Halato-telechelic polymers. XV. Ionic cross-interactions of immiscible telechelic polymers: A reversible pathway to block copolymer-type materials

Phase separation of two immiscible polymer blends can be controlled by ionic cross-interactions of the end-groups as promoted by proton transfer from acid end-groups of polymer PA to aliphatic tert-amine end-groups of PB. IR spectroscopy supports the occurrence of proton transfer with formation of ammonium carboxylate ion pairs that influences the solution behavior of the blends. Optical microscopy illustrates the opportunity to get finely dispersed blends at a scale of ca. 0.2 μm depending on nature, molecular weight, and functionality of the immiscible polymers and strength of the ion pairs. T_g measurements are in agreement with the general pattern reported for multiphase block polymers, and give consistency to an analogy between finely phase separated blends of acid and tert-amine telechelic polymers and related block polymers.