1
|
Hames NT, Balsbough D, Yan J, Wu S, Zuo X, Spontak RJ. Tunable thermoplastic elastomer gels derived from controlled-distribution triblock copolymers with crystallizable endblocks. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:4968-4975. [PMID: 37622215 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh01018j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), a commercially important category of triblock copolymers, are employed alone or upon physical modification with a midblock-selective oil (to form TPE gels, TPEGs) in a broad range of contemporary technologies. While most copolymers in this class of self-networking macromolecules possess glassy polystyrene endblocks and a rubbery polydiene or polyolefin midblock, we investigate TPEGs fabricated from a novel controlled-distribution copolymer with crystallizable polyolefin endblocks and a random-copolymer midblock. According to both electron microscopy and small-angle scattering, the morphologies of these TPEGs remain largely invariant up to 40 wt% oil and then transform considerably at higher oil levels. Although reductions in endblock melting point and crystallinity measured by thermal calorimetry accompany increasing oil content, mechanical properties such as the uniaxial strain at break and fracture toughness improve in some cases by over 50% between 5 and 40 wt% oil. In fact, the strain at break can reach 2500% within this range, thereby confirming that (i) the structure-property relationships of these unique TPEGs are highly composition-tunable and (ii) these TPEGs, stabilized by crystallizable endblocks, provide an attractive alternative for ultrasoft and stretchy recyclable materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan T Hames
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Drew Balsbough
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Jiaqi Yan
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Siyu Wu
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Xiaobing Zuo
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Richard J Spontak
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Albanese K, Blankenship JR, Quah T, Zhang A, Delaney KT, Fredrickson GH, Bates CM, Hawker CJ. Improved Elastic Recovery from ABC Triblock Terpolymers. ACS POLYMERS AU 2023; 3:376-382. [PMID: 37841950 PMCID: PMC10571101 DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The promise of ABC triblock terpolymers for improving the mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers is demonstrated by comparison with symmetric ABA/CBC analogs having similar molecular weights and volume fraction of B and A/C domains. The ABC architecture enhances elasticity (up to 98% recovery over 10 cycles) in part through essentially full chain bridging between discrete hard domains leading to the minimization of mechanically unproductive loops. In addition, the unique phase space of ABC triblocks also enables the fraction of hard-block domains to be higher (fhard ≈ 0.4) while maintaining elasticity, which is traditionally only possible with non-linear architectures or highly asymmetric ABA triblock copolymers. These advantages of ABC triblock terpolymers provide a tunable platform to create materials with practical applications while improving our fundamental understanding of chain conformation and structure-property relationships in block copolymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin
R. Albanese
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Jacob R. Blankenship
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Timothy Quah
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Amy Zhang
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Kris T. Delaney
- Materials
Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Glenn H. Fredrickson
- Materials
Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Christopher M. Bates
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Craig J. Hawker
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials
Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yan J, Lee B, Smith SD, Spontak RJ. Morphological Studies of Solution-Crystallized Thermoplastic Elastomers with Polyethylene Endblocks and a Random-Copolymer Midblock. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2100442. [PMID: 34490939 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) in the form of triblock copolymers possessing glassy endblocks and a rubbery midblock account for the largest global market of TPEs worldwide, and typically rely on microphase separation of the endblocks and the subsequent formation of rigid microdomains to ensure satisfactory network stabilization. In this study, the morphological characteristics of a relatively new family of crystallizable TPEs that instead consist of polyethylene endblocks and a random-copolymer midblock composed of styrene and (ethylene-co-butylene) moieties are investigated. Copolymer solutions prepared at logarithmic concentrations in a slightly endblock-selective solvent are subjected to crystallization under different time and temperature conditions to ascertain if copolymer self-assembly is directed by endblock crystallization or vice versa. According to transmission electron microscopy, semicrystalline aggregates develop at the lowest solution concentration examined (0.01 wt%), and the size and population of crystals, which dominate the copolymer morphologies, are observed to increase with increasing aging time. Real-space results are correlated with small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering to elucidate the concurrent roles of endblock crystallization and self-assembly of these unique TPEs in solution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Yan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Steven D Smith
- Corporate Research and Development, The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, 45224, USA
| | - Richard J Spontak
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dong Q, Li W. Effect of Molecular Asymmetry on the Formation of Asymmetric Nanostructures in ABC-Type Block Copolymers. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qingshu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Weihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Morita H, Miyamoto A, Kotani M. Recoverably and destructively deformed domain structures in elongation process of thermoplastic elastomer analyzed by graph theory. POLYMER 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2019.122098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
6
|
Turgut A, Tuhin MO, Toprakci O, Pasquinelli MA, Spontak RJ, Toprakci HAK. Thermoplastic Elastomer Systems Containing Carbon Nanofibers as Soft Piezoresistive Sensors. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:12648-12657. [PMID: 31457994 PMCID: PMC6645100 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Soft, wearable or printable strain sensors derived from conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in personal-care applications. Common elastomers employed in the fabrication of such piezoresistive CPNs frequently rely on chemically cross-linked polydiene or polysiloxane chemistry, thereby generating relatively inexpensive and reliable sensors that become solid waste upon application termination. Moreover, the shape anisotropy of the incorporated conductive nanoparticles can produce interesting electrical effects due to strain-induced spatial rearrangement. In this study, we investigate the morphological, mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical properties of CPNs generated from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) triblock copolymer systems containing vapor-grown carbon nanofiber (CNF). Modulus-tunable TPE gels imbibed with a midblock-selective aliphatic oil exhibit well-behaved properties with increasing CNF content, but generally display nonlinear negative piezoresistance at different strain amplitudes and stretch rates due to nanofiber mobility upon CPN strain-cycling. In contrast, a neat TPE possessing low hard-block content yields a distinctive strain-reversible piezoresistive response, as well as low electrical hysteresis, upon cyclic deformation. Unlike their chemically cross-linked analogs, these physically cross-linked and thus environmentally benign CPNs are fully reprocessable by thermal and/or solvent means.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Turgut
- Department of Polymer
Engineering, Yalova University, 77200 Yalova, Turkey
| | - Mohammad O. Tuhin
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering, Fiber and Polymer Science Program, and Department of Materials Science
& Engineering, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Ozan Toprakci
- Department of Polymer
Engineering, Yalova University, 77200 Yalova, Turkey
| | - Melissa A. Pasquinelli
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering, Fiber and Polymer Science Program, and Department of Materials Science
& Engineering, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Richard J. Spontak
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering, Fiber and Polymer Science Program, and Department of Materials Science
& Engineering, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- E-mail:
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tuhin MO, Ryan JJ, Sadler JD, Han Z, Lee B, Smith SD, Pasquinelli MA, Spontak RJ. Microphase-Separated Morphologies and Molecular Network Topologies in Multiblock Copolymer Gels. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J. David Sadler
- Corporate Research & Development, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, United States
| | - Zexiang Han
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Steven D. Smith
- Corporate Research & Development, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, United States
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tuhin MO, Woloszczuk S, Mineart KP, Pasquinelli MA, Sadler JD, Smith SD, Banaszak M, Spontak RJ. Communication: Molecular-level description of constrained chain topologies in multiblock copolymer gel networks. J Chem Phys 2018; 148:231101. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5037231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad O. Tuhin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
27695, USA
| | | | - Kenneth P. Mineart
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
27695, USA
| | - Melissa A. Pasquinelli
- Fiber and Polymer Science Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695,
USA
| | - J. David Sadler
- Corporate Research and Development, The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, USA
| | - Steven D. Smith
- Corporate Research and Development, The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, USA
| | - Michal Banaszak
- Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Richard J. Spontak
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
27695, USA
- NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695,
USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ashraf AR, Ryan JJ, Satkowski MM, Smith SD, Spontak RJ. Effect of Systematic Hydrogenation on the Phase Behavior and Nanostructural Dimensions of Block Copolymers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:3186-3190. [PMID: 29356497 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b19433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Unsaturated polydienes are frequently hydrogenated to yield polyolefins that are more chemically stable. Here, the effects of partial hydrogenation on the phase behavior and nanostructure of polyisoprene-containing block copolymers are investigated. To ensure access to the order-disorder transition temperature (TODT) over a wide temperature range, we examine copolymers with at least one random block. Dynamic rheological and scattering measurements indicate that TODT increases linearly with increasing hydrogenation. Small-angle scattering reveals that the temperature-dependence of the Flory-Huggins parameter changes and the microdomain period increases, while the interfacial thickness decreases. The influence of hydrogenation becomes less pronounced in more constrained multiblock copolymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arman R Ashraf
- Corporate Research & Development, The Procter & Gamble Company , Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, United States
| | | | - Michael M Satkowski
- Corporate Research & Development, The Procter & Gamble Company , Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, United States
| | - Steven D Smith
- Corporate Research & Development, The Procter & Gamble Company , Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Woloszczuk S, Tuhin MO, Gade SR, Pasquinelli MA, Banaszak M, Spontak RJ. Complex Phase Behavior and Network Characteristics of Midblock-Solvated Triblock Copolymers as Physically Cross-Linked Soft Materials. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:39940-39944. [PMID: 29131574 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b14298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In the presence of a midblock-selective solvent, triblock copolymers not only self-organize but also form a molecular network. Thermoplastic elastomer gels constitute examples of such materials and serve as sealants and adhesives, as well as ballistic, microfluidic, and electroactive media. We perform Monte Carlo and dissipative particle dynamics simulations to investigate the phase behavior and network characteristics of these materials. Of particular interest is the existence of a truncated octahedral morphology that resembles the atomic arrangement of various inorganic species. Both simulation approaches quantify the midblock bridges responsible for network development and thus provide a detailed molecular picture of these composition-tunable soft materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Woloszczuk
- Faculty of Physics and ⊥NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University , 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, §Department of Computer Science, ∥Fiber & Polymer Science Program, and #Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Mohammad O Tuhin
- Faculty of Physics and ⊥NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University , 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, §Department of Computer Science, ∥Fiber & Polymer Science Program, and #Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Soumya R Gade
- Faculty of Physics and ⊥NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University , 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, §Department of Computer Science, ∥Fiber & Polymer Science Program, and #Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Melissa A Pasquinelli
- Faculty of Physics and ⊥NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University , 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, §Department of Computer Science, ∥Fiber & Polymer Science Program, and #Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Michal Banaszak
- Faculty of Physics and ⊥NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University , 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, §Department of Computer Science, ∥Fiber & Polymer Science Program, and #Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Richard J Spontak
- Faculty of Physics and ⊥NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University , 61-614 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, §Department of Computer Science, ∥Fiber & Polymer Science Program, and #Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sakurai S, Shirouchi K, Munakata S, Kurimura H, Suzuki S, Watanabe J, Oda T, Shimizu N, Tanida K, Yamamoto K. Morphology Reentry with a Change in Degree of Chain Asymmetry in Neat Asymmetric Linear A1BA2 Triblock Copolymers. Macromolecules 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Sakurai
- Department
of Biobased Materials Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
- Institute
of Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Kimiyuki Shirouchi
- Department
of Biobased Materials Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Munakata
- Department
of Biobased Materials Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kurimura
- Electronic
Materials Research Department, Shibukawa Plant, Denka Company Limited, 1135 Nakamura, Shibukawa-City, Gunma 377-8520, Japan
| | - Shigeru Suzuki
- Advanced
Polymer Research Department, Advanced Technologies Research Institute, Denka Company Limited, 3-5-1 Asahi-Machi, Machida-City, Tokyo 194-8560, Japan
| | - Jun Watanabe
- Advanced
Polymer Research Department, Advanced Technologies Research Institute, Denka Company Limited, 3-5-1 Asahi-Machi, Machida-City, Tokyo 194-8560, Japan
| | - Takeshi Oda
- Research
and Development Department, Denka Company Limited, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8338, Japan
| | - Norihiro Shimizu
- Denka Company Limited, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8338, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ashraf AR, Ryan JJ, Satkowski MM, Lee B, Smith SD, Spontak RJ. Bicomponent Block Copolymers Derived from One or More Random Copolymers as an Alternative Route to Controllable Phase Behavior. Macromol Rapid Commun 2017; 38. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201700207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arman R. Ashraf
- Corporate Research and Development The Procter and Gamble Company Cincinnati OH 45224 USA
| | - Justin J. Ryan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| | - Michael M. Satkowski
- Corporate Research and Development The Procter and Gamble Company Cincinnati OH 45224 USA
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- Advanced Photon Source Argonne National Laboratory Argonne IL 60439 USA
| | - Steven D. Smith
- Corporate Research and Development The Procter and Gamble Company Cincinnati OH 45224 USA
| | - Richard J. Spontak
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mineart KP, Ryan JJ, Lee B, Smith SD, Spontak RJ. Molecular and morphological characterization of midblock-sulfonated styrenic triblock copolymers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/polb.24294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth P. Mineart
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; North Carolina State University; Raleigh North Carolina 27695
| | - Justin J. Ryan
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering; North Carolina State University; Raleigh North Carolina 27695
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- Advanced Photon Source; Argonne National Laboratory; Argonne Illinois 60439
| | - Steven D. Smith
- Corporate Research & Development; The Procter & Gamble Company; Cincinnati Ohio 45224
| | - Richard J. Spontak
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; North Carolina State University; Raleigh North Carolina 27695
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering; North Carolina State University; Raleigh North Carolina 27695
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mineart KP, Tallury SS, Li T, Lee B, Spontak RJ. Phase-Change Thermoplastic Elastomer Blends for Tunable Shape Memory by Physical Design. Ind Eng Chem Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.6b04039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth P. Mineart
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Syamal S. Tallury
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Fiber & Polymer Science Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Tao Li
- Advanced
Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- Advanced
Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Richard J. Spontak
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wołoszczuk S, Jurga S, Banaszak M. Towards entropy-driven interstitial micelles at elevated temperatures from selective A1BA2 triblock solutions. Phys Rev E 2016; 94:022502. [PMID: 27627353 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.94.022502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We simulate selective A1BA2-A and A1BA2-B triblock solutions (that is, mixtures of the A1BA2 triblock with a solvent of either type A or type B) using a lattice Monte Carlo method. Although the simulated triblock chains are compositionally symmetric in terms of the A to B volume ratio, the A1 block is significantly shorter than the A2 block. For the pure A1BA2 melt the phase behavior is relatively well known, including the existence and stability of the recently discovered interstitial micelles which were found at the very strong segregation limit. In this paper, we investigate the stability of the interstitial micelles as a function of triblock volume fraction in a selective solvent of either type A or type B. The main finding of this paper is that adding a selective solvent of type A shifts the stability of the interstitial micelles into significantly higher temperatures which may provide a pathway towards experimental studies of interstitial micelles in real triblock solutions. We also find that adding selective solvents to the A1BA2 melt gives rise to a variety of nonlamellar nanostructures for temperatures and compositions at which the interstitial micelles are stable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Wołoszczuk
- Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, ulica Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - S Jurga
- Department of Macromolecular Physics, NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, ulica Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - M Banaszak
- Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, ulica Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Mineart KP, Lee B, Spontak RJ. A Solvent-Vapor Approach toward the Control of Block Ionomer Morphologies. Macromolecules 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- Advanced
Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Xu Z, Lin J, Zhang Q, Wang L, Tian X. Theoretical simulations of nanostructures self-assembled from copolymer systems. Polym Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6py00535g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This article provides an overview of recent simulation investigations of the nanostructures and structure–property relationships in copolymer systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhanwen Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Jiaping Lin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Qian Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Liquan Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| | - Xiaohui Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- East China University of Science and Technology
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Woloszczuk S, Mineart KP, Spontak RJ, Banaszak M. Dual modes of self-assembly in superstrongly segregated bicomponent triblock copolymer melts. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 91:010601. [PMID: 25679554 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.91.010601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
While ABC triblock copolymers are known to form a plethora of dual-mode (i.e., order-on-order) nanostructures, bicomponent ABA triblock copolymers normally self-assemble into single morphologies at thermodynamic incompatibility levels up to the strong-segregation regime. In this study, we employ on-lattice Monte Carlo simulations to examine the phase behavior of molecularly asymmetric A(1)BA(2) copolymers possessing chemically identical endblocks differing significantly in length. In the limit of superstrong segregation, interstitial micelles composed of the minority A(2) endblock are observed to arrange into two-dimensional hexagonal arrays along the midplane of B-rich lamellae in compositionally symmetric (50:50 A:B) copolymers. Simulations performed here establish the coupled molecular-asymmetry and incompatibility conditions under which such micelles form, as well as the temperature dependence of their aggregation number. Beyond an optimal length of the A(2) endblock, the propensity for interstitial micelles to develop decreases, and the likelihood for colocation of both endblocks in the A(1)-rich lamellae increases. Interestingly, the strong-segregation theory of Semenov developed to explain the formation of free micelles by diblock copolymers accurately predicts the onset of interstitial micelles confined at nanoscale dimensions between parallel lamellae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth P Mineart
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Richard J Spontak
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA and Department of Materials Science & Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Michal Banaszak
- Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Tallury SS, Spontak RJ, Pasquinelli MA. Dissipative particle dynamics of triblock copolymer melts: A midblock conformational study at moderate segregation. J Chem Phys 2014; 141:244911. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4904388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Syamal S. Tallury
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Fiber and Polymer Science Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Richard J. Spontak
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Melissa A. Pasquinelli
- Fiber and Polymer Science Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mineart KP, Jiang X, Jinnai H, Takahara A, Spontak RJ. Morphological investigation of midblock-sulfonated block ionomers prepared from solvents differing in polarity. Macromol Rapid Commun 2014; 36:432-8. [PMID: 25537368 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201400627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Revised: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments regarding charged multiblock copolymers that can form physical networks and exhibit robust mechanical properties herald new and exciting opportunities for contemporary technologies requiring amphiphilic attributes. Due to the presence of strong interactions, however, control over the phase behavior of such materials remains challenging, especially since their morphologies can be solvent-templated. In this study, transmission electron microscopy and microtomography are employed to examine the morphological characteristics of midblock-sulfonated pentablock ionomers prepared from solvents differing in polarity. Resultant images confirm that discrete, spherical ion-rich microdomains form in films cast from a relatively nonpolar solvent, whereas an apparently mixed morphology with a continuous ion-rich pathway is generated when the casting solvent is more highly polar. Detailed 3D analysis of the morphological characteristics confirms the coexistence of hexagonally-packed nonpolar cylinders and lamellae, which facilitates the diffusion of ions and/or other polar species through the nanostructured medium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth P Mineart
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|