On the Cahn-Hilliard equation (Q1092236)

This paper is concerned with the Cahn-Hilliard equation which arises in the study of phase separation in cooling of binary solutions such as alloys, glasses and polymer mixtures. The initial boundary value problem for the Cahn-Hilliard equation is studied. Global existence and finite time blow up results are obtained. Error bounds for the finite element Galerkin approximation are proved. When the solution globally exists, the asymptotic behavior of solution and the multiplicity of stationary solutions have been considered by the second author [Appl. Anal. 23, 165-184 (1986; Zbl 0613.35042)].