Micro-domain structure of the siloxane-sulfone segmented polyesters: Statistical investigations

摘要

The aliphatic siloxane-arylidene sulfone-segmented copolymers were investigated using an optical microscope at temperatures above their glass transitions. In the images obtained for thin layers, segregated micro-domain structures were recognized and characterized statistically. Subsequently, the statistical size distribution of microdomains was described using the model of reversible aggregation. The distribution parameters related to the mean size and dispersion were shown to change regularly with the chemical composition of the copolymers. For thicker layers of the copolymers, a tendency to coalesce was revealed. In this case, two hierarchically organized statistical ensembles of micro-domains were recognized.