title: Origin of the thermoreversible fcc-bcc transition in block copolymer solutions.
abstract: The thermoreversible fcc-bcc transition in concentrated block copolymer micellar solutions is shown to be driven by decreases in the aggregation number as the solvent penetrates the core, leading to a softer intermicelle potential. Small-angle neutron scattering measurements in a dilute solution are used to quantify the temperature-dependent micellar characteristics. The observed phase boundary is in excellent agreement with recent simulations of highly branched star polymers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.forename: Joona
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Moon Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kookheon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Char