Effects of encounters on phase separation dynamics from diffusion-controlled growth to coarsening

We investigate the dynamics of phase separations in quenched binary mixtures, such as binary alloys and polymer blends with low mobilities, at higher volume fractions. Computer simulations are performed using simple model equations in the presence of encounters of droplets. Four characteristics stages with three crossovers, including dynamical scaling behavior and temporal power laws, are found beyond a volume fraction of approximately 0.14, where each crossover is attributed to a transition from one growth mechanism to the other. The encounter effect is thus shown to strongly influence a transition from the diffusion-controlled (t1/2) stage to the coarsening (t1/3) stage. A simple analytical argument for the simulation results is also presented.