Order-disorder-and order-order-transitions in AB and ABC block copolymers: description by a simple model

Abstract

Based on the description of AB-block copolymers as micellar structures given by Semenov, the phase diagram of AB-diblock copolymers is calculated taking the homogeneously mixed system as a reference state. The predicted value (χN)c = 10.385 for a symmetric AB-diblock copolymer compares very well to the result of the original Random Phase Approximation theory (10.495). The simplicity of the model allows its extension to predict order-order transitions in ABC-triblock copolymers.