Abstract
As the lipophilic surfactant tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) was cast from its organic solutions, needle-shape crystals formed. However, with the addition of an amphiphilic noncrystalline diblock copolymer [(poly(acrylic acid-b-styrene)] into the TOAB solutions, spherulites formed in the solid films cast from the solutions. Under preferable conditions, millimeter-sized spherulites could be obtained. It has been found that some factors such as the type of solvent, the film-forming temperature, and the ratio of polymer to surfactant can affect the spherulite formation. Small angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray diffraction investigation suggests that the formation of the spherulites and the pure TOAB crystals are organized by closely packed lamellar structure, while the addition of diblock copolymer decreased the degree of order of TOAB crystals. Dynamic light scattering study reveals that, in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, TOAB formed molecular-disperse solution, while the amphiphilic c...
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