Block units, polymer description

The standard molecular structural parameters that one would like to control in block copolymer structures, especially in the context of polymeric nanostructures, are the relative size and nature of the blocks. The relative size implies the length of the block (or degree of polymerization, i.e., the number of monomer units contained within the block), while the nature of the block requires a slightly more elaborate description that includes its solubility characteristics, glass transition temperature (Tg), relative chain stiffness, etc. Using standard living polymerization methods, the size of the blocks is readily controlled by the ratio of the monomer concentration to that of the initiator. The relative sizes of the blocks can thus be easily fine-tuned very precisely to date the best control of these parameters in block copolymers is achieved using anionic polymerization. The nature of each block, on the other hand, is controlled by the selection of the monomer for instance, styrene would provide a relatively stiff (hard) block while isoprene would provide a soft one. This is a consequence of the very low Tg of polyisoprene compared to that of polystyrene, which in simplistic terms reflects the relative conformational stiffness of the polymer chain. 

A systematic SANS study of the PS-PA block copolymer has been achieved. The PS-PA co-polymers were obtained through thermal annealing of the diblock precursor PS-PPVS (polyphenylsulfoxide), a detailed description of the synthesis and preparation of the PA sequence free from defect can be found in references [54-55], To get a perfectly dispersed micelle structure in solution, the PA must be short and so the study was devoted to the diblock PS64-PA1 [56-58], The contrast factor of the PS unit is about 95 x 10 cm , while the contrast of the PA chain is negligible. As given in Section 1.2.2 the structure factor of a particle varies as a function of its geometrical shape. For instance, a... 

For details, the reader is referred to the original studies that will be cited later in this section. A brief description is given here. The simulation box of volume LJLyL is constructed on a cubic lattice. Periodic boundary conditions are applied in all three directions. The box contains iVc chains of ABA triblock copolymers that are self-and mutually avoiding. The triblock copolymers are monodis-perse and symmetric, with each terminal A block containing Aa beads of A, and each internal B block containing Ab beads of B. The beads should be identified with statistical segments, each of which is composed of several monomer units for most flexible polymers. The concentration is expressed as the volume fraction, (j). 

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