Abstract:
The effect of the ratio of block lengths on the interfacial partitioning of poly(styrene-block-1,4 isoprene) diblock copolymers from their mixtures with polystyrene homopolymer melt is investigated utilizing a series of copolymers with almost constant molecular weight but different compositions. The concentration profile of the copolymer is measured directly using the nuclear reaction analysis technique; a segregation of the diblock is found at both the air/polymer surface, due to the lower surface energy of polyisoprene, and at the substrate/polymer interface. No significant effect of the block length ratio on the free-surface excess was observed. The block molecular weights have apparently led to dangling chain conformations in the non-overlapping mushroom and in the overlapping mushroom regimes whereas the brush regime was not accessible; no indications of a real border between the two former regimes was found.
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Received: 20 July 1998 / Received in final form and Accepted: 11 September 1998
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Kunz, K., Anastasiadis, S., Stamm, M. et al. The segregation of poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymers to the surface of a polystyrene melt: the effect of the ratio of block lengths. Eur. Phys. J. B 7, 411–419 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050629
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050629