Macromolecules published two articles related to block polymers in the inaugural year 1968, followed by a total of 18 papers over the first 5 years in print. Since then the pace has quickened with over half of more than 5,000 publications on this subject that have appeared in the journal during the last 50 years occurring in the past decade. This lecture will highlight selected current developments in the field while reflecting on the extraordinary impact of the journal on topics ranging over: (i) molecular precision made possible by remarkable advances in polymer synthetic chemistry; (ii) prediction of myriad states of self-assembly in solution, bulk and thin film systems; (iii) equilibrium versus non-equilibrium states generated through various forms of processing; (iv) the broad spectrum of properties and products derived from these materials; and (v) a prospective and a few prognostications.

50 Years of macromolecules: Block polymers – pure potential

254th National Meeting (2017)

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