THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS THROUGH POLYMER-ION-COMPLEX FORMATION

Segmented ABA triblock and (AB)(n) multiblock copolymer systems with 6 ,6'-disubstitued 2,2'-bipyridine building blocks A and poly(oxytetrame thylene) soft segments B were complexed with Cu(I) ions to obtain supr amolecular polymer-ion-complexes. The complex formation resulted in a chain extension reaction in case of the ABA triblock copolymer whereas crosslinking occured in the (AB)(n)-multiblock copolymer. The resulti ng segmented block copolymer was a microphase separated system in bulk as concluded from transmission electron microscopy and dynamic mechan ical analysis. The materials exhibited characterisric features of ther moplastic elastomers, depending on the block copolymer architecture an d composition.