Block entanglements

The techniques described above have been used to demonstrate that failure can occur by (1) simple chain pull-out, (2) chain scission close to the interface, or (3) chain scission within one of the blocks (typically PS). The transition from chain pull-out to scission is essentially controlled by molecular weight whilst the location of the scission seems to depend on the entanglement density. Fig. 2 shows the transition between (2) and (3) as E is increased. 

The properties of styrenic block copolymers are dependent on many factors besides the polymerization process. The styrene end block is typically atactic. Atactic polystyrene has a molecular weight between entanglements (Me) of about 18,000 g/mol. The typical end block molecular weight of styrenic block copolymers is less than Mg. Thus the softening point of these polymers is less than that of pure polystyrene. In fact many of the raw materials in hot melts are in the oligomeric region, where properties still depend on molecular weight (see Fig. 1). 

Comprehension of the interactions among microstructures composed of tethered chains is central to the understanding of many of their important properties. Their ability to impart stability against flocculation to suspensions of colloidal particles [52, 124, 125] or to induce repulsions that lead to colloidal crystallization [126] are examples of practical properties arising from interactions among tethered chains many more are conceivable but not yet realized, such as effects on adhesion, entanglement or on the assembly of new block copolymer microstructures. We will be rather brief in our treatment of interactions between tethered chains since a comprehensive review has been published recently of direct force measurements on interacting layers of tethered chains [127]. 

Recently, Tong et al. [195] have shown that in methyl methacrylate-b-alkyl acrylate-b-methyl methacrylate (MAM) and SIS-type triblock copolymers, the ultimate tensile strength is inversely proportional to the molecular weight between the chain entanglements in the middle soft block at comparable proportion of the outer block. 

Tong J.D. and Jerome R., Dependence of the ultimate tensile strength of thermoplastic elastomers of the triblock type on the molecular weight between chain entanglements of the central block. Macromolecules, 33, 1479, 2000. 

The paper is organized in the following way In Section 2, the principles of quasi-elastic neutron scattering are introduced, and the method of NSE is shortly outlined. Section 3 deals with the polymer dynamics in dense environments, addressing in particular the influence and origin of entanglements. In Section 4, polymer networks are treated. Section 5 reports on the dynamics of linear homo- and block copolymers, of cyclic and star-shaped polymers in dilute and semi-dilute solutions, respectively. Finally, Section 6 summarizes the conclusions and gives an outlook. 

The self-similar spectrum is not valid at short times, X < X0, where the details of chemical structure become important (glass transition, entanglements, etc.). The cross-over to the glass transition at short times is typical for all polymeric materials, for both liquids and solids. The critical gel is no exception in that respect. X0 could be used as a characteristic time in the CW spectrum since it somehow characterizes the molecular building block of the critical gel however, it has no direct relation to the LST. At times shorter than X0, the LST has no immediate effect on the rheology. Indirect effects might be seen as a shift in the glass transition, for instance, but these will not be studied here. 

Various types of power law relaxation have been observed experimentally or predicted from models of molecular motion. Each of them is defined in its specific time window and for specific molecular structure and composition. Examples are dynamically induced glass transition [90,161], phase separated block copolymers [162,163], polymer melts with highly entangled linear molecules of uniform length [61,62], and many others. A comprehensive review on power law relaxation has been recently given by Winter [164],... 

Formation of physical cross-links by the anchorage of chain ends in semicrystalline domains and production of permanent entanglements is shown in the HBIB block copolymers. No such arrangement exists for the inverted polymer HIBI. (No attempt has been made to show possible chain folding, or superstructure development of their... 

The hysteresis behavior of the diblock copolymer HBI-50 is not shown but is very similar to that of HIBI-49. In summary then, the difference in hysteresis behavior of the HBIB series to that of HIBI and HBI is related to the ability of the members of the first series to form permanent entanglements, by entrapment of the end blocks in the semicrystalline domains, whereas no such arrangment is possible for neither HIBI nor HBI series. The permanent entanglement serves as a physical crosslink which promotes recovery of the polymer after the deforming stress has been removed. At the same time, much less energy is lost as heat. 

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