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Solvation and phase separation in ABA block copolymers
Author(s) -
Picc Efrain R.,
Williams Michael C.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1978.070220213
Subject(s) - miscibility , solvation , solubility , materials science , polystyrene , polybutadiene , hildebrand solubility parameter , copolymer , phase (matter) , polymer , thermodynamics , polymer chemistry , spinodal decomposition , solvent , polymer science , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , composite material
A conceptual scheme is presented for classifying the phase behavior of ABA block copolymers and solvents. The effect of solvent fraction ϕ S on microphase separation is described for macroscopically homogeneous systems, but more attention is focused on the limits of solubility. A “miscibility map” is developed in terms of solubility parameters δ A , δ B , and δ S and used to define regions of macrophase separation, complete miscibility, and partial miscibility. Combined with known triblock molecular structure, the miscibility map can be used to predict the character of solvated systems and guide the selection of solvents for special purposes. A survey of reports in the literature shows qualitative consistency with this treatment. New observations are reported on solvation of a polystyrene–polybutadiene–polystyrene polymer in numerous solvents; these are used to infer microstructural information and define the miscibility map more realistically.