Multiphase equilibria in solutions of polydisperse homopolymers. I. Three‐phase equilibria in ternary and quasiternary systems

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Abstract
A recent critique of the mechanism of three‐phase separation suggested by Tompa for ternary system solvent–polymer (1)–polymer (2) is shown to be invalid, and Tompa's account is reinforced by analytical arguments and numerical results. In particular it is proven that the critical point in some simple Flory–Huggins systems is thermodynamically unstable, rather than just metastable. Three‐phase separations in quasiternary systems cannot be studied by simple methods advanced for treatment of true ternary systems. Rather a new, more general, approach is required for these cases.