Structural characterization of glassy and rubbery model anionic amphiphilic polymer conetworks

Abstract

The structure of two series of model amphiphilic polymer conetworks based on the hydrophilic anionic methacrylic acid was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). In the first series, the hydrophobic component was the glassy poly(methyl methacrylate), while the rubbery poly(2-butyl-1-octyl methacrylate) constituted the hydrophobic segments in the second series. Each series comprised conetworks in which the hydrophile / hydrophobe ratio was systematically varied as well as conetworks with different architecture of the linear chain: ABA and BAB triblock and statistical. The AFM and SANS measurements indicated nanophase separation in the triblock copolymer-based conetworks and provided the spacing, size and shape of the formed nanodomains. © 2008 American Chemical Society.