Artificially mixed binary blends of polyethylene and hydrogenated poly
butadiene are equilibrated as two liquid phases at aging temperatures
T-a 140-160 degrees C. Phase separation occurs in similar to 30 s, fol
lowed by gradual coarsening of dispersed droplets during which the ave
rage particle size increases with time as (r(3)) over bar similar to K
t. The coarsening constant K is varied from 5 x 10(-8) to 1.2 x 10(-5)
mu m(3)/s by changing blend components and is compared to calculated
rates based on coalescence and Ostwald ripening. Quantitative agreemen
t is obtained for all conditions, even when the two coarsening mechani
sms are operating in parallel with nearly equal rates. Coalescence is
favored in blends with a low-viscosity matrix, while Ostwald ripening
is dominant when both solubility and diffusivity of the minority compo
nent in the matrix are large.