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Influence of Domain Size on Toughness of Poly(styrene‐ block ‐butadiene) Star Block Copolymer/Polystyrene Blends
Author(s) -
Lach Ralf,
Weidisch Roland,
Janke Andreas,
Knoll Konrad
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200400411
Subject(s) - materials science , polystyrene , copolymer , composite material , polybutadiene , styrene butadiene , fracture toughness , styrene , toughness , polymer chemistry , polymer
Summary: The toughness of poly(styrene‐ block ‐butadiene) star block copolymer/polystyrene (PS) blends have been investigated using the essential‐work‐of‐fracture approach. The blends show a co‐continuous or layer‐like structure of polystyrene‐rich and polybutadiene‐rich domains arising from the used extrusion process. A tough‐to‐brittle transition at a critical domain size of polystyrene‐rich domains of about 50 nm and a maximum in the non‐essential work of fracture at 20–30% PS (co‐continuous morphology) have been found.Non‐essential work of fracture as a function of the mean thickness of polystyrene‐rich domains, demonstrating a tough‐to‐brittle transition at a critical domain thickness about 50 nm. AFM micrograph of a star block copolymer/PS‐blend containing 40% PS.