(471b) Universal Phase Behavior of Linear, Comb, and Bottlebrush Diblock Copolymers Via Self Consistent Field Theory
AIChE Annual Meeting
2021
2021 Annual Meeting
Engineering Sciences and Fundamentals
Computational Studies of Self-Assembly
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - 12:45pm to 1:00pm
We study the self-assembly of diblock copolymers into BCC, A15, and σ sphere phases using self-consistent field theory. We show that by defining the phase diagram with respect to a dimensionless conformational
asymmetry parameter, ε, the phase diagram becomes independent of polymer architecture and chain statistics. Previous authors have used scaling arguments to predict that for sufficiently large side chains and
sufficiently high graft density that the functional form of ε should change, denoting the transition from comb to bottlebrush copolymers. We show that such a transition does not occur in self-consistent field theory and we comment on the possible role of fluctuations.
asymmetry parameter, ε, the phase diagram becomes independent of polymer architecture and chain statistics. Previous authors have used scaling arguments to predict that for sufficiently large side chains and
sufficiently high graft density that the functional form of ε should change, denoting the transition from comb to bottlebrush copolymers. We show that such a transition does not occur in self-consistent field theory and we comment on the possible role of fluctuations.