Dynamics of multicomponent polymer mixtures: theoretical models

Theoretical models describing the dynamics of multicomponent polymer mixtures are reviewed. Some detailed derivations are shown to make the basic assumptions clear and to ease the comparison between these models. The effects of random noise and memory functions on the time evolution of dynamical correlation functions are examined. The long-range hydrodynamic interactions or mode-coupling effects are also included. A possible extension of these models to the kinetics of spinodal decomposition in solutions of polymer mixtures is briefly discussed.