Micellization behavior of π-shaped copolymers in a selective solvent:: A Brownian dynamics simulation approach

Micellization for various types of pi-shaped copolymers in a selective solvent (poor for backbone chain and good for graft chain) is investigated by using Brownian dynamics simulation. The architecture of starblock, regular pi-shaped, and triblock copolymers are described in terms of the distance between junction points made by two branches and their micellization behaviors are compared with each other. It is observed that the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of pi-shaped copolymers increases in the order of starblock<triblock<regular pi-shaped copolymer. The micellar properties reveal that micelle formation of regular pi-shaped copolymer is more difficult than that of other pi architectures. These simulation results qualitatively agree with the theoretical prediction formulated by the simple mean field theory. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.