Synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable epoxy‐modified polyurethane elastomers

Biodegradable polyurethane elastomers with the potential for applications in medical implants were synthesized from the reaction of epoxy‐terminated polyurethane prepolymers (EUPs) with 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine as a curing agent. EUPs were themselves prepared from the reaction of glycidol and isocyanate‐terminated polyurethanes made from different molecular weights of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (CAPA) and 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate. All materials were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The curing conditions were optimized by gel content measurements. The curing kinetic and kinetic parameters were determined from differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The effects of changing the crosslink density and crystallinity of elastomers via the alteration of the CAPA polyol molecular weight on the physical, mechanical, and degradation properties of the final elastomeric polymers were examined fully. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2985‐2996, 2005     

Effect of the diisocyanate on the structure and properties of polyurethane acrylate prepolymers

In this study, we investigated the role of diisocyanate on the properties of polyurethane acrylate (PUA) prepolymers based on polypropylene oxide (M̄_n = 2000 g · mol⁻¹). The diisocyanates studied were isophorone diisocyanate, 4‐4′dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and toluene diisocyanate (pure 2,4‐TDI, pure 2,6‐TDI, and a TDI mixture, TDI_tech). The molecular structure of the diisocyanate had a major role on the course of the polycondensation and, more precisely, on the sequence length distribution of the final prepolymer. Moreover, the structural organization of the prepolymer also strongly depended on the nature of the diisocyanate. Two types of behaviors were particularly emphasized. On the one hand, the PUA synthesized from 2,4‐TDI displayed an enhanced intermixing between soft polyether segments and hard urethane groups, as revealed by the analysis of hydrogen bonding in Fourier transform infrared. Consecutively, the glass transition shifted to higher temperatures for these polymers. On the other hand, strong hard–hard inter‐urethane associations were observed in 2,6‐TDI‐based prepolymers; these led to microphase segregation between polyether chains and urethane groups, as revealed by optical microscopy. This inhomogeneous structure was thought to be responsible for the unusual rheological behavior of these PUA prepolymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2750–2768, 2000     

Fluoropolyethers end‐capped by polar functional groups. I. Kinetic approach to the reaction of hydroxy‐terminated fluoropolyethers with cycloalyphatic and aromatic diisocyanates

Urethane reactions of cycloaliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates with hydroxy‐terminated fluoropolyethers (FPEs) of various molecular weights and structure, at NCO : OH = 2, have been studied by monitoring, by IR analysis, the rate of decrease in NCO absorbance at 2264–2268 cm⁻¹. Different diisocyanates have been tested, among them the following: 4,4′‐dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI); 5‐isocyanato‐1,3,3‐trimethylcyclohexylmethyl isocyanate or isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI); 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Ethyl acetate (EA), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), and hexafluoroxylene (HFX) have been used as solvents in presence of dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) or 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as catalysts. These reactions gave rise to NCO‐end‐capped FPE–oligourethanes. Preliminary solubility tests for HO‐terminated FPEs in various solvents made it possible to select proper candidates for carrying out reaction in homogeneous conditions at high concentrations of reagents (30–50% w/w). The second‐order kinetic mechanism was shown to be valid. Positive deviations from linearity for the second‐order kinetics around 40–80% conversion, found for most of the FPE diols, were attributed to the autocatalysis of the isocyanate–hydroxyl reaction by the arising urethane groups. Uncatalyzed reactions with cycloaliphatic diisocyanates are very slow at 40°C. The tertiary amine DABCO is a much less effective catalyst than DBTDL. FPEs having terminal OH groups separated from the perfluorinated main molecular chain by  (OCH₂CH₂)_n segments (n = 1–2) are generally more reactive than FPEs with end  CH₂OH groups. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 557–570, 1999     

Domain structure and interphase dimensions in poly(urethaneurea) elastomers using DSC and SAXS

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scattering calorimetry (DSC) were used to demonstrate distinct differences in domain size, phase separation, and hydrogen bonding in a series of segmented urethaneurea elastomers prepared from isocyanate‐terminated prepolymers and aromatic diamine chain extenders. Two types of prepolymers were studied. The first contained a broadly polydisperse high molecular mass oligomer with relatively high levels of free isocyanate monomer. The second type of prepolymer contained low levels of high molecular mass oligomers with mass fractions greater than 90% of the two‐to‐one adduct of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) to polytetramethylene glycol (PTMEG). The mass fraction of the residual unreacted diisocyanate was less than 0.1% in the second type. Two chain extenders, 4,4′‐methylene bis‐(2‐chloroaniline)(Mboca) and 4,4′‐methylene bis‐(3‐chloro‐2,6‐diethylaniline) (MCDEA), were used to convert the prepolymers to poly(urethaneurea) elastomers. Materials prepared from the prepolymers with low oligomer polydispersity exhibited smaller hard segment domains with more ordered morphology, greater phase separation, and more hydrogen bonding than those prepared from prepolymers with high oligomer polydispersity. These tendencies were enhanced in those elastomers prepared by chain extension with MCDEA compared to those made with Mboca. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2586–2600, 1999     

Morphology of polyurethanes with triol monomer crosslinked on hard segments

Polyester‐based polyurethanes containing ≈60 wt % of polyester were synthesized from low molecular weight polyester (M_n ≈2000) and 4,4′‐methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI), with butanediol as a chain extender and glycerol as a crosslinker. The triol crosslinker was used in substitution for the 1,4‐butanediol chain extender; thus, the crosslinker was chemical bonded to the hard segments of polyurethane. The morphologies of these polyurethanes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), TMA (thermal mechanical analysis), and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). Owing to the highly steric hindrance, the presence of triol crosslinker in the hard segments resulted in a decrease in the aggregation of hard segments through hydrogen bonding. The experimental results revealed that the degree of phase segregation of soft and hard segments decreased with increasing the triol crosslinker content in the hard segments. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2673–2681, 1999     

The influence of hard‐segments on two‐phase structure and shape memory properties of PCL‐based segmented polyurethanes

Poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐based segmented polyurethanes (PCLUs) were prepared from poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol, diisocyanates (DI), and 1,4‐butanediol. The DIs used were 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Differential scanning calorimetry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and dynamic mechanical analysis were employed to characterize the two‐phase structures of all PCLUs. It was found that HDI‐ and MDI‐based PCLUs had higher degree of microphase separation than did IPDI‐ and TDI‐based PCLUs, which was primarily due to the crystallization of HDI‐ and MDI‐based hard‐segments. As a result, the HDI‐based PCLU exhibited the highest recovery force up to 6 MPa and slowest stress relaxation with increasing temperature. Besides, it was found that the partial damage in hard‐segment domains during the sample deformation was responsible for the incomplete shape‐recovery of PCLUs after the first deformation, but the damage did not develop during the subsequent deformation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 557–570, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched polyesters and polyurethane coatings

Polyurethane (PU) coatings are widely used for variety of high‐performance applications in today's coating technology. The emerging hyperbranched polymers having three‐dimensional morphology have opened a new avenue to tailor the architecture of PU coatings. The methodology followed here is based on preparation of PU coatings from hyperbranched polyester. Initially, different hyperbranched polyester polyols (HPs) were synthesized by varying the hydroxyl‐terminated precursors that is, pentaerythritol, trimethylol propane or glycerol and keeping the diacid that is, adipic acid quantity constant at various mole ratios of 1:0.6, 1:0.8, 1:0.9, and 1:1, respectively. The obtained HPs were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF)‐mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform‐infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The degree of branching and the quantity of different structural units present in the various HPs were calculated by integrating the quaternary carbon and carbonyl zone in ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The extent of condensation in different HPs was also calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. Later on, NCO‐terminated PU prepolymers (NCO‐PU) were synthesized by reacting HPs with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) at NCO/OH ratio of 1.6:1. In the third step, the excess NCO content in the NCO‐capped PU prepolymers were reacted with atmospheric moisture and hyperbranched polyurethane (HPU) coatings were formed. The coating films were analyzed by FTIR and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis instruments. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2673–2688, 2007     

Unsaturated poly(ester-imide)s from hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene, dianhydride and diisocyanate

Hydroxy terminated polybutadiene has been used for the first time in the synthesis of poly(ester-imide)s [P(E-I)s]. Anhydride terminated polyester prepolymers were prepared by the reaction of two different polyols--polytetramethyleneoxide glycol (PTMG) of molecular weight 1000 and hydroxy terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) of molecular weight 2500--and different dianhydrides--pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4^′-(hexafluoroiso-propylidene)diphthalic anhydride (HFDA). The prepolymers were then reacted with different diisocyanates--80:20 mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 4,4^′-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) resulting in P(E-I)s. The P(E-I)s were characterised by FT-IR, FT-NMR, GPC, TGA, DSC and for static and dynamic mechanical properties. The polymers based on PTMG showed two distinct melting points and behave as thermoplastic elastomers. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of P(E-I)s based on HTPB were substantially higher than those based on PTMG.     

Synthesis and properties of segmented main‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyurethanes with a high aspect ratio mesogenic diol as a chain extender

Main‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyurethanes were synthesized based on a high aspect ratio mesogenic diol (4‐{[4‐(6‐hydroxyhexyloxy)‐phenylimino]‐methyl}‐benzoic acid 4‐{[4‐(6‐hydroxyhexyloxy)‐phenylimino]‐methyl}‐phenyl ester) as a chain extender; polycaprolactone (PCL) diol soft segments of different number‐average molecular weights (530, 1250, or 2000); and different diisocyanates, including 1,4‐hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), 4,4′‐methylene bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H₁₂MDI), and 4,4′‐methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). The structure of the polymers was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy measurements were carried out to examine the liquid‐crystalline and thermal properties of the polyurethanes, respectively. The mesogenic diol was partially replaced with 20–50 mol % PCL. A 20 mol % mesogen content was sufficient to impart a liquid crystalline property to all the polymers. The partial replacement of the mesogenic diol with PCL of various molecular weights, as well as the various diisocyanates, influenced the phase transitions and the occurrence of mesophase textures. Characteristic liquid‐crystalline textures were observed when a sufficient content of the mesogenic diol was present. Depending on the flexible spacer length and the mesogenic content, grained and threadlike textures were obtained for the HMDI and H₁₂MDI series polymers, whereas the polyurethanes prepared from MDI showed only grained textures for all the compositions. The polymers formed brittle films and could not be subjected to tensile tests. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1527–1538, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of poly(carbonate‐urethane) consisting of alternating carbonate and urethane moieties

Poly(carbonate‐urethane) consisting of alternating carbonate and urethane moieties (poly(HC‐MDI)) was prepared by polyaddition of 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and a monocarbonate diol bis(3‐hydroxypropyl)carbonate (HC), prepared by hydrolysis of a six‐membered spiroorthocarbonate 1,5,7,11‐tetraoxa‐spiro[5.5]undecane. The polyaddition proceeds without concomitant side reactions including carbonate exchange reaction and affords the desired poly(carbonate‐urethane). The hydrolysis and thermal behaviors of poly(HC‐MDI) were compared with those of the analogous polyurethane carrying no carbonate structure (poly(ND‐MDI)) prepared from MDI and 1,9‐nonanediol (ND). Although the glass transition behaviors are almost identical, poly(HC‐MDI) is less crystalline than poly(ND‐MDI). Poly(HC‐MDI) is more susceptible to hydrolysis than poly(ND‐MDI) probably due to the higher polarity and the lower crystallinity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2802–2808, 2006     

Temperature‐dependent changes in the hydrogen bonded hard segment network and microphase morphology in a model polyurethane: Experimental and simulation studies

Hydrogen bonding between hard segments has a critical effect on the morphology and properties of polyurethanes. Influence of temperature on hydrogen bonded urethane network and melting behavior of a model semicrystalline segmented polyurethane was investigated by experiments and simulations. Polyurethane was synthesized by the stoichiometric reaction between p‐phenylene diisocyanate and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) with a molecular weight of 1000 g/mol. Simulations were carried out using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and molecular dynamics (MD) approaches. Experimental melting behavior obtained by various techniques was compared with simulations. DPD simulations showed a room temperature microphase morphology consisting of a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded urethane hard segment network in a continuous and amorphous PTMO matrix. The first‐order melting transitions of crystalline urethane hard segments observed during the continuous isobaric heating in DPD and MD simulations (340–360 K) were in reasonably good agreement with those observed experimentally, such as AFM (320–340 K), WAXS (330–360 K), and FTIR (320–350 K) measurements. Quantitative verification of the melting of urethane hard segments was demonstrated by sharp discontinuities in energy versus temperature plots obtained by MD simulations due to substantial decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds above 340 K. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 182–192     

Synthesis, characterization and properties of novel thermally stable poly(urethane-oxazolidone) elastomers

Oxazolidone-incorporated polyurethane elastomers based on hydroxyl terminated polycaprolactone, were synthesized and characterized. Reaction of epoxy-terminated polyurethane with isocyanate librated from a blocked polyisocyanate was the strategy followed. The reaction condition was optimized through preparation of model oxazolidones. Epoxy-terminated polyurethanes were prepared from reaction of glycidol with NCO-terminated polyurethane prepolymers and curing agent was synthesized from the reaction of trimethylol propane, toluene diisocyanate and N-methyl-aniline. Incorporation of heterocyclic oxazolidone groups into the polyurethane backbone caused improvements in thermal and mechanical properties. Investigation of structure-property relationship for prepared elastomers showed that the main determining factors for observed properties were crosslink density, crystallinity and content of oxazolidone rings.     

Structure–property relationship in high urethane density polyurethanes

The structure–property relationship of polyurethane (PU) homopolymers synthesized by the stoichiometric combination of 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and low‐molecular‐weight glycols with different structure is investigated by the analysis of PU elastic modulus obtained by means of high‐resolution peak force atomic force microscopy. Different experimental techniques are employed to understand the role of block structure influence on hydrogen bonding distribution, crystallinity, thermal transitions, and crystal packaging within the PU. The results show that glycols with bulky side groups have more impediments to self‐assemble into hydrogen‐bonded and packed macromolecular structures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 739–746     

Synthesis,structural characterization,and properties of polyurethane elastomers containing various degrees of unsaturation in the chain extenders

We prepared polyurethane block copolymers with both 50 and 70% soft segment concentrations, using 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate–poly(propylene glycol) prepolymer and 1,4‐butanediol, cis‐2‐butene‐1,4‐diol, and 2‐butyne‐1,4‐diol as chain extenders. The effects of the different chain extenders were observed during synthesis and in the final products. A comparison of spectroscopic, mechanical, and thermal data reveals that polymer properties can be significantly altered by differences in chemical bonding within the chain extender backbone. Although all data support the expected differences in phase morphology between the two series of samples, they also suggest that increasing chain extender unsaturation reduced reactivity with isocyanate, adversely affected hydrogen bonding, lowered the degree of crystallinity of the hard segments, and decreased phase separation. The tensile strength, elongation, modulus, and elastic recovery decreased and the electrical conductivity of iodine‐doped samples increased with increasing chain extender unsaturation. The thermal stability of the urethane group was also lower in samples with increased unsaturation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1316–1333, 2002     

Synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters from poly(ethylene‐co‐1,6‐hexene terephthalate) and poly(L‐lactic acid) by chain extension

A series of aliphatic–aromatic multiblock copolyesters consisting of poly(ethylene‐co‐1,6‐hexene terephthalate) (PEHT) and poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were synthesized successfully by chain‐extension reaction of dihydroxyl terminated PEHT‐OH prepolymer and dihydroxyl terminated PLLA‐OH prepolymer using toluene‐2,4‐diisoyanate as a chain extender. PEHT‐OH prepolymers were prepared by two step reactions using dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, and 1,6‐hexanediol as raw materials. PLLA‐OH prepolymers were prepared by direct polycondensation of L ‐lactic acid in the presence of 1,4‐butanediol. The chemical structures, the molecular weights and the thermal properties of PEHT‐OH, PLLA‐OH prepolymers, and PEHT‐PLLA copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, GPC, TG, and DSC. This synthetic method has been proved to be very efficient for the synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight copolyesters (say, higher than M_w = 3 × 10⁵ g/mol). Only one glass transition temperature was found in the DSC curves of PEHT‐PLLA copolymers, indicating that the PLLA and PEHT segments had good miscibility. TG curves showed that all the copolyesters had good thermal stabilities. The resulting novel aromatic–aliphatic copolyesters are expected to find a potential application in the area of biodegradable polymer materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5898–5907, 2009     

Study of slabstock flexible polyurethane foams based on varied toluene diisocyanate isomer ratios

The morphological features of three flexible slabstock polyurethane foams based on varied contents of 2,4 and 2,6 toluene diisocyanate (TDI) isomers are investigated. The three commercially available TDI mixtures, that is, 65:35 2,4/2,6 TDI, 80:20 2,4/2,6 TDI, and 100:0 2,4/2,6 TDI were used. The foams were characterized at different length scales with several techniques. Differences in the cellular structure of the foams were noted with scanning electron microscopy. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering was used to demonstrate that all three foams were microphase‐separated and possessed similar interdomain spacings. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the aggregation of the urea phase into large urea‐rich regions decreased systematically on increasing the asymmetric TDI isomer content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the level of bidentate hydrogen bonding of the hard segments increased with the 2,6 TDI isomer content. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to note changes in the soft‐segment glass‐transition temperature of the foams on varying the diisocyanate ratios and suggested that the perfection of microphase separation was enhanced on increasing the 2,6 TDI isomer content. The preceding observations were used to explain why the foam containing the highest content of the symmetric 2,6 TDI isomer exhibited the highest rubbery storage modulus, as measured by DMA. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 258–268, 2003     

Influence of varying hard segments on the properties of chemically crosslinked moisture‐cured polyurethane‐urea

Polyurethane prepolymers are widely used in the reactive hot melt adhesives and moisture‐cured coatings. The chemically crosslinked moisture‐cured formulation based on PEG‐1000 and isophorone diisocyanate was prepared with NCO/OH ratio of 1.6:1.0. Trimethylol propane was used as a crosslinking agent. The excess isocyanate of the prepolymer was chain extended in the ratio of 2:1 (NCO/OH) with different aliphatic diols, and 4:1 with different aromatic diamines. The polymer network maturation during moisture cure was followed by dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA) instrument. The thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the crosslinked polymers were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric analysis and DMTA. Surface properties were evaluated through angle‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The present article discusses the physical properties of moisture‐cured polyurethane‐urea (MCPU) containing chemical crosslinks in the hard segment. The complete moisture‐cured polymers showed amorous results toward room temperature modulus, tensile strength, hardness, thermal stability, and transparency. The surface properties showed the enrichment of soft segments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 102–118, 2006     

Synthesis and deblocking of cardanol‐ and anacardate‐blocked toluene diisocyanates

Methyl anacardate and secondary butyl anacardate were prepared from anacardic acid and corresponding alcohols and were used, in addition to cardanol, as blocking agents for 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Blocked diisocyanate adducts were characterized via nitrogen estimation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The deblocking temperatures of the adducts were determined using an FTIR spectrophotometer in conjunction with the carbon dioxide evolution method. The gel times of hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene–TDI adducts also were determined. Deblocking temperature and gel time analyses revealed that cardanol‐blocked 2,4‐TDI deblocks at a lower temperature and at a higher rate compared with anacardate‐blocked adducts. In addition, it was found that the electron‐withdrawing ester group reduces the deblocking temperature of the adduct only when it is in solvated form. All adducts were waxy solids that were found to be soluble in polyether polyol, polyester polyol, and polyhydrocarbon polyols. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4047–4055, 2004     

Polyurethane–oligo(phenylenevinylene) random copolymers: π‐Conjugated pores,vesicles, and nanospheres via solvent‐induced self‐organization

We report a new series of polyurethane–oligo(phenylenevinylene) (OPV) random copolymers and their self‐assembled nanomaterials such as pores, vesicles, and luminescent spheres. The polymers were synthesized through melt transurethane process by reacting a hydroxyl‐functionalized OPV with diurethane monomer and diol under solvent‐free and nonisocyanate conditions. The amount of OPV was varied up to 50 mol % in the feed to incorporate various amounts of π‐conjugated segments in the polyurethane backbone. The π‐conjugated segmented polymers were subjected to solvent induced self‐organization in THF or THF+water to produce variety of morphologies ranging from pores (500 nm to 1 μm) to spheres (100 nm to 2 μm). Upon shining 370‐nm light, the dark solid nanospheres of the copolymers transformed into blue luminescent nanoballs under fluorescence microscope. The mechanistic aspects of the self‐organization process were studied using solution FTIR and photophysical techniques such as absorption and emission to trace the factors which control the morphology. FTIR studies revealed that the hydrogen bonding plays a significant role in the copolymers with lower amount of OPV units. Time resolved fluorescent decay measurements of copolymers revealed that molecular aggregation via π‐conjugated segments play a major role in the samples with higher OPV content in the random block polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 46: 5897–5915, 2008