On the Conformational Behavior of an Abc Triblock Copolymer Molecule
(EN)
Sdranis, Y. S.
(EN)
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Θετικών Επιστημών. Τμήμα Χημείας
(EL)
Sdranis, Y. S.
(EN)
The conformational properties of a triblock copolymer molecule with different kinds of interactions between units from the same or different blocks are studied as functions of the molecular weights of the three blocks. The analysis is based on calculations done about the critical dimension d = 4, where first-order perturbation theory is used. We calculate the end-to-end mean-square distances and the radii of gyration of the three blocks, the two subdiblocks, and the whole molecule, and from them we deduce the mean-square distances between the centers of mass of the blocks. Beyond the power law dependence of these properties on the molecular weight, which is the same as that of a homopolymer, their prefactors are determined at the various macroscopic states of the triblock copolymer. They depend both on the specific values of the interaction parameters at the fixed points and the ratios of the lengths of the blocks. The knowledge of the sizes of the parts of the macromolecule permits a comparison with the results from other methods as well as with experimental results of dilute solutions. A comparison between the behaviors of an AB diblock and that of an ABA triblock, special cases of the general ABC molecule, is included.
(EN)
