Microphase‐separated structure of 1,3‐cyclohexadiene/butadiene triblock copolymers and its effect on mechanical and thermal properties

We report the effect of microphase‐separated structure on the mechanical and thermal properties of several poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene‐block‐butadiene‐block‐1,3‐cyclohexadiene) triblock copolymers (PCHD‐block‐PBd‐block‐PCHD) and of their hydrogenated derivatives: poly(cyclohexene‐block‐ethylene/butylene‐block‐cyclohexene) triblock copolymers (PCHE‐block‐PEB‐block‐PCHE). Both mechanical strength and heat‐resistant temperature (ex. Vicat Softening Temperature: VSPT) tended to increase with an increase in the 1,3‐cyclohexadiene (CHD)/butadiene ratio. On the other hand, heat resistance of the hydrogenated block copolymer was found to be higher than that of the unhydrogenated block copolymer. However, the mechanical strength was lower than those of the unhydrogenated block copolymer with the same ratio of CHD to butadiene. To clarify the relationship between the higher order structures of those block copolymers and their properties, we observed the microphase‐separated structure by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Hydrogenated block copolymers were found to have more finely dispersed microphase‐separated structures than those of the unhydrogenated block copolymers with the same CHD/Bd ratios through the use of TEM and the small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) technique. Those results indicated that the segregation strength between the PCHE block sequence and the PEB block sequence increased, depending on hydrogenation of the unhydrogenated precursor. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 13–22, 2001     

Effect of nucleating agent on the brittle–ductile transition behavior of polypropylene/ethylene–octene copolymer blends

In the present work, α‐form nucleating agent 1,3:2,4‐bis (3,4‐dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS, Millad 3988) is introduced into the blends of polypropylene/ethylene–octene copolymer (PP/POE) blends to study the effect of the nucleating agent on the toughness of PP/POE blends through affecting the crystallization behavior of PP matrix. Compared with the PP/POE blends, in which the toughness of the blends increases gradually with the increasing content of POE and only a weak transition in toughness is observed, addition of 0.2 wt % DMDBS induces not only the definitely brittle‐ductile transition at low POE content but also the enhancement of toughness and tensile strength of the blends simultaneously. Study on the morphologies of impact‐fractured surfaces suggests that the addition of a few amounts of DMDBS increases the degree of plastic deformation of sample during the fracture process. WAXD results suggest that POE induces the formation of the β‐form crystalline of PP; however, DMDBS prevents the formation of it. SEM results show that the addition of DMDBS does not affect the dispersion and phase morphologies of POE particles in PP matrix. DSC and POM results show that, although POE acts as a nucleating agent for PP crystallization and which enhances the crystallization temperature of PP and decreases the spherulites size of PP slightly, DMDBS induces the enhancement of the crystallization temperature of PP and the decrease of spherulites size of PP more greatly. It is concluded that the definitely brittle–ductile transition behavior during the impact process and the great improvement of toughness of the blends are attributed to the sharp decrease of PP spherulites size and their homogeneous distribution obtained by the addition of nucleating agent. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 577–588, 2008     

Effect of the composition ratio of copolymerized poly(carbonate) glycol on the microphase‐separated structures and mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers

Randomly copolymerized poly(carbonate) glycols were employed as starting materials for the synthesis of polyurethane elastomers (PUEs). The poly(carbonate) glycols had hexamethylene (C₆) and tetramethylene (C₄) units between carbonate groups in various composition ratios (C₄/C₆ = 0/100, 50/50, 70/30, and 90/10), and the number‐average molecular weights of these poly(carbonate) glycols were 1000 and 2000. The PUEs were synthesized with these poly(carbonate) glycols, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 1,4‐butanediol by a prepolymer method. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements revealed that the difference between the glass‐transition temperature of the soft segment in the PUEs and the glass‐transition temperature of the original glycol polymer decreased and the melting point of the hard‐segment domain increased with an increasing C₄ composition ratio. The microphase separation of the poly(carbonate) glycol‐based PUEs likely became stronger with an increasing C₄ composition ratio. Young's modulus of these PUEs increased with an increasing C₄ composition ratio. This was due to increases in the degree of microphase separation and stiffness of the soft segment with an increase in the C₄ composition ratio. The molecular weight of poly(carbonate) glycol also influenced the microphase‐separated structure and mechanical properties of the PUEs. The addition of different methylene chain units to poly(carbonate) glycol was quite effective in controlling the microphase‐separated structure and mechanical properties of the PUEs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4448–4458, 2004     

Study in the effect of annealing on hydrogen retention properties of C‐90%SiC films

Carbon‐rich silicon carbide (C‐90%SiC) films as hydrogen barriers were deposited on the surface of stainless steel substrates with magnetron sputtering, and then bombarded by argon ion beam. In order to remove the argon atoms reserved during films preparation, some samples with the prepared C‐90%SiC films were thermally annealed for 30 min at 473, 673 and 873 K in vacuum, respectively. These samples together with the un‐annealed ones were then irradiated by a 5 keV hydrogen ion beam. SEM was used to investigate the surface micrograph of those films and SIMS was used to measure the mass spectra of positive species and the depth distribution of argon and hydrogen in the samples. A remarkable decrease in hydrogen intensity in the substrates with annealing indicates that annealing for removing argon can effectively improve hydrogen retention properties of the C‐90%SiC films. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of silicone–acrylate copolymer latexes and their film properties

Emulsion copolymerization of silicones (octomethyl tetracyclosiloxane, D₄ and methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane, MATS) and acrylics was carried out using three different polymerization processes: semicontinuous monomer emulsion addition, batch and initiator solution addition. Results showed that only the semicontinuous process led to a stable latex with monodisperse particles. Various polymerizations were carried out through this process with varying silicone/acrylic ratios and MATS content. Films were obtained from different latexes: their properties are significantly influenced by silicone and MATS contents in copolymers.     

Controllable photopatterning and photochemical properties of novel copolymer containing dianthracene langmuir–blodgett films

A new series of copolymer poly(N‐hexadecylmeth acrylamide‐co‐bis(anthracen‐9‐ylmethyl) 2‐allylmalonate) [poly(HDMA‐co‐DAnMAMA)]s containing swallow‐tailed double anthracenyl groups and long alkyl group are designed and synthesized. The main route of the photochemical reaction of the p(HDMA‐DAnMAMA)copolymer Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films is dimerization reaction between the anthracenyl groups under the irradiation of both 365 and 248 nm for limiting irradiation time, resulting to a fine negative‐tone pattern. On the other hand, the anthracenyl groups act just as photodecomposition group under 248 nm for longer irradiation time, resulting to a fine positive‐tone pattern. Consequently, positive‐tone and negative‐tone pattern are obtained by choosing not only a suitable irradiation light wavelength, but the irradiation time at 248 nm. Moreover, it is found that the exposed and unexposed regions of copolymer LB films irradiated at 248 nm have solubility differentiation in gold etchant (I₂/NH₄I/C₂H₅OH/H₂O), that is to say, the gold photopatterns with the maximal resolution of the used mask can be obtained easily without any development process. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 50: 139–147, 2012     

Synthesis, characterization and protein adsorption behaviors of PLGA/PEG di-block co-polymer blend films

A series of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) di-block copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide and glycolide with different molecular weights of monomethoxy polyethyleneglycol (mPEG) 750, 2000 and 5000 as an initiator. The bulk properties of these co-polymers were characterized by using 1H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) results, in which the blend films with the di-block copolymers showed increasing surface oxygen atomic percentage with increasing PEG chain length, indicate that PEG chain segment in the di-block copolymers is surface oriented and enriched onto the surface of the blend films. The extent of protein adsorption onto the surface of these blend films was studied, using iodine radio-labeled human serum albumin, gamma globulin and human growth hormone. The protein adsorption amount was reduced for the blend films prepared with PLGA/PEG 750 and 2000 di-block copolymers, but increased to a great extent for PLGA/PEG 5000 di-block copolymer. This is due to the increased water uptake capacity of the blend film, which absorbed more protein molecules into a swollen polymer matrix in addition to surface adsorption.     

成膜溶剂与氟化嵌段共聚物膜的表面富集行为

利用接触角、XPS、SFG、AFM等技术研究了环己酮、甲苯和三氟甲苯为成膜溶剂所得聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯-b-聚（甲基丙烯酸-2-全氟辛基乙酯）（PMMA—b—PFMA）嵌段共聚物膜的表面结构与性能．发现浇铸成膜时成膜溶剂对聚合物氟化组分向表面富集程度的影响相对较小,而旋涂成膜时溶剂的影响很大．不管以何种形式成膜,三氟甲苯溶剂最有利于氟化组分向表面富集,甲苯次之,环己酮最差．这一现象与溶剂的挥发速度无关．聚合物在溶液中的聚集结构、气／液界面结构是造成成膜方式对聚合物表面结构与性能产生巨大影响的主要原因．当聚合物在溶液中形成以PFMA为核、PMMA为冠的胶束结构时,在溶液固化过程中氟化组分向表面富集需要较长的时间,这时由于成膜方法直接影响溶液的固化速度,造成其对氟化组分向表面富集的程度影响很大．当聚合物在溶液中以单分子或松散聚集体存在,在溶液固化过程中氟化组分向表面富集的速度很快,这时成膜方法对氟化组分向表面富集的程度影响很小．以上结果无论对理论研究还是应用研究都具有重要意义．     

Periodic organic–organometallic microdomain structures in poly(styrene‐block‐ferrocenyldimethylsilane) copolymers and blends with corresponding homopolymers

A series of poly(styrene‐block‐ferrocenyldimethylsilane) copolymers (SF) with different relative molar masses of the blocks were prepared by sequential anionic polymerization. The bulk morphology of these polymers, studied by TEM and SAXS, showed well‐ordered lamellar and cylindrical domains as well as disordered micellar structures. Temperature‐dependent rheological measurements exhibited an order–disorder transition for SF 17/8 (the numbers refer to the relative molar masses in 10³ g/mol) between 170 and 180°C, and an order–order transition for SF 9/19 between 190 and 200°C. The morphologies of binary blends of the diblocks with homopolymer were also investigated. In the blends the molar mass of the homopolymer was always less than the molar mass of the matching block. Ordered spheres on a bcc lattice and double‐gyroid morphology were observed for the blends. The double‐gyroid morphology was found only in F‐rich diblock/homopolymer systems. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1009–1021, 1999     

Effect of the copolymer composition on the K and a constants of the Mark–Houwink equation: Styrene–methyl methacrylate random copolymers

This article reports a study of the effect of composition in styrene–methyl methacrylate random copolymers on K and a constants in the Mark–Houwink equation. Copolymers with a variety of compositions and chain lengths were prepared through a controlled free‐radical copolymerization, with benzyl diethyldithiocarbamate and tetraethyl thiuram disulfide as iniferters. The synthesized products were analyzed with several techniques, including Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and viscometry. By relating the determined constants K and a of various copolymers to their composition, we found that the constant varied nonlinearly with the composition. The constant a decreased with increasing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) content in the copolymer molecule up to 60 wt %. After that, the constant increased with the PMMA content, reaching the value of the PMMA homopolymer. However, the constant K initially increased with the PMMA content up to a critical composition (60 wt %) and subsequently decreased with further increasing PMMA content. These results suggest that the molecular weight of a polystyrene–PMMA random copolymer of known composition cannot be approximated with a simple linear equation comprising the K and a values of each relevant homopolymers. The aforementioned trends are qualitatively discussed in relation to some possible sequential distribution in the copolymer molecules and the resulting conformation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 562–571, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10119     

The morphology and structure of PS‐b‐P4VP block copolymer films by solvent annealing: effect of the solvent parameter

Lamellae (symmetric) forming polystyrene‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) block copolymers (BCPs) were used to produce nanostructured thin films by solvent (toluene) casting (spin‐coating) onto silicon substrates. As expected, strong micellization of PS‐P4VP in toluene results in poorly ordered hexagonally structures films. Following deposition the films were solvent annealed in various solvents and mixtures thereof. A range of both morphologies including micelle and microphase separated structures were observed. It was found that nanostructures typical of films of regular thickness (across the substrate) and demonstrating microphase separation occurred only for relatively few solvents and mixtures. The data demonstrate that simple models of solvent annealing based on swelling of the polymer promoting higher polymer chain mobility are not appropriate and more careful rationalization is required to understand these data. Analysis suggests that regular phase separated films can only be achieved when the copolymer Hildebrand solubility parameter is very similar to the value of the solvent. It is suggested that the solvent anneal method used is best considered as a liquid phase technique rather than a vapor phase method. The results show that solvent annealing methods can be a very powerful means to control structure and in some circumstances dominate other factors such as surface chemistry and surface energies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of annealing on microstructure and mechanical properties of polypropylene random copolymer

In this work, polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) was taken as an example to study the changes of mechanical properties related to its microstructure evolution. Firstly, the toughness and fracture morphology were analyzed by notched Izod impact test and scanning electron microscope. Annealing at relative lower temperatures (<100°C), mechanical properties are slightly enhanced, which should be pointed out that significant improvements have been observed when annealing at relative higher temperatures (>100°C). Secondly, the study was conducted from the conventional differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering to analyses the changes in the crystalline and amorphous regions. Dynamic thermomechanical analysis was employed to explore the changes of molecular mobility in samples after annealing at different temperatures. Moreover, to find out the stress transfer between the crystalline regions and the amorphous regions, we did further analysis of the typical stress–strain curves and proposed the mechanism of microstructure evolution during annealing process. The results shown that amorphous rearranged and formed thinner lamellae when annealing at relative low temperature. While annealing at higher temperatures, the mobile and rigid amorphous regions rearranged into more perfect lamellae and the density of stress transmitters was increased significantly.     

Sol–gel transition behavior of biodegradable three‐arm and four‐arm star‐shaped PLGA–PEG block copolymer aqueous solution

Two types of temperature‐sensitive biodegradable three‐arm and four‐arm star‐shaped poly(DL ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid‐b‐ethylene glycol) (3‐arm and 4‐arm PLGA–PEG) were successfully synthesized via the coupling reaction of 3‐arm and 4‐arm PLGA and α‐monocarboxyl‐ω‐monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (CMPEG). In dilute aqueous solutions, star PLGA–PEGs showed the temperature‐ and concentration‐dependent formation and aggregation of micelles over specific concentration and specific temperature. With increasing the molecular weight and the relative hydrophobicity of hydrophobic PLGA block, critical micelle temperature (CMT) decreased. Aqueous solution of 4‐arm PLGA–PEG started to form micelles at lower temperature and showed sharper temperature‐dependent growth in micelle size. These results are due to the enhanced hydrophobicity of PLGA block. On the other hand, at high concentration, two types of 3‐arm and 4‐arm PLGA–PEG showed sol–gel–sol transition behavior as the temperature was increased. The 3‐arm and 4‐arm PLGA–PEG showed sol–gel transition at higher polymer concentrations (above 24 wt %) than the PEG–PLGA–PEG triblock copolymer. As the molecular weight and the relative hydrophobicity of PLGA block increased, the critical gel concentration (CGC) decreased. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 888–899, 2006     

Dynamic mechanical and rheological properties of binary S–(S/B)–S triblock copolymer blends

The rheology and dynamic mechanical properties of binary block copolymer blends consisting of a symmetrical triblock copolymer with thermoplastic elastomeric behavior (LN4) and an asymmetrical thermoplastic triblock copolymer (LN3) were investigated. TEM images of the blends show a systematic variation in the morphologies from worms (～20–0 wt % LN3) to cylinders (～60–30 wt % LN3) to lamellae (100–70 wt % LN3) as a function of LN3 content. DMA analysis has revealed that the increase in LN3 content leads to a decrease in miscibility between the PS end blocks and the S/B middle block. The frequency and temperature dependence of the storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (|η*|) has been studied for LN4 (weakly segregated) and LN3 (strongly segregated) from their master curves. By comparing the rheological properties of these blend compositions at low‐frequency regime, it is observed that with the increase in LN3 content the shear modulus and complex viscosity increase. Blend compositions with 70–100 wt % of LN3 show nonterminal behavior at reduced frequencies due to the presence of highly ordered microdomains when compared to blends with ～0–20 wt % of LN3 content. van Gurp–Palmen plots were constructed to observe the transition from liquid‐ to solid‐like behavior in the vicinity of order‐to‐disorder transition (ODT) temperature. ODT temperature increases as the thermoplastic LN3 content increases which are also confirmed by the Han plots. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 329–343, 2008     

Brushless and controlled microphase separation of lamellar polystyrene‐b‐polyethylene oxide thin films for block copolymer nanolithography

Creating perpendicular alignment in lamellar block copolymer (BCP) systems has considerable industrial and commercial significance, most importantly for generating nanowire structures in electronic devices. In general, these lamellar systems require careful interface engineering to obtain vertical orientation of the blocks. To avoid the strong preferential adsorption of one block to either the substrate or the polymer/air interface, the surface must be “neutralized” by chemical brushes or external forces, for example, solvent fields. Reported here is a stepwise thermo/solvent annealing process allowing the formation of perpendicular domains of polystyrene‐b‐polyethylene oxide lamellar structures while avoiding brush or other surface modifications. This BCP has a relatively small minimum feature size and can be used to generate substrate patterns for use in fabrication of nanowire electronic device structures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Quadruple click reactions for the synthesis of cysteine‐terminated linear multiblock copolymers

Synthesis of cysteine‐terminated linear polystyrene (PS)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/or poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)(PtBA)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymers was carried out using sequential quadruple click reactions including thiol‐ene, copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), Diels–Alder, and nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reactions. N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine methyl ester was first clicked with α‐allyl‐ω‐azide‐terminated PS via thiol‐ene reaction to create α‐cysteine‐ω‐azide‐terminated PS. Subsequent CuAAC reaction with PCL, followed by the introduction of the PMMA/or PtBA and PEG blocks via Diels–Alder and NRC, respectively, yielded final cysteine‐terminated multiblock copolymers. By ¹H NMR spectroscopy, the DP_ns of the blocks in the final multiblock copolymers were found to be close to those of the related polymer precursors, indicating that highly efficient click reactions occurred for polymer–polymer coupling. Successful quadruple click reactions were also confirmed by gel permeation chromatography. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

The effect of thermal annealing on the thermal properties and molecular weight of a segmented polyurethane copolymer

The influence of thermal annealing on molecular weight, microphase mixing, and multiple melting behavior of a segmented block copolyurethane is reported. The material studied contained 55% of hard segment consisting of 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and butanediol, and a poly (propylene oxide) diol of molecular weight 2000 as the soft segment. The thermal stability of the materials was influenced greatly by the order-disorder transition, estimated to occur at ca. 191°C. Upon annealing above this temperature, molecular weight increased rapidly as a result of chain branching reactions. Microphase separation increased under these conditions, while the degree of hard segment crystallinity decreased. Annealing below the order-disorder transition temperature resulted in relatively small molecular weight increases for short annealing times, but large increases for annealing times greater than one hour. Glass transition temperature data for these thermal treatments was consistent with upper critical solution temperature behavior and selective solubility by hard segment sequence length according to the Koberstein-Stein hard microdomain model. The critical hard segment sequence for segregation was estimated (for 30 min annealing) to contain ca. 5 diisocyanate residues at 80°C, ca. 8 residues at 185°C, and increased slowly with annealing time. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Controlled co‐solvent vapor annealing and the importance of quenching conditions in thin‐film block copolymer self‐assembly

A controlled co‐solvent vapor annealing system was designed and constructed to investigate the effects of solvent vapor activity during the rapid ambient quenching process on the morphology of a cylinder‐forming poly(styrene)‐b‐poly (ethylene oxide) (PS‐PEO) annealed in toluene and water vapor. A phase transformation from cylinders in the bulk to close‐packed spheres in swollen thin films occurred, which was reversed upon quenching with dry nitrogen. Quenching with humidified nitrogen preserved the spherical morphology but could significantly alter domain spacing and reduce long‐range order in the dried films under some circumstances. Specifically, long‐range order in the quenched films was found to decrease as the quenching humidity decreased from the humidity used during annealing, and the best long‐range order was obtained when the humidity remained consistent throughout both annealing and quenching. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1125–1130