Spinning drop experiments on interfacial phenomena: Theoretical background and experimental evidence

Interfacial phenomena contribute strongly to structure formation in multiphase polymer blends. Spinning drop experiments allow not only to analyze the magnitude of the interfacial energy, but also to determine dynamic features such as coarsening or the break-up of elongated threads. This contribution reports the theoretical background of static and dynamic spinning drop experiments; it describes experimental evidence on the break-up dynamics of such elongated threads and it finally sketches a spinning drop apparatus designed for investigations of viscous polymer blends, even at elevated temperatures.Dedicated to Prof. H. H. Kausch on the occasion of his 60th birthday.