Influence of the block sequence on the morphological behavior of ABC triblock copolymers

Two series of linear SBV and BSV triblock copolymers have been prepared whe re S is polystyrene, B is polybutadiene and V is poly(2-vinylpyridine). Whi le the ratio between the weight fractions of S and B was kept constant, the weight fraction of V was varied within each series. Morphological characte rization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and smal l angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). While BSV triblock copolymers show lamella r morphologies independent of the V content, the SBV triblock copolymers sh ow different core-shell morphologies and a lamellar morphology as a functio n of the V content. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.