Reentrant Phase Behavior in Diblock Copolymer AB/Homopolymer C Blends: A Combined Effect of Solvent Selectivity and Block Interactions
摘要
We investigated the phase behavior of diblock copolymer AB/homopolymer C blends in concentrated aqueous solutions using a simulated annealing method. Phase diagrams were constructed as a function of the concentration of all polymers (Φ) and the volume fraction of homopolymer (fC). Rich phase transition sequences were observed, especially reentrant phase transitions, such as lamellae → inverted cylinders → gyroids → lamellae → disorder, for a given Φ with increasing fC. By analyzing the variations in the average contact numbers between different components and the effective volume fractions of B-domains, we elucidated the mechanisms of the reentrant phase transitions. We found that the strong attraction between B and C leads to the swelling of B-domains upon addition of homopolymer. Concurrently, the solvent preferentially swells the A-domains over the B+C-domains. The competing swelling effects of the solvent and homopolymer on the A-domains and B-domains, respectively, triggered the reentrant phase behavior in the symmetric AB copolymer system upon addition of homopolymer.