Real-space self-consistent mean-field theory study of ABC star triblock copolymers

Abstract

The phase behavior of ABC star triblock copolymers is examined using real-space self-consistent mean-field theory. The central part of the triangular phase diagram for ABC triblock copolymers with equal A/B, B/C, and C/A interactions is determined by comparing the free energy of a number of candidate ordered phases. In this region of the phase diagram, the dominant microstructures are cylinders with polygonal cross sections or two-dimensional polygon-tiling patterns. Most of the known polygon-tiling patterns observed in experiments and simulations, plus some neighboring morphologies, are considered in the construction of the phase diagram. The resulting phase behavior is consistent with experiments and computer simulations.