Fluctuation Effects on Viscoelastic Properties of Diblock Copolymer Solutions in Disordered State

Abstract

Viscoelastic properties of three poly(styrene-d8-block-isoprene)s in dioctyl phthalate are measured under oscillatory and steady shear flows in the disordered state, to examine the fluctuation effects on zero shear viscosity η0 and steady state compliance Je based on the effective interaction parameter (χN)eff. Flow-induced microphase separation is not observed when (χN)eff is lower than 9.9. Enhancement of η0 and Je due to the fluctuation effects, which is more obvious for Je, are observed in oscillatory flow, while suppression of the fluctuation effects are observed in steady shear flow, which is confirmed by small angle neutron scattering measurements. Comparing these results with those for poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine)s (SP), it is concluded that the viscosity enhancement due to the fluctuation effects slightly depend on component viscosities. When viscosity ratio of components is close to 1 (i.e., SP), the viscosity enhancement is negligible. On the other hand, enhancement of reduced steady state compliance JeR seems to be insensitive to the viscosity ratio of components.