In this work, we present the size-controlled preparation of silica-filled micelle cores and their self-assembly behavior, which is dependent on the block lengths, different coating techniques, and substrates. Furthermore, we present a way to use these structures as templates for highly ordered magnetic nanostructures, revealed by Ar-ion milling. The resulting structures were characterized by different imaging and scattering techniques and model simulations were performed. The characterization of the obtained nanostructured surfaces has be performed with atomic force microscopy, by scanning electron microscopy, grazing-incidence X-ray small-angle scattering, and X-ray reflectivity measurements. The magneto-optical Kerr effect was utilized to investigate magnetic properties.
Atomic force microscopy characterization has been conducted to reveal the morphological difference between single‐ring bands in poly(butylene adipate) (PBA). Furthermore, morphological features of the ring‐less Maltese‐cross spherulites are compared to the ring‐band spherulites. Periodic changes in height seem to be common for either the ring‐band or ring‐less (Maltese‐cross) crystal domains; however, the steepness in height change is greater for the ring‐band crystal, while height change in the ring‐less crystal exhibits a terrace‐like layer pattern. In the ring‐band crystal region, the lamellar stalks, which taper off to pointed needle‐like stalks, monotonously protrude out of the layers of softer materials, with no signs of twisting, bending, or turning. In contrast, all lamellae in the ring‐less (Maltese‐cross) crystal region are uniform platelets arranged like flower petals in a layered pattern.
Techniques of thermal analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering were used to reveal relationships between complex melting behavior and various crystal forms in a polymorphic polymer. Correlation between the multiple melting endotherms and polymorphic crystalline forms in poly(hexamethylene terephthalate) (PHT) is a very intriguing one, which shows a maximum of six polymorphic melting endotherms (P 1-P6) and up to two spherulitic forms packed with R-and β-crystal cells upon melt-crystallization at most temperatures. While the peaks P1 and P3 have been earlier assigned to the melting of the R-form and the peaks P2 and P5 are attributed to the β-forms, however, P4 was yet to be resolved, which was absent in PHT melt-crystallized at lower temperatures. In this study, the fourth peak, P4, was further resolved by high-temperature annealing of precrystallized PHT, and it was found to be associated with the most perfect and thus the thickest crystalline lamellae of R-forms. Correlation between the complex melting peaks and crystalline polymorphs in PHT was more successfully refined by employing combined techniques.
Miscibility or compatibilization
via transreactions in blends of one of two copolyesters, poly(butylene
adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) [P(BA-co-BT)] or poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene
terephthalate) [P(BS-co-BT)], with poly(hydroxy ether
of bisphenol A) (phenoxy) were investigated. The P(BA-co-BT)/phenoxy blend exhibited a homogeneous phase and a composition-dependent
glass transition temperature (T
g) without
any heat annealing. The copolymer–polymer interaction parameter
(χ12) for the P(BA-co-BT)/phenoxy
blend was calculated from the melting-point-depression method to be
−0.12. However, variation in the composition and structure
of the copolyesters easily causes phase separation in copolyester/phenoxy
blends. The P(BS-co-BT)/phenoxy blend had a phase
morphology that could be homogenized only following annealing at high
temperatures. As-blended P(BS-co-BT)/phenoxy (50/50
composition) exhibited immiscible phases with two distinct T
gs, but the initially phase-separated blends
finally merged to form a homogeneous phase with a single T
g upon heating and annealing for 60 min at 280 °C.
Chemical exchange reactions upon heat annealing of the P(BS-co-BT)/phenoxy blend caused phase homogenization.
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