Raman microscopic characterization of phase separation in binary n-alkane mixtures

Binary solid mixtures of linear n-alkanes were studied using the micro-Raman spectroscopy method. The process of self-organization into mono-component domains was monitored by analysis of shape and shift of spectral bands of alkane samples. One of the mixture components was deuterated. Before measurements at room temperature, the solid samples were heated, melted, mixed and quenched. The influence of difference in length of molecular chain and molecular ratio of n-alkanes mixture on the effectiveness of separation process was examined. To show the dynamics of the phase separation process on the samples surface the spectral Raman imaging was applied.