Aggregation of coil-crystalline block copolymers: equilibrium crystallization

Square Lamellar Structure Having Phase‐Separated Microdomain in H‐Shaped Block Copolymer Thin Film

“…As the core block is crystallizable, the crystallizable block will undergo chain folding, as expounded in previous work. [11,12] Thus, at this temperature, the crystalline tendency of PEG and selectivity of ethyl acetate will lead to the formation of anisotropic lamellar micelles, with the crystalline PEG as the core and a PS coil as the corona. The lamellae are so large that they settle out from the solution, and the solution becomes opaque.…”

“…Lamella that consist of a thin crystalline lamellar domain sandwiched between the solvent-swollen corona of the soluble block protruding from both faces usually form. [11] Lotz et al first observed square platelet structures in polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) diblock copolymers with the same crystalline regions as the PEO homopolymer. [12] Compared to the homopolymer crystalline structure, which is kinetically controlled, the semicrystalline block copolymer aggregate seems to have an equilibrium structure because of the competition between chain-folding of the crystallizable block and stretching of the amorphous block.…”

Seeded Growth and Solvent‐Induced Fragmentation of Fiberlike Polyferrocenylsilane–Polyisoprene Block Copolymer Micelles

“…The earliest examples of micelles formed by crystalline-coil block copolymers led to planar raft-like structures. [7][8][9] The theoretical analysis of of the article's abstract page, which can be accessed from the journal's homepage at http://www.mrc-journal.de, or from the author.…”

Micellization Phenomena in Semicrystalline Block Copolymers: Reflexive and Critical Views on the Formation of Cylindrical Micelles

“…[28] Following pioneering experimental studies by the Lotz group on the behavior of PS-b-PEO in solution, in an attempt to form stable crystals of PEO, [29] the first modern analysis on the self-assembly of semicrystalline block copolymers mainly centered their attention on theoretical aspects, eventually comparing predictions with measurements carried out on PS-b-PEO or polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) (PE-b-PEP) suspended in a non-polar selective solvent. [30,31] Vilgis and Halperin performed a simple scaling analysis for the brush structure, assuming a simple chain folding model for the crystalline domain, [32] whereas further studies approached in diverse ways the analysis of the amorphous block. In particular, Lin and Gast developed a model for the formation of platelet-like aggregates in dilute solution based on a self-consistent mean field approach, which consisted of chain-folded crystalline domains between solvated layers of the amorphous block chains.…”