Structure-property relationships in polycaprolactone-polyurethanes

The structure-property relationships of polycaprolactone-based segmented polyurethanes were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD), dynamic mechanical, and stress-strain testing. The materials studied varied in hard-segment type [4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate/butanediol (MDI/BD) or 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diisocyanate/butanediol (H₁₂MDI/BD)], soft-segment molecular weight (830 or 2000 MW polycaprolactone), hard-segment content (23–77% by weight), and thermal history. The materials with aromatic (MDI/BD) hard segments had semicrystalline hard-segment domains, while the materials with aliphatic (H₁₂MDI/BD) hard segment had mostly amorphous domains. Materials with the shorter polycaprolactone soft segment (830 MW) exhibited thermal and mechanical behavior which indicated a considerable degree of hard- and soft-segment compatibility. The materials which contained a 2000-MW polycaprolactone soft segment exhibited better-defined microphase separation. SAXS was used to characterize the microphase structure of each system. The effects of hard-segment content and soft-segment molecular weight were similar for the aromatic (MDI) and aliphatic (H₁₂MDI) hard-segment-based block copolymers. Changing the hard segment from aromatic to aliphatic gave materials with larger interfacial area and slightly higher tensile strength. A range of morphologies between isolated hard domains in a rubbery matrix and isolated rubbery domains in a hard matrix was observed.     

Synthesis and properties of polycyanoethylmethylsiloxane polyurea urethane elastomers: A study of segmental compatibility

A series of polyurea urethane block polymers based on either aminopropyl-terminated polycyanoethylmethylsiloxane (PCEMS) soft segments or soft segment blends of PCEMS and polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) were synthesized. The hard segments consisted of 4,4′-methylenediphenylene diisocyanate (MDI) chain-extended with 1,4-butanediol. The hard segment content varied from 11 to 36%, whereas the PTMO weight fraction in the soft segment blends varied from 0.1 to 0.9. The cyanoethyl side group concentration was also varied during the synthesis of the PCEMS oligomer. The morphology and properties of these polymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical and tensile testing, and small-angle x-ray scattering. These materials exhibited microphase separation of the hard and soft segments; however, attaching polar cyanoethyl side groups along the apolar siloxane chains promoted phase mixing in comparison with polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethanes. The increased phase mixing is postulated to lead to improved interfacial adhesion and thus can account for the observed improvement in ultimate tensile properties compared with polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethanes. Both hard segment content and cyanoethyl concentration are important factors governing the morphological and tensile properties of these polymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel h‐HTBN/PEG PU copolymers for tissue engineering: degradation,phase behavior,and mechanical properties

The phase behavior of the as‐prepared polyether polyurethane (PU) elastomers was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), polarized optical microscope (POM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This PU copolymers were composed of different compositions of two soft segments, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrolytically modified hydroxyl‐terminated poly(butadiene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (h‐HTBN) oligomers. The microphase separation behavior is confirmed to occur between soft and hard segments as well as soft and soft segments as the h‐HTBN is incorporated into the PU system, depending on soft‐soft and/or soft‐hard microdomain composition, molecular weight (MW) of PEG, and hydrolysis time of HTBN. The driving force for this phase separation is mainly due to the formation of inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. The PU‐70, PU‐50 samples with non‐reciprocal composition seem to exhibit larger microphase separation than any other PU ones. The hydrolysis degradation, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the copolymers were assessed by gravimetry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravity analysis (TGA), and tensile test, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the incorporation of h‐HTBN soft segment into PEG as well as low MW of PEG leads to increased thermal and degradable stability based on the intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction. The PU‐70 and PU‐50 copolymers exhibit better mechanical properties such as high flexibility and high ductility because of their larger microphase separation architecture with the hard domains acting as reinforcing fillers and/or physical crosslinking agents dispersed in the soft segment matrix. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on thermotropic liquid crystalline elastomers. I. Synthesis and properties of poly (amide-ester) elastomers

Three series of novel poly(amide-ester) (PAE) elastomers were prepared by direct poly-condensation from terephthalic acid (TPA), polyols (M_n = 1000 or 2000), and various diamines. The structures and thermal properties of the synthesized PAEs were examined by FTIR spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calo-rimetry (DSC), thermal optical polarized microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The effects of kinds and amount of diamines and the molecular weight of polyols on the thermal properties of PAEs were studied. By introducing long flexible spacers (PE-1000 or PE-2000) into the polymer main chain, all polymers showed two-phase morphology under the thermal optical microscopic observation. It was interesting that most of the synthesized polymers exhibited only one melting transition corresponding to the soft segments. The melting transition of hard segments could not be detected due to decomposition of the soft segments. However, a thermotropic liquid crystalline PAE (TLCPAE) prepared from methylhydroquinone and 2-chloro-5-methyl-phenylenediamine with PE-1000 could be obtained by lowering the melting transition temperature of the hard segment. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Crystallization and melting behavior of the soft and hard segments in poly(ester-ether)s. I. Ethylene oxide-ethylene terephthalate segmented copolymers

The crystallization and melting behavior of a series of ethylene oxide-ethylene terephthalate (EOET) segmented copolymers with different soft segment molecular weight and hard segment weight content were studied by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized microscope. The crystallizability of both the hard and the soft segments became worse than that of the corresponding homopolymers due to the interactions of the different segments. The crystallizability of the soft segments is mainly determined by the soft segment molecular weight, but is affected greatly by the content and the crystallinity of the hard segments. Conversely, the soft segment length and content also have a great effect on the crystallization of the hard segments. However, the melting points of the hard segments are determined by the average hard segment length. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2918–2927, 1999     

Structure and properties of segmented poly(urethaneurea)s with relatively short hard‐segment chains

We report the structure and properties of segmented poly(urethaneurea) (SPUU) with relatively short hard‐segment chains. The SPUU samples comprised poly(tetramethylene glycol) prepolymer as a soft segment and 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) units as a hard segment that were extended with ethylenediamine. To discuss quantitatively the conformation of the soft‐segment chain in the microphase‐separated domain space, we used SPUU samples for which the molecular weights of the hard‐ and soft‐segment chains are well characterized. The effects of the cohesive force in the hard‐segment chains on the structure and properties of SPUU were also studied with samples of different chain lengths of the hard segment, although the window of x_H, the average number of MDI units in a hard‐segment chain, was narrow (2.38 ≤ x_H ≤ 2.77). There were urethane groups in the soft segments and urea groups in the hard segments. Because of a strong cohesive force between the urea groups, we could control the overall cohesive force in the hard‐segment chains by controlling the chain lengths of the hard segment. First of all, microphase separation was found to be better developed in the samples with longer hard‐segment chains because of an increase of the cohesive force. It was also found that the interfacial thickness became thinner. The long spacing for the one‐dimensionally repeating hard‐ and soft‐segment domains could be well correlated with the molecular characteristics when the assumption of Gaussian conformation was employed for the soft‐segment chains. This is unusual for strongly segregated block copolymers and might be characteristic of multiblock copolymers containing rod–coil chains. The tensile moduli and thermal stability temperature, T_H, increased with an increase of the cohesive force, whereas the glass‐transition temperature, the melting temperature, and the degree of crystallinity of the soft‐segment chains decreased. The increase in T_H especially was appreciable, although the variation in the chain length of the hard segment was not profound. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1716–1728, 2000     

Crystallization and melting behavior of the soft and hard segments in poly(ester-ether)s. II. Ethylene oxide-butylene terephthalate segmented copolymers

The crystallization behavior of a series of ethylene oxide-butylene terephthalate (EOBT) segmented copolymers with different soft segment molecular weight and hard segment weight content were examined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized microscope. Combined with the comparison with the crystallization behavior of ethylene oxide-ethylene terephthalate (EOET) segmented copolymers, it can be concluded that the crystallizability of both the soft segments and the hard segments in poly(ester-ether) segmented copolymers is much worse than those of the corresponding homopolymers due to the interactions between the soft and the hard segments. The crystallizability of the soft segments is mainly determined by the soft segment molecular weight, but is weakened by the hard segments. On the other hand, the soft segments have complicated influences on the crystallization of the hard segments. The melting temperatures of the hard segments change monotonically with the average hard segment length, but the corresponding melting enthalpies will reach a maximum at an intermediate soft segment molecular weight. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2928–2940, 1999     

Melt transesterification and characterization of segmented block copolyesters containing 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutanediol

Conventional melt transesterification successfully produced high‐molecular‐weight segmented copolyesters. A rigid, high‐T_g polyester precursor containing the cycloaliphatic monomers, 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutanediol, and dimethyl‐1,4‐cyclohexane dicarboxylate allowed molecular weight control and hydroxyl difunctionality through monomer stoichiometric imbalance in the presence of a tin catalyst. Subsequent polymerization of a 4000 g/mol polyol with monomers comprising the low‐T_g block yielded high‐molecular‐weight polymers that exhibited enhanced mechanical properties compared to a nonsegmented copolyester controls and soft segment homopolymers. Reaction between the polyester polyol precursor and a primary or secondary alcohol at melt polymerization temperatures revealed reduced transesterification of the polyester hard segment because of enhanced steric hindrance adjacent to the ester linkages. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile testing of the copolyesters supported the formation of a segmented multiblock architecture. Further investigations with atomic force microscopy uncovered unique needle‐like, interconnected, microphase separated surface morphologies. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering confirmed the presence of microphase separation in the segmented copolyesters bulk morphology. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Segmented polyurethanes with 4,4′-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy)biphenyl as chain extender. Part 2. Synthesis and properties of MDI-polyurethanes in comparison with 2,4-TDI-polyurethanes

Linear segmented polyurethanes based on poly(butylene adipate)s (PBA) of different molecular weight (M_n 2000, 1000, and 600), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and the mesogenic diol 4,4′-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy)biphenyl (BHHBP) as well as the unsegmented polyurethane consisting of MDI/BHHBP units have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹³C-NMR and SEC. The thermal behavior and the morphology were studied by DSC, polarizing microscopy, and DMA. The properties of the MDI-polyurethanes were discussed in relation to the BHHBP chain extended 2,4-TDI-polyurethanes and common 1,4-butanediol chain-extended MDI products. MDI polyurethanes based on PBA (M_n 2000) exhibit a glass transition temperature T_g of about −40°C independent of the hard segment content up to ∼50% hard segments. At higher hard segment contents increasing T_gs were observed. Polyurethanes, based on the shorter polyester soft segments PBA (M_n 1000 or 600), reveal an increase in the glass transition temperatures with growing hard segment content. The thermal transitions caused by melting of the MDI/BHHBP hard segment domains are found at 50 K higher temperatures in comparison with the analogous TDI products with mesogenic BHHBP/TDI hard segments. Shortening of the PBA chain length causes a shift of the thermal transitions to lower temperatures. Polarizing microscopy experiments indicate that liquid crystalline behavior is influenced by both the content of mesogenic hard segments and the chain length of the polyester. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and healing properties of poly(arylene ether sulfone)‐poly(alkyl disulfide) multiblock copolymers

A multiblock copolymer consisting of hard (poly(arylene ether sulfone)) and soft (poly(alkyl disulfide)) segments was successfully synthesized by oxidative coupling of the corresponding thiol‐terminated oligomers. Its structure was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The GPC data (M_w = 82,000, M_w/M_n = 2.7) and inherent viscosity (0.67 dL g⁻¹) indicated the formation of a high‐molecular‐weight multiblock copolymer, while AFM and DSC indicated a microphase‐separated morphology. Tensile testing of the multiblock copolymer films showed a large elongation at break, which is characteristic of microphase‐separated hard/soft multiblock copolymers. Over 90% of the elongation at break of damaged samples (notched or cut) was recovered by UV irradiation. The elongation recovery was proportional to the UV irradiation energy, and the high recovery was achieved by relatively weak irradiation (<170 J cm⁻²). The high content of disulfide bonds in the multiblock copolymer resulted in a lower self‐healing energy. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1358–1365     

Polyisobutylene‐based segmented polyureas. I. Synthesis of hydrolytically and oxidatively stable polyureas

Novel segmented polyurea elastomers containing soft polyisobutylene (PIB) segments were synthesized and characterized. The key ingredient, primary amine‐telechelic PIB oligomers (NH₂‐PIB‐NH₂) with number average molecular weights of 2500 and 6200 g/mol were synthesized. PIB‐based polyureas were prepared by using various aliphatic diisocyanates and diamine chain extenders with hard segment contents between 9.5 and 46.5% by weight. All copolymers displayed microphase morphologies as determined by dynamic mechanical analysis. Tensile strengths of nonchain‐extended and chain‐extended polyureas showed a linear dependence on the urea hard segment content. PIB‐based polyureas prepared with NH₂‐PIB‐NH₂ of M_n = 2500 g/mol, 4,4′‐methylendbis(cyclohexylisocyantate), and 1,6‐diaminohexane containing 45% hard segment exhibited 19.5 MPa tensile strength which rose to 23 MPa upon annealing at 150 °C for 12 h. With increasing hard segment content, elongation at break decreased from ～ 450% to a plateau of 110%. The hydrolytic and oxidative stability of PIB‐based polyureas were unprecedented. Although commercial “oxidatively resistant” thermoplastic polyurethanes degraded severely upon exposure to boiling water or concentrated nitric acid, the experimental polyureas survived without much degradation in properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 38–48, 2009     

Synthesis and properties of hydrophilic segmented poly(urethanes) based on poly(ethylene glycols) and glycerol monostearate

Poly(urethanes) having the structure of comb-shaped copolymers were synthesized from glycerol monostearate, poly(ethylene glycols) with M _n = 300–6000, and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. Effects of the molecular mass of segments and of the contents of soft segments and side chains on both the glass transition temperature of the soft segment and on the melting point and the enthalpy of melting of crystalline phases involving soft segments and side chains were studied by DSC and IR spectroscopy. The resulting comb-shaped copolymers were shown to exhibit thermoplastic and hydrophilic behavior. It was demonstrated that the ultimate tensile strength, yield stress, and Young’s modulus of copolymer films increase with an increase in the molecular masses of soft and hard segments with their ratio maintained constant.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Triphenylphosphine Oxide-Containing Poly(Aryl Imide)-Poly(Dimethyl Siloxane) Randomly Segmented Copolymers

Abstract

Poly(aryl imide)-poly(dimethyl siloxane) randomly segmented copolymers were synthesized by essentially a one-step solution imidization process in a solvent system consisting of predominately o-dichlorobenzene with a small amount of n-methylpyrolidone. This solvent combination was selected because of its ability to afford homogeneous solutions throughout the polymerization process. This enabled copolymers of any desired poly(dimethyl siloxane) composition to be prepared. A hydrolytically stable triphenylphosphine oxide containing diamine, bis(3-amino-phenoxy-4′-phenyl)phenylphosphine oxide, was utilized as a chain extender and together with oxydiphthalic anhydride formed the hard segment in these copolymers. The soft segment was formed from α,ω-aminopropyl poly(dimethyl siloxane) oligomers of controlled molecular weight. The presence of phosphorus and silicon contributes several unique properties to the system, including enhanced solubility, thermal stability, and flame resistance. High molecular weight copolymers containing up to 60% (w/w) of the poly(dimethyl siloxane) segments were successfully prepared using this method. Gel permeation chromatography analysis, based on a universal calibration curve in CHCl₃, was performed to determine the molecular weights and distribution. These copolymers with 40-60% (w/w) poly(dimethyl siloxane) exhibited upper T_g values ranging from 130 to 180°C and showed substantial char yields at 750°C in air, which increased with siloxane content. Dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed the anticipated microphase behavior by the presence of two separate glass-transition regions. Both small angle x-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy measurements determined on well-characterized transparent cast films were used to better demonstrate the multiphase nature of these copolymers.     

Glass transition and melting behavior of poly(ether-ester) multiblock copolymers with poly(tetramethylene isophthalate) hard segments

The glass transition and melting behavior of poly(ether-ester) multiblock copolymers with poly(tetramethylene isophthalate) (PTMI) hard segments and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) soft segments are studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS). Thermodynamic melting parameters for the PTMI homopolymer are estimated by WAXS and from the dependence of melting point on crystallization temperature. The melting behavior of PTMI is characterized by dual endotherms which are qualitatively representative of the original morphology, although reorganization effects are present. The composition dependence of the glass transition temperature parameters after rapid quenching from the melt are well described by mixed phase correlations for copolymers in the range 30-100 wt% hard segment. Combined with SAXS characterization at melt temperatures, a single phase melt is suggested in these materials which extends to temperatures below the hard segment melting point. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Morphology and thermomechanical properties of well-defined polyethylene-<Emphasis Type="Italic">graft</Emphasis>-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

The morphology and thermomechanical properties of well-defined polyethylene-graft-poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PE-g-PBA) copolymers prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), dynamic mechanical measurement and large deformation tensile tests were performed on the graft copolymers and the results were compared with the behavior of the polyethylene macroinitiator. The existence of both crystalline polyethylene segments and amorphous poly(n-butyl acrylate) segments in the copolymers leads to microphase separation and unique thermomechanical behavior. Strong microphase separation was observed by DSC and X-ray diffraction studies. Correlation of morphology and thermomechanical properties was also studied using dynamic mechanical measurement and large deformation tensile tests.Dedicated to Prof. E. W. Fischer on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

聚乙二醇型聚氨酯软硬段对其相变储热性能的影响

以不同分子量的聚乙二醇(PEG)为软段,MDI-BDO为硬段,采用两步法溶液聚合合成一种具有固-固相变储热性能的聚氨酯材料.通过DSC,WAXD等测试手段对体系的软硬段结晶性,微相分离,相变可逆性及循环热稳定性进行研究,结果表明,聚氨酯中硬段的存在对软段结晶有着很大的影响,当软段分子量达到2000或以上时,软段才具有较大的结晶度和熔融相变焓,且硬段含量必须高于一定值才能形成较为完善的物理交联网络以保证材料在发生相变时维持固体状态.同时符合这两个条件的试样能具有较好的固-固相变储热性能.就软段PEG含量及分子量对材料储热性能的影响进行了研究,通过调节软段含量与分子量得到一系列具有不同相变焓和相变温度的聚氨酯固-固相变储热材料.经测试还发现,该材料具备很好的相变可逆性和循环热稳定性,是一类很有开发前景的相变储热材料.     

Random thermotropic elastomers. I. Effects of substitution and hard/soft segment lengths on properties

Syntheses of segmented copoly(ether-ester)s with (oxy-2-methyl-1,4-phenyleneoxycarbonyl-1,4-phenylene carbonyl)/(oxy-2-chloro-1,4-phenyleneoxycarbonyl-1,4-phenylene carbonyl) (methyl-/chloro-substituted) hard segments and poly(oxytetramethylene) soft segments, are reported. The methodology consisted of staged addition melt condensation of terephthaloyl chloride, poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol (POTMG; \[ \bar M_n \] = 250, 650, 1000, 2000) and methyl-/chloro-hydroquinone. Lengths of hard and soft segments were varied while the weight ratio of hard to soft segment was maintained constant. Copolymers were characterised for solubility behavior, and by infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, DSC, and polarizing microscopy. Thermal properties were found to be dependent on length of soft segment as well as on the type of substituent in the mesogenic core. In both methyl- as well as chloro-substituted copoly(ether-ester)s soft segment glass transition temperature (T_gs) was obtained between ?40 and ?50°C. All copoly(ether-ester)s are elastomeric at room temperature (25°C). These polymers exhibit thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior and were easily sheared and aligned in liquid crystalline state. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigations of a series of PPDI-based polyurethane block copolymers. II. Annealing effects

In a previous study, the morphologies of a group of paraphenylene diisocyanate (PPDI)-based polyurethane block copolymers were examined. These polyurethanes exhibited a multiphase structure with an interfacial boundary thickness estimated to be on the order of 1 nm and crystallization of the polyoxytetramethylene (POTM) flexible segment. Further studies involving annealing of these polyurethanes are reported here. An annealing time of 4 h was used, and the annealing temperature varied from 125 to 200°C. The samples have been characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and with wide- and small-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS, SAXS) in order to determine the effects of annealing on the microphase structure. Annealing increases the phase separation of the two phases as evidenced by sharper endotherms in DSC thermograms and increased intensities in WAXS diffractometer traces. Annealing also slightly increases the transition zone thickness and long-period spacing. At the highest annealing temperature in this study, the long-period spacing increases dramatically due to hard segment domain aggregation.     

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     

Hydrophilic segmented block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) and monodisperse amide segments

Segmented block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) flexible segments and monodisperse crystallizable bisester tetra‐amide segments were made via a polycondensation reaction. The molecular weight of the PEO segments varied from 600 to 4600 g/mol and a bisester tetra‐amide segment (T6T6T) based on dimethyl terephthalate (T) and hexamethylenediamine (6) was used. The resulting copolymers were melt‐processable and transparent. The crystallinity of the copolymers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR). The thermal properties were studied by DSC, temperature modulated synchrotron small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The elastic properties were evaluated by compression set (CS) test. The crystallinity of the T6T6T segments in the copolymers was high (>84%) and the crystallization fast due to the use of monodisperse tetra‐amide segments. DMA experiments showed that the materials had a low T_g, a broad and almost temperature independent rubbery plateau and a sharp flow temperature. With increasing PEO length both the PEO melting temperature and the PEO crystallinity increased. When the PEO segment length was longer than 2000 g/mol the PEO melting temperature was above room temperature and this resulted in a higher modulus and in higher compression set values at room temperature. The properties of PEO‐T6T6T copolymers were compared with similar poly(propylene oxide) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) copolymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4522–4535, 2007