Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy with Phase Detection Imaging is used to study the surface microdomain morphology of thick (i.e., ca. 2 mm) films of triblock copolymers, such as polymethylmethacrylate - block - polybutadiene - block - polymethylmethacrylate copolymers prepared by a well-taylored two-step sequential copolymerization promoted by a 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene based difunctional anionic initiator. By means of this new scanning probe microscopy technique, it is shown that the surface exhibits a segregated microphase structure, corresponding to the different types of components predicted theoretically by thermodynamic processes. We investigate the relationship between the size and characteristics of the microdomain structure as a function of the molecular parameters of the constituent polymers. Our data illustrate the interest of Phase Detection Imaging in the elucidation of surface phase separation in block copolymers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 57-62 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Materials Research Society Symposium - Proceedings |
| Volume | 461 |
| State | Published - 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Proceedings of the 1996 MRS Fall Meeting - Boston, MA, USA Duration: Dec 2 1996 → Dec 6 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- General Materials Science