ISSN:
1435-1528
Keywords:
Triblock-copolymer solution
;
zero shear-rate viscosity
;
dynamic network
;
thermo-reversible gelation
;
gelation temperature
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract In solutions of ABA-triblock copolymers in a poor solvent for A thermoreversible gelation can occur. A three-dimensional dynamic network may form and, given the polymer and the solvent, its structure will depend on temperature and polymer mass fraction. The zero-shear rate viscosity of solutions of the triblock-copolymer polystyrene-polyisoprene-polystyrene in n-tetradecane was measured as a function of temperature and polymer mass fraction, and analyzed; the polystyrene blocks contained about 100 monomers, the polyisoprene blocks about 2000 monomers. Empirically, in the viscosity at constant mass fraction plotted versus inverse temperature, two contributions could be discerned; one contribution dominating at high and the other one dominating at low temperatures. In a comparison with theory, the contribution dominating at low temperatures was identified with the Lodge transient network viscosity; some questions remain to be answered, however. An earlier proposal for defining the gelation temperature T gel is specified for the systems considered, and leads to a gelation curve; T gel as a function of polymer mass fraction.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00444374
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