Morphology and bridging properties of (AB)(n) multiblock copolymers

Motivated by recent experiments (Spontak, R. J.; Smith, S. D. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 2001, 39, 947) on morphological and mechanical properties of multiblock copolymers (AB)(n), we theoretically elucidate the links between microscopically determined properties, such as the bridging fraction of chains, and mechanical properties of these materials. We do this by applying self-consistent mean-field theory to determine morphological aspects such as period and interfacial width and calculate the bridging fractions. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.