Copolymers of Polymethylene

Despite the widespread use of polyethylene, some inherent limitations of polyethylene prevent its wider use in areas where other more expensive and less environmentally friendly materials are currently in use (Godoy-Lopez et al., 2007). For example, nonpolarity and a high degree of crystallinity impart polyethylene with poor adhesion properties and incompatibility with many materials, including pigments, glass fibers, clays, carbon black and most polar polymers (Chung, 2002). 

To extend the use of polyethylene, it is desirable to enhance polyethylene s polarity, toughness, adhesion and compatibility with other materials. One approach is by incorporating polyethylene in block copolymer structures (Hong et al, 2002). Polyethylene block copolymers can maintain some of the superior properties of polyethylene while introducing the desired new properties from the other copolymer segments. In this way, the utility of polyethylene can be expanded to higher value areas, especially in polymer blends or composites, the preparation of micelles and the fabrication of nanoporous membranes (Wang and Hillmyer, 2001 Chen et al, 2009 Uehara et al, 2006 Uehara et al, 2009). 

The properties of polyethylene block copolymers depend on the structural and compositional parameters including the distribution and relative amounts of each segment, as well as 

Aggregates of the PM-PDMS-PM triblock copolymer sample can be prepared in toluene by slow cooling of a toluene solution of the sample from 105 °C to room temperature (Wang et al., 2007). At room temperature, the NMR spectra of PM-PDMS-PM triblock 

Based on observations at heavier tapping modes of AFM, and the fact that at room temperature PM is insoluble in toluene and PDMS is soluble, a structure of the 

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