Theory of Mesophases of Triblock Comb-Shaped Copolymers: Effects of Dead Zones and Bridging

A theory describing the equilibrium morphology and structural properties of solvent-free mesophases of ABA triblock copolymers comprised of comb-shaped blocks is developed using a strong-stretching self-consistent field (SS-SCF) analytical approach with architecture-dependent parameters of the molec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecules 2022-07, Vol.55 (14), p.6040-6055
Main Authors: Zhulina, Ekaterina B., Mikhailov, Ivan V., Borisov, Oleg V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical Sciences
or physical chemistry
Theoretical and
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Summary:A theory describing the equilibrium morphology and structural properties of solvent-free mesophases of ABA triblock copolymers comprised of comb-shaped blocks is developed using a strong-stretching self-consistent field (SS-SCF) analytical approach with architecture-dependent parameters of the molecular potential. Morphological phase diagrams are constructed by implementing a two-layer model of convex solvent-free brushes which enables us to account for the effect of “dead zones” on binodals separating regions of thermodynamic stability of spherical, cylindrical, and lamellar mesophases. Fractions of the middle comblike B blocks forming bridges and loops between neighboring A domains are calculated for all of the morphologies as a function of the architectural parameters of the blocks. These analytical calculations are supplemented by numerical Scheutjens–Fleer self-consistent field (SF-SCF) simulations of convex solvent-free brushes of comblike polymers that mimic the matrix in the ABA triblock copolymer mesophases. The predicted domain sizes and interdomain distances are compared to experimental data.
ISSN:0024-9297
1520-5835
DOI:10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00418