Recent studies have established that certain ABA-type triblock polymers, comprising narrow dispersity A segments (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.2) flanking a broad dispersity center B segment (Mw/Mn ~ 1.7–2.0), enable the formation of exceptionally stable disorganized bicontinuous network morphologies. This phase behavior has been rationalized in terms the broad composition and molecular weight dispersities of these samples, which results in the synergistic packing of three distinct chain populations that facilitate the formation of bicontinuous morphologies that persist at very low segregation strengths. Inspired by these physical insights, we specifically designed and synthesized binary blends of narrow dispersity ABA-type triblock polymers that mimic the phase behaviors of the broad dispersity block copolymers and enable access to disorganized bicontinuous morphologies with tunable domain sizes. We describe the physical characterization of the morphologies and melt rheology of these blends using a combination of techniques, in addition to describing their solid-state structures and mechanical properties.

Bicontinuous morphologies from binary blends of narrow dispersity block polymers

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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