Herein we have investigated the block copolymer domain orientation in micrometer scale fibers after self-assembly through solvent annealing. Cylinder- and lamellae-forming poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene (PMMA-b-PS) block copolymers with various PS volume fractions were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and electrospun into fibers. After solvent annealing, PMMA-b-PS fibers exhibited long-range ordered lamellar or cylindrical domains perpendicular the fiber axis, depending on the solvent vapor and the block copolymer composition. The self-assembly via solvent annealing offers a new approach for obtaining selective-controlled morphologies within the block copolymer fibers. The preferably oriented block copolymer domains enable potential applications of block copolymers in separation and filtration.

Preferred block copolymer domain orientation perpendicular to the fiber axis through solvent annealing

254th National Meeting (2017)

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