6533b853fe1ef96bd12ac0e1

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Microphase separation in linear multiblock copolymers under poor solvent conditions

subject

description

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the phase behavior of linear multiblock copolymers with two types of monomers, A and B, where the length of the polymer blocks $N_{A}$ and $N_{B}$ ($N_{A}=N_{B}=N$), the number of the blocks $n_{A}$ and $n_{B}$ ($n_{A}=n_{B}=n$), and the solvent quality varies. The fraction $f$ of A-type monomers is kept constant and equal to 0.5. Whereas at high enough temperatures these macromolecules form coil structures, where each block A or B forms rather individual clusters, at low enough temperatures A and B monomers from different blocks can join together forming clusters of A or B monomers. The dependence of the formation of these clusters on the varied parameters is discussed in detail, providing a full understanding of the phase behavior of linear multiblock copolymers, at least for this symmetrical case.