Strong-segregation limit of the self-consistent field theory for diblock copolymer melts.
The self-consistent field theory (SCFT) introduced by Helfand for diblock copolymer melts is expected to converge to the strong-segregation theory (SST) of Semenov in the asymptotic limit, χN --> ∞ . However, past extrapolations of the lamellar/cylinder and cylinder/sphere phase boundaries, within the standard unit-cell approximation, have cast some doubts on whether or not this is actually true. Here we push the comparison further by extending the SCFT calculations to χN = 512000 , by accounting for exclusion zones in the coronae of the cylindrical and spherical unit cells, and by examining finite-segregation corrections to SST. In doing so, we provide the first compelling evidence that SCFT does indeed reduce to SST.
Department of Mathematics, University of Reading, RG6 6AX, Whiteknights, Reading, UK. m.w.matsen@reading.ac.uk
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D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D011108:Polymers