Dynamic mechanical and rheological properties of binary S-(S/B)-S triblock copolymer blends

摘要

The rheology and dynamic mechanical properties of binary block copolymer blends consisting of a symmetrical triblock copolymer with thermoplastic elastomeric behavior (LN4) and an asymmetrical thermoplastic triblock copolymer (LN3) were investigated. TEM images of the blends show a systematic variation in the morphologies from worms (similar to 20-0 wt % LN3) to cylinders (similar to 60-30 wt % LN3) to lamellae (100-70 wt % LN3) as a function of LN3 content. DMA analysis has revealed that the increase in LN3 content leads to a decrease in miscibility between the PS end blocks and the S/B middle block. The frequency and temperature dependence of the storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G"), and complex viscosity (vertical bar eta*vertical bar) has been studied for LN4 (weakly segregated) and LN3 (strongly segregated) from their master curves. By comparing the rheological properties of these blend compositions at low-frequency regime, it is observed that with the increase in LN3 content the shear modulus and complex viscosity increase. Blend compositions with 70-100 wt % of LN3 show nonterminal behavior at reduced frequencies due to the presence of highly ordered microdomains when compared to blends with similar to 0-20 wt % of LN3 content. van Gurp-Palmen plots were constructed to observe the transition from liquid- to solid-like behavior in the vicinity of order-to-disorder transition (ODT) temperature. ODT temperature increases as the thermoplastic LN3 content increases which are also confirmed by the Han plots. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.