Competition between the micellization and the liquid–liquid phase separation in amphiphilic block copolymer solutions

We have formulated the mixing Gibbs energy density for the micelle phase of an amphiphilic block copolymer solution using mean-field lattice theory. We have found a transition between the micellization and the liquid–liquid phase separation in this solution by comparing the mixing Gibbs energy density for the micelle phase with that for the homogeneous phase. Micellization is preferred over the liquid–liquid phase separation not only at a higher amphiphilicity of the block copolymer chain but also at a higher degree of polymerization of the copolymer. We have formulated the mixing Gibbs energy density for the micelle phase of an amphiphilic block copolymer solution using mean-field lattice theory. By comparing it with the mixing Gibbs energy density for the homogeneous phase, we have observed the transition between the micellization and the liquid–liquid phase separation. The micellization is preferred over the liquid–liquid phase separation at a higher amphiphilicity and a higher degree of polymerization of the block copolymer chain as well as at a higher incompatibility between the two block chains.