Abstract
In butadiene styrene copolymers containing long block sequences chain segments associate with like segments to form a two phase structure. Properties of such polymers are dependent not only on composition and molecular weight but also on block sequence along the chain. Polymers containing two or more polystyrene blocks per molecule form networks and exhibit elastomeric properties in the uncured state resembling those of filler reinforced vulcanizates. This behavior is shown both by linear styrene-butadiene-styrene elastomers and multichain block copolymers branched in the polybutadiene blocks. A prominent loss tangent peak was observed around —40° C for the multichain polymers. Stress strain following prestretching and stress relaxation measurements indicate some shifting of polystyrene associations during stretching. Tensile strength is reduced by increasing temperature and addition of plasticizers. Reinforcement by polystyrene domains in vulcanized block copolymers is evident from tensile strength, dynamic modulus, and swelling measurements, but decreases with increased crosslinking. The number of styrene sequences in the primary molecules is less important after vulcanization as crosslinking destroys the individuality of the original polymer chains.