Molecular Weight Diblock Copolymers Research Articles

Microphase-separated tapered triblock copolymers

The microphase-separated morphologies of a series of four poly[styrene-b-(d-styrene-grad-isoprene)-b-isoprene] tapered block copolymers have been explored in this work with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Each of the copolymers consists of two pure end blocks and a selectively deuterated statistical middle block, across which exists a composition gradient. The middle-block fraction varies from 10 to 40 wt% in this series. All four materials are found to exhibit ordered lamellar morphologies, in which the microdomain periodicities do not differ significantly from that of the corresponding poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymer of equal molecular weight (M=200 kDa). These results are compared with predictions from recent theoretical developments. In contrast, a 100 kDa poly[styrene-b-(styrene-ran-isoprene)-b-isoprene] triblock copolymer, possessing a 40 wt% statistical (random) middle block with an average composition of 50 wt% styrene, is observed to order into a lamellar-spherical three-microphase morphology upon block segregation

A variety of morphologies in diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends

A wide range of morphologies and thereby physical properties can be achieved in block copolymer/homopolymer blends by varying the copolymer composition, copolymer concentration and molecular weights. Recently we investigated micelle shape transitions in diblock copolymer with homopolymer blends at low copolymer concentration. In this paper we study the microstructure over a wider concentration range for a polystyrene-polybutadiene (PS/PB) diblock copolymer of molecular weight 20.5 × 103/20.5 × 103 blended with 17.2 × 103 molecular weight homopolystyrene (hPS).Figure 1 shows schematically a possible spectrum of microdomain structures dependent on the copolymer concentration of a lamellar PS/PB and hPS. Below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) the block copolymer is molecularly dispersed in the homopolymer exhibiting a homogeneous phase. As diblock concentration increases the minority (i.e. PB) forms spherical and/or cylindrical micelles randomly dispersed in the hPS. Further increases in diblock concentration induces long range ordering of various microdomains. In addition three biphasic regions are proposed in which two phases coexist: isotropic cylinders with ordered cylinders, ordered cylinders with ordered bicontinuous double diamond (OBDD), and OBDD with swollen lamellae.