Microphase Separation Induced by Differential Interactions in Diblock Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends
arXiv:0906.2205 · doi:10.1063/1.3153918
Abstract
Phase behavior of diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends (AB/C) is investigated theoretically. The study focuses on a special case where all three binary pairs, A/B, B/C and C/A, are miscible. Despite the miscibility of the binary pairs, a closed-loop immiscible region exists in the AB/C blends when the A/C and B/C pair interactions are sufficiently different. Inside the closed-loop, the system undergoes microphase separation, exhibiting different ordered structures. This phenomenon is enhanced when the homopolymer (C) interacts more strongly to one of the blocks (A or B).
19 pages, 7 figures, submitted to J. Chem. Phys