Jr. Quintana et al., EFFECTS OF POLYSTYRENE ON THE GEL FORMATION OF POLYSTYRENE-B-POLY(ETHYLENE BUTYLENE)-B-POLYSTYRENE IN N-DECANE/, Langmuir, 14(7), 1998, pp. 1586-1589
The effects of homopolystyrene on the gel formation in n-decane soluti
ons of olystyrene-b-poly(ethylene/butylene)-b-polystyrene and polystyr
ene were investigated. It was found that the polystyrene content in th
e gels influenced the sol-gel transition, mechanical properties, and s
welling behavior. An increment in the percentage of polystyrene caused
an increase of the sol-gel transition temperature, the elastic storag
e modulus, and the equilibrium swelling ratio. These effects would be
related to the solubilization of polystyrene chains into the gel junct
ions that increases the thermal stability of the gel.