Abstract
Previously, an inverted phase (the minority blocks comprising the continuum phase) was found in solution-cast block copolymer thin films. In this study, the effect of casting solvents on the formation of inverted phase has been studied. Two block copolymers, poly(styrene-b-butadiene) (SB) (Mw = 73 930 Da) and poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) (Mw = 140 000 Da), with comparable block lengths and equal polystyrene (PS) weight fraction (∼30 wt %) were used. The copolymer thin films were cast from different solvents, toluene, benzene, cyclohexane, and binary mixtures of benzene and cyclohexane. Toluene and benzene are good solvents for both PS and PB, but have a preferential affinity for PS, while cyclohexane is a good solvent for PB but a ϑ solvent for PS (Tϑ = 34.5 °C). The differential solvent affinity for PS and PB was estimated in terms of a difference between the polymer−solvent interaction parameter, χ, for each block. Under an extremely slow solvent evaporation rate, the time-dependent phase b...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
