Multibody Interaction Effects in the Phase Behaviors of Molten Diblock Copolymers

In this study, we investigate the necessity of effective multibody interactions in properly understanding the phase separation of molten diblock copolymers with disparity in self cohesion and association between constituent blocks. Using a Landau approach based on a molecular equation of state, the location of critical points is determined, where the multibody interactions play an important role. It is also discussed by using the companion self-consistent field theory that at what processing window the ordinary and inverted mesophase morphologies are exhibited.