Phase Behavior of SIS$^\prime$O Tetrablock Terpolymers: A Self-consistent Field Theory Study

ORAL

Abstract

Block copolymers with three or more blocks show richer phase behavior than diblock copolymers. In this work, we use self-consistent field theory (SCFT) to study the phase behavior of $ABA^\prime C$ type tetrablock terpolymers. In particular, we are motivated by experimental studies on poly(styrene-$b$-isoprene-$b$-styrene-$b$-ethylene oxide) (SIS$^\prime$O) that report interesting phases such as core-shell spheres and cylinders, the Frank-Kasper $\sigma$ phase, and the dodecagonal quasicrystalline morphology. We compare SCFT predictions to experimental results for SIS$^\prime$O copolymers using values of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters that are estimated from analysis of literature data on related systems.

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Authors

  • Akash Arora

    • Univ of Minn - Minneapolis
    • Univ of Minnesota - Twin Cities

  • David Morse

    • University of Minnesota
    • Univ of Minn - Minneapolis

  • Frank Bates

    • University of Minnesota, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
    • University of Minnesota
    • Univ of Minn - Minneapolis
    • Univ of Minnesota - Twin Cities

  • Kevin Dorfman

    • University of Minnesota
    • Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota - Twin cities
    • University of Minnesota - Minneapolis
    • Dept. Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
    • Univ of Minn - Minneapolis
    • Univ of Minnesota - Twin Cities