Abstract
We analyze the fractional yield and the phase separation of the ladder-like interpolymer complexation reaction between two diblock copolymers A1A2 and B1B2 forming a linear triblock copolymer A1DB1, i.e., A1A2+B1B2⇌A1DB1. The study is carried out by using the self-consistent field theory coupled with the interpolymer-complexation model of the chemical reactions. The fractional yield of the complexation (φ3/φ), defined as the equilibrium volume fraction of the triblock copolymers, can be improved via several approaches including increasing the secondary bonding energy εZD and enhancing the solvent selectivity to the triblock copolymer A1DB1. The strong solvent selectivity and the chemical incompatible interaction between the diblock copolymers and the triblock copolymers make the homogenous phase unstable. The phase separated state D/S emerges between the sigle-stranded-diblock-dominated phase S and the duplex-triblock-dominated phase D. With the fixed length of the diblock copolymers, the length of the complex block D influences the subtle balance among several contributions to the free energy including the bonding energy, the conformational entropic loss due to complexation, the solvent selectivity, and the interaction between the polymers.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.