1. Nanostructures and toughening mechanisms in lightly cross-linked all-methacrylate copolymer/functional block copolymer blends
- Author
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Hajime Kishi, Ayana Kubo, Yohei Miyaji, Ayu Mochizuki, Ryoko Hara, Katsuya Tanaka, Takeshi Kakibe, and Satoshi Matsuda
- Subjects
block copolymer ,morphology ,polymer alloys ,nanoblends ,compatibilization ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
Functional triblock copolymers (BCPs), i.e., poly(glycidyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(lauryl methacrylate)-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate) triblock copolymers [(P(GMA/MMA)-b-PLMA-b-P(GMA/MMA)], were investigated as toughening modifiers for all-methacrylate polymer blends. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was copolymerized with methacrylic acid (MAA) in the presence of the BCPs. Without MAA in the polymethacrylate matrices, the BCP blends formed micron-scale phase structures by polymerization-induced phase separation. In matrices copolymerized with MAA, self-assembled nanostructures, such as curved lamellae, worm-like cylindrical micelles, or spherical micelles were formed. The BCP blends with worm-like cylindrical nano-micelles achieved much higher fracture toughness than those with spherical nano-micelles. The toughening mechanisms were elucidated by transmission electron microscopy. Cavitation was initiated in worm-like cylindrical nano-micelles, and the aligned cavitation formed craze-like deformation with increased loads. This relieves hydrostatic tensile stress in front of the crack tip, forming a large shear yield zone within the craze-like deformation region, contributing to high toughness.
- Published
- 2024
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