Abstract: | The entropy of inhomogeneous polymer solutions has been evaluated using a lattice model. Previous models for polymer solutions considered only the enthalpic contributions, and a more complete expression for the free energy is obtained by adding the entropic term. The resulting expression is used to predict the characteristics of spinodal decomposition of polymer solutions and the interfacial tension between demixed polymer solutions. There is general improvement in the agreement between theory and experiment when the entropic effects are included. |