Skip to main content
Article
Ordered Network Phases in Linear Poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-ethylene oxide) Triblock Copolymers
Macromolecules (2004)
  • Thomas H. Epps, III, University of Minnesota
  • Eric W. Cochran, University of Minnesota
  • Travis S. Bailey, University of Minnesota
  • Ryan S. Waletzko, University of Minnesota
  • Cordell M. Hardy, University of Minnesota
  • Frank S. Bates, University of Minnesota
Abstract

The equilibrium phase behavior of 43 linear poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b- ethylene oxide) (ISO) triblock copolymer melts, with molecular weights that place these materials near the order-disorder transition, is reported. Ordered phase morphologies were characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, and static birefringence measurements. Interpretation of these results was aided by a modeling technique that facilitates resolution of reciprocal and real-space experimental data, leading to definitive three-dimensional morphological structures. Three distinct multiply continuous network morphologies are identified across a range of compositions between 0.1 ≤ f o ≤ 0.3, situated between two-domain and three-domain lamellae, where f o represents the volume fraction of O blocks. Two cubic network phases, Q 230 (core-shell double gyroid, Ia3d space group symmetry) and Q 214 (alternating gyroid, I4 132 space group symmetry), flank an orthorhombic network phase, denoted O 70 (Fddd space group symmetry), which is positioned around the isopleth composition f s ≈ f I. These results provide a powerful strategy for designing network phases in linear ABC triblock copolymers when χ AB ≈ χ BC < χ AC, where χ represents the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter.

Keywords
  • Interaction parameters,
  • Interconnected domains,
  • Network morphologies,
  • self-consistent mean-field theory,
  • Carrier concentration,
  • Characterization,
  • Electron microscopy,
  • Polyethylene oxides,
  • Polyisoprenes,
  • Block copolymers
Publication Date
October, 2004
Publisher Statement
Reprinted with permission from Epps III, T.H., Cochran, E.W., Bailey, T.S., Waletzko, R.S., Hardy, C.M., Bates, F.S. Ordered Network Phases in Linear Poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-ethylene oxide) Triblock Copolymers (2004) Macromolecules, 37 (22), pp. 8325-8341. Copyright 2004 American Chemical Society.
Citation Information
Thomas H. Epps, Eric W. Cochran, Travis S. Bailey, Ryan S. Waletzko, et al.. "Ordered Network Phases in Linear Poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-ethylene oxide) Triblock Copolymers" Macromolecules Vol. 37 Iss. 22 (2004)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/eric_cochran/11/