Phase behavior of gradient copolymers

Phase properties of gradient AB copolymer melts which consist of chains with the specified chemical distribution of A and B monomers have been studied within the Landau-Ginzburg model. All the melts with the linear distribution of the monomers exhibit only a direct continuous phase transition from disordered to the lamellar phase. The hexagonal, body-centered-cubic, double-gyroid (G), and lamellar-ordered structures have been found in the melts with the monotonic but nonlinear distribution of the monomers. The G structure has been also found in the gradient copolymer melts with the distribution function of monomers similar to the A-B-A triblock copolymers. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)50129-3].