The occurrence of grain boundary (GB) defects is inherent in quiescent organized block copolymer materials and can be related to the nucleation and growth of ordered grains during the structure evolution process, the interaction of disclinations or mechanically induced kinking because of inhomogeneous solvent evaporation during the late stages of film formation. However, despite of the abundance of GB defects and their demonstrated relevance on the physical properties of BCP materials, very little is known about the governing parameters that determine the formation of the various types of GB structures or the evolution of GB structures during, for example, thermal annealing. This presentation will review recent progress in the understanding of the kinetic and energetics associated with GB annealing and its implication on microstructure evolution in block copolymer materials.

On the relevance of defects on grain coarsening in block copolymer melts

244th National Meeting (2012)

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