Order-disorder transition in a poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymer at hypersonic frequencies

G. Floudas*, W. Steffen, N. Hadjichristidis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The order-to-disorder transition (ODT) has been studied in a poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymer with a polystyrene (PS) volume fraction fPS of 0.22 at hypersonic frequencies using a tandem Fabry-Perot interferometer. Because of the asymmetric composition we are effectively studying the sound dispersion in a composite material made of hard PS spheres embedded in a soft polyisoprene matrix. All measurements are made in the long-wavelength limit, qD < 1, where q is the scattering wave vector and D is the sphere diameter. The transition temperature (TODT) was identified earlier with rheology and SAXS at 112 °C. We have investigated the sound velocity and attenuation at temperatures below and above the transition. We find the signature of TODT from the broad hypersonic attenuation reflecting the enhanced segmental mobility due to mixing at temperatures near the TODT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)37-43
Number of pages7
JournalEurophysics Letters
Volume44
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 1998
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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