Anisotropic phase separation of polymer blends induced by polarization-selective photoisomerization

Anisotropic phase separation of polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PS/PVME) blends was induced by photoisomerization of trans-stilbene moieties labeled on the PS chains (abbreviated hereafter as PSS chains) using linearly polarized light. As temperature increases, the anisotropy becomes weaker and eventually disappears at 10°C above the glass transition of the PSS component. It was concluded that the elastic stress associated with the spatial distribution of the reaction is responsible for this morphological anisotropy.