The present article gives an analysis of XYX triblock copolymers in a good solvent and in a theta solvent, the segments of type X and type Y being repulsive for each other. The results are compared to homopolymers as well as to copolymers in a selective solvent that is a good one for the outer blocks and a theta solvent for the inner one and vice versa, the strength of repulsion between blocks being the same as in the present types of copolymers. A lattice model is used for the investigations and the concentration ranges from a volume fraction phi = 0 up to phi = 0.8. In the limit phi --> 0 the triblocks in good solvent are slightly more expanded than homopolymers and in theta solvent mean square dimensions of triblocks are considerably increased compared to homopolymers due to the repulsion between blocks. With increasing concentration the dimensions decrease but then they increase again and for large concentrations they become similar for all types of copolymers studied, as the effect of the solvent levels off making the repulsive interaction between blocks the dominant interaction. This leads to an orientation effect and as a consequence to microphase separation which is demonstrated by the concentration dependence of various quantities as well as by visualization of snapshots.
Copyright 2004 American Institute of Physics