Double-Gyroid Network Morphology in Tapered Diblock Copolymers
We report the formation of a double-gyroid network morphology in normal-tapered poly(isoprene-b-isoprene/styrene-b-styrene) [P(I-IS-S)] and inverse-tapered poly(isoprene-b-styrene/isoprene-b-styrene) [P(I-SI-S)] diblock copolymers. Our tapered diblock copolymers with overall poly(styrene) volume fractions of 0.65 (normal-tapered) and 0.67 (inverse-tapered), and tapered regions comprising 30 vol % of the total polymer, were shown to self-assemble into the double-gyroid network morphology through a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The block copolymers were synthesized by anionic polymerization, where the tapered region between the pure poly(isoprene) and poly(styrene) blocks was generated using a semibatch feed with programmed syringe pumps. The overall composition of these tapered copolymers lies within the expected network-forming region for conventional poly(isoprene-b-styrene) [P(I-S)] diblock copolymers. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) clearly demonstrated that the order-disorder transition temperatures (T{sub ODT}'s) of the network-forming tapered block copolymers were depressed when compared to the T{sub ODT} of their nontapered counterpart, with the P(I-SI-S) showing the greater drop in T{sub ODT}. These results indicate that it is possible to manipulate the copolymer composition profile between blocks in a diblock copolymer, allowing significant control over the T{sub ODT}, while maintaining the ability to form complex network structures.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 1041996
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-97674-2012-JA; TRN: US201212%%407
- Journal Information:
- Macromolecules, Vol. 44, Issue 10; ISSN 0024-9297
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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