Model Block Copolymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Morphologycal Aplications

MARIO D. NINAGO; ANGEL J. SATTI; LEOPOLDO R. GÓMEZ; DANIEL A. VEGA; ANDRES E. CIOLINO; MARCELO A. VILLAR; ENRIQUE M. VALLÉS

Block Copolymers: Phase Morphology, Material Applications and

Nova Publishers Inc.

Lugar: New York; Año: 2014; p. 1 - 46

Block copolymers constitute a fascinating group of polymeric materials belonging to the soft matter family. These materials are formed by blocks of polymeric chains from different monomers. In most cases, these blocks are thermodynamically incompatible, but the covalent bonds between them impose specific arrangements, generating particular morphologies both in bulk and in solution. Model block copolymers (copolymers with known chemical composition and narrow molar masses distributions) are the key to understand how these morphologies are formed. In this review, different experimental skills developed to synthesize model block copolymers will be presented, including the conventional and laborious ionic as well as the modern and versatile controlled-radical polymerizations. In addition, a brief description of the morphological features regarding di- and tri-block copolymers will be discussed, including some particular applications.