The influence of volume fractions on the phase behaviors of linear A(BC) n BA′ multiblock terpolymers

The phase behaviors of A(BC)(n)BA' linear multiblock terpolymers are investigated using the pseudo-spectral method of self-consistent field theory by varying the volume fractions of different blocks. The relative stability among the lamellae-in-lamellae structures with different BC internal layers is tuned by the volume fraction of the two long tails. A larger A volume fraction favors the formation of structures with fewer BC thin layers. When the volume fraction of A is increased further, a hierarchical cylinder phase can be formed because of the effect of the spontaneous curvature and vice versa. The separation between B and C significantly reduces the phase regime of the cylinder, especially for the case of small A volume fraction.