STATIC AND DYNAMIC SCATTERING FROM CYCLIC DIBLOCK COPOLYMER CHAINS INSOLUTION

This work discusses the static and dynamic scattering properties of (A -B)r ring diblock copolymer chains in the semi-dilute solutions. The c ase of a symmetric diblock is considered in details. The results show substantial differences with respect to linear diblock copolymers. Thi s is mainly due to the effect of connectivity of the chain extremities A and B leading to different conformations for both types of architec tures. The additional entropic interaction in cyclic chains induces a decrease of the elastic scattering intensity and a shift of the locati on of its maximum to a higher q value. As for the dynamics, the fact t hat the two extremities are connected speeds up the frequency of the i nterdiffusion mode and shifts its minimum to higher q value. A discuss ion of hydrodynamic interactions is also included.