Telechelic star polymers are macromolecules with functionalized, mutually attractive end groups. We employ computer simulations on a lattice to investigate the phase behavior of trifunctional telechelic stars as a function of the fraction $\lambda$ of attractive terminal monomers. We find macrophase separation that disappears at some value $0.4<\lambda <0.5$, at which point it is replaced by self-organization into interconnected micelles. We supplement the thermodynamics with a morphometric analysis that provides insight into the mesostructure of the resulting aggregates.

• Received 16 October 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.010401