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Title: Mechanisms of the self-organization of star-shaped polymers with a varied structure of branching center based on fullerene C{sub 60} in solutions

Journal Article · · Crystallography Reports
 [1];  [2]
  1. Research Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics (Hungary)
  2. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Macromolecular Compounds (Russian Federation)

The self-organization of star-shaped polymers in toluene has been studied by small-angle neutron scattering. Polystyrene stars with a mono-C{sub 60} branching center are ordered into globular clusters ({approx}1700 nm in diameter), whereas stars with a double (C{sub 60}-C{sub 60}) center are ordered into anisotropic structures (superchains), which are linked (depending on the concentration) into triads (chain clusters {approx}2500 nm in diameter). On the contrary, heteroarm polystyrene and poly-2-vinylpyridine stars with a C{sub 60} center are weakly associated into dimers. Moderately polar stars with arms composed of polystyrene and diblock copolymer (poly-2-vinylpyridine-poly-tret-butyl methacrylate) form short chains composed of four macromolecules, while stars of higher polarity based on polystyrene and poly-tret-butyl methacrylate form clusters containing {approx}12 macromolecules {approx}50 nm in diameter. Thus, by varying the structure of the center and the arm polarity, one can control the modes of star structuring.

OSTI ID:
22054232
Journal Information:
Crystallography Reports, Vol. 56, Issue 7; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2011 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7745
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English