Microphase Separation of Block Polymers

Abstract

Block polymers composed of incompatible block chains of A and B undergo a microphase separation due to the repulsive interaction between A and B in solutions at concentrations above the critical concentration, or in bulk at temperatures below the critical temperature, Tc, (for the A-B system having an upper critical solution temperature) or above Tc (for the system having a lower critical temperature). The microphase separation results in a microdomain structure in solid state, the morphology of which controls the unique physical properties of the block polymer systems. This article reviews recent developments in the area of (i) microphase separation and phase-separated structure in solution and in bulk (ii) microdomain structure in solid state and (iii) polymer-polymer interphase in block polymers for amorphous and linear block polymer systems having simple architectures (e.g., polystyrene and polyisoprene or polystyrene and polybutadiene diblock or triblock polymers).