Potential of Graft Polymers Bearing Inner Molten Block and Outer Glassy Block at the Graft Chains for Thermoplastic Elastomers with Enhanced Properties

Abstract

AbstractThe authors here demonstrate some significant benefits of using graft polymers with inner molten block and outer glassy block at the graft chains (Graft‐Block polymer) for thermoplastic elastomers. The synthesis of the target Graft‐Block polymer is made by combining two types of living radical polymerization, reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization. Temperature ramp rheology, tensile tests, and load‐unload cycle tests indicate that the Graft‐Block polymer‐based elastomers have significantly improved thermal stability and mechanical properties when compares to the Triblock copolymer‐based analog. The enhanced properties are discussed in terms of the effective network strands that connected the different glassy hard domains and the presence of abundant junction points in the molten strand matrix. Overall, this research presents clear experimental evidence of such graft polymers' high potential for application as thermoplastic elastomers.