Universalization of the Phase Diagram for a Model Rod-Coil Diblock Copolymer

TLDR: In this paper, the Flory−Huggins interaction is measured for a model rod-coil block copolymer system, poly(alkoxyphenylenevinylene-b-isoprene), by fitting the interfacial segregation of block copolerant to a homopolymer interface and by using the random phase approximation (RPA) for block co-olymers.

Abstract: The Flory−Huggins interaction is measured for a model rod−coil block copolymer system, poly(alkoxyphenylenevinylene-b-isoprene), by fitting the interfacial segregation of block copolymer to a homopolymer interface and by using the random phase approximation (RPA) for block copolymers The measured interfacial segregation of a block copolymer to the interface between homopolymers, fit with a self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulation using χ as a variable parameter, gives a functional form χ = 348/T − 0091 When RPA is applied to neutron scattering curves for the rod−coil system above the order−disorder transition, the theoretical structure factors are inconsistent with observed scattering curves due to complex aggregated structures formed in the nematic and isotropic states Using the Flory−Huggins parameter and a previously measured value of the Maier−Saupe parameter, the PPV-b-PI phase diagram may be converted from system-specific variables to dimensionless parameters Under the assumptions that t