii) competition of aggregation vs phase separation in polymer-particle systems. It is emphasized that hydrophobic interaction plays a key role of phase behavior in these system.