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Discusses the extension of flexible, linear polymer chains due to the presence of equally flexible side chains. Use of a three dimensional continuous space Monte Carlo computer simulation study; Ratio between persistence length and diameter; Lyotropic behavior of conventional semiflexible chains; Observations of lyotropic behavior of polymacromonomers.

The unique mechanical performance of nacre, the pearly internal layer of shells, is highly dependent on its complex morphology. Inspired by the structure of nacre, the fabrication of well-ordered layered inorganic-organic nanohybrids is presented herein. This biomimetic approach includes the use of a block copolymer template, consisting of hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) lamellae covered with hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), to direct silica (SiO2) mineralization. The resulting PVDF/PMAA/SiO2 nanohybrid material resembles biogenic nacre with respect to its well-ordered and layered nanostructure, alternating organic-inorganic phases, macromolecular template, and mild processing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behavior of (A-comb-C)-b-(B-comb-C) diblock copolymer melts is investigated using the strong segregation theory approach. Three different regimes are distinguished. In regime 1 both disordered comb blocks are microphase separated from each other, in regime 2 the side chains C are microphase separated from the disordered A-b-B diblock backbones, and, finally, in regime 3 all species A, B, and C are microphase separated. In the first regime the behavior is similar to that of a simple diblock copolymer melt with a renormalized Flory-Huggins interaction parameter. In regime 2 the region of stability of the different phases is significantly changed compared to simple diblocks due to the comb architecture. The fully microphase separated case, regime 3, is characterized by hierarchical structure formation. We restrict the analysis to systems where selfassembly results in the formation of alternating C layers and internally microphase separated A B layers. The latter consist of alternating A and B layers or disks of the minority component. In the former case, the A and B layers are generally perpendicular to the C layers. The parallel orientation is only possible for small grafting densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]