Interfacial Morphology and Mechanical Properties of A-B-A Triblock Copolymers

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Abstract
The unique thermoplastic elastomer properties of A-B-A triblock polymers, where A is polystyrene and B is polybutadiene or polyisoprene, are analyzed by means of an adsorption-interdiffusion (A-I) model for the interfacial phase. The model defines the size, shape, and connectivity of the domain microstructure based upon free energy balances for the interfacial phase. The interfacial phase model is utilized to predict the phase relationships: A in B⇄A in B+B in A⇄B in A and consequent mechanical properties based upon the volume fractions φA and φB of A and B components. The filler-reinforcing function of polystyrene is isolated in terms of the A-I interfacial phase model and analyzed by means of the Takayanagi series-parallel (S-P) analog model of mechanical response. Triblock polymers of A-B-A type are distinguished from (a) elastomers with rigid fillers, (b) incompatible polyblends, and (c) semi-crystalline polymers based upon the A-I interfacial phase model.

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