Formation and structural ordering of micelles of block copolymers in a thin-film-homopolymer matrix

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Abstract
In this paper the segregation of block copolymer deuterated polystyrene 2-vinylpyridine micelles in a thin film homopolymer polystyrene matrix, observed by cross-sectional transmission-electron microscopy, is presented. The experimental results together with a theoretical analysis demonstrate that the micelles observed must have been formed already in the solution from which the films were prepared by spin coating. Annealing at temperatures above the glass-transition temperatures leads to preferential segregation of the micelles to existing interfaces. Furthermore at sufficiently high concentration, micelles are found to form clusters due to their mutual attraction. It is demonstrated that existing theories compare favorably with these experimental results.