Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-1994
Abstract
A theory of nematic ordering and microphase segregation in an incompressible melt of AB diblock copolymers is developed for the case when the A block is a polymer composed of NA monomers and the B block is a main-chain liquid crystal polymer composed of NB freely jointed nematogens. Isotropic monomer-nematogen interactions are characterized by a Flory parameter , and anisotropic nematogen-nematogen interactions are characterized by a Maier-Saupe parameter J. Long chains (NA,NB1) in the strong segregation limit (N1, with N=NA+NB) are considered. An approximate free energy of the melt is given for the following segregation morphologies: homogeneous, lamellar, cylindrical micelles, and spherical micelles. The free energy is minimized to determine the equilibrium morphology, lattice constant, and degree of nematic order as a function of N, J, and NA/N. Both morphological and isotropic-nematic transitions occur, and the ordinary diblock copolymer phase diagram is significantly altered.
Publication Title
Physical Review E
Rights
© 1994 The American Physical Society.
Recommended Citation
Nematic Ordering and Microphase Segregation in a Diblock Polymer Liquid-Crystal-Polymer. Sones R.A., Petschek R.G., Physical Review E 50:4, 2906-2912 (1994).