Developments in Block Copolymer Science and Technology
Chapter One
Introduction to Block Copolymers
I. W. HAMLEY
Department of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Block copolymers are useful in many applications where a number of different
polymers are connected together to yield a material with hybrid properties. For
example, thermoplastic elastomers are block copolymers containing a rubbery
matrix (polybutadiene or polyisoprene) containing glassy hard domains (often
polystyrene). The block copolymer, a kind of polymer alloy, behaves as a
rubber at ambient conditions, but can be moulded at high temperatures due
to the presence of the glassy domains that act as physical crosslinks. In solution,
attachment of a water soluble polymer to an insoluble polymer leads to the
formation of micelles in amphiphilic block copolymers. The presence of micelles
lead ... read full excerpt from Developments in Block Copolymer Science and Technology ebook
