“Ball at the wall” — A new lamellar multiphase morphology in a polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) triblock copolymer

Poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) block copolymers as compatibilizing agents in blends of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether): 1. Location of block copolymers in ternary blends — compatibilization versus micelle formation

Abstract The compatibilizing effect of the symmetric narrowly distributed block copolymer poly(styrene- b -methyl methacrylate) (P(S- b -MMA)) in blends of high-molecular-weight poly(styrene- co -acrylonitrile) containing 20 wt% (PSAN20) or 43 wt% acrylonitrile (PSAN43) with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE) was investigated by dynamic mechanical spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In blends with the PSAN43, P(S- b -MMA) forms spherical micelles in the PPE phase with no dispersing efficiency. In contrast to this, for blends with PSAN20, the block copolymer is located at the phase boundary, causing an extremely fine dispersion of the components. Depending on the loc…

Poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) block copolymers as compatibilizing agents in blends of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether): 2. Influence of concentration and molecular weight of symmetric block copolymers

Abstract The influence of the molecular weight of the symmetric block copolymer poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (P(S-b-MMA)) in blends with high-molecular-weight poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (PSAN) and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE) is investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Total molecular weights of the block copolymers vary from 16 up to 275 kg mol−1. Independent of molecular weight, all block copolymers locate to the interface with strong dispersing efficiency. The different block copolymers also showed approximately the same emulsifying efficiency. The degree of segmental mixing of the blocks with the respective phases is ev…

Blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) with styrene copolymers

Binary blends of poly(2,6–dimethyl–1,4–phenylene oxide) (PPE) with various styrene copolymers were investigated. Poly(styrene–co–acrylonitrile) (SAN), poly[styrene–co–(methyl methacrylate)] (SMMA), poly[styrene–co–(acrylic acid)] (SAA) and poly[styrene–co–(maleic anhydride)] (SMA) are only miscible with PPE when the amount of comonomer is rather small. From calculated binary interaction densities it can be concluded that the strong repulsion between PPE and comonomer limits miscibility. In blends of PPE with SAN, as well as with ABS, the inter-facial tension between the blend components is significantly reduced upon addition of polystyrene–block–poly–(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers…

Synthesis of block copolymers with poly(methyl methacrylate): P(B-b-MMA), P(EB-b-MMA), P(S-b-B-b-MMA) and P(S-b-EB-b-MMA)

Well-defined diblock copolymers poly(butadiene-b-methyl methacrylate) (=P(B-b-MMA)) and triblock copolymers poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-methyl methacrylate) (=P(S-b-B-b-MMA)) have been prepared by sequential anionic polymerization in THF. The synthesis of P(B-b-MMA) and P(S-b-B-b-MMA) was most efficient in the presence of lithium alkoxides. By this method side reactions are suppressed and the polymerization can be performed at higher temperatures. The resulting triblock copolymers have narrow molecular weight distribution. The 1,2-PB midblock was quantitatively hydrogenated with tosylhydrazide to enhance thermal stability. Alternatively the hydrogenation can be performed at elevated pressure…

Thermal stability of poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-1-butene-b-methyl methacrylate)

The thermal stability of poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers (= P(S-b-MMA)) and poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-1-butene-b-methyl methacrylate) triblock copolymers (=P(S-b-EB-b-MMA)) was investigated. Well-defined high molecular weight block copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) were molded at different temperatures in vacuum and the alteration of the MWD was sensitively monitored by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Up to 240°C P(S-b-MMA) shows almost no broadening of the MWD. At higher temperatures low molecular weight polystyrene-rich portions are formed. The number average molecular weight (Mn) is strongly reduced. P(S-b-EB-b-MMA) triblock copolymer…