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The Structure of Water in PEO‐Based Segmented Block Copolymers and its Effect on Transition Temperatures
Author(s) -
Husken Debby,
Gaymans Reinoud J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200700584
Subject(s) - copolymer , crystallinity , polymer chemistry , absorption of water , dispersity , phase (matter) , relative humidity , materials science , chemical engineering , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , composite material , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
The effect of water on block copolymers that contain hydrophilic PEO flexible segments is studied. The polyether phase consisted of either PEO or mixtures of PEO and hydrophobic PTMO, monodisperse crystallisable T6T6T was used as hard segments. Water absorption as a function of relative humidity and PEO content were studied. The PEO melting temperature and crystallinity were strongly reduced when the copolymer absorbed water, while the PTMO phase remained unaffected by its presence. Freezing water was present in the PEO‐based copolymers when the PEO phase contained ≈30 vol.‐% water, its relative amount being almost independent of PEO concentration and molecular weight and the presence of hydrophobic PTMO segments.