Synthesis, Characterization (Molecular-Morphological) and Theoretical Morphology Predictions of Poly(cyclohexadiene) Containing Linear Triblock Terpolymers

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2013 · Polymer

OSTI ID:1072139

Kumar, Rajeev ^[1]; Dadmun, Mark D ^[1]; Sumpter, Bobby G ^[1]; Mays, Jimmy ^[1]; Avgeropoulos, Apostolos ^[2]; Zafeiropoulos, N. E. ^[2]; Misichoronis, K. ^[2]; Rangou, S. ^[2]; Ashcraft, E. ^[3]

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1. ORNL
2. University of Athens, Athens, Greece
3. University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)

The synthesis via anionic polymerization of six linear triblock terpolymers with various sequences of blocks such as PS (polystyrene), PB (polybutadiene), PI (polyisoprene) and PCHD (poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene)) is reported. The synthesis of the terpolymers was accomplished by the use of anionic polymerization with high vacuum techniques and sequential monomer addition. Molecular characterization of the samples was performed via size exclusion chromatography and membrane osmometry to measure polydispersity indices and the number-average molecular weights, respectively. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was adopted to verify the type of microstructure for the polydienes as well as to calculate the molar composition. Structural characterization was performed via transmission electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering and several morphologies were observed including one which has not been reported previously. Real-space self-consistent field theory (SCFT) without a priori knowledge about the symmetry of the periodic structures was used to elucidate the thermodynamics of the synthesized triblock copolymers.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences; Center for Computational Sciences
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1072139
• Journal Information: Polymer, Journal Name: Polymer Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 54
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English