Issue 22, 2012

Dynamic birefringence and non-linear rheology of diblock copolymer micellar solutions

Abstract

Dynamic viscoelasticity, dynamic birefringence, and non-linear rheology of styrene–ethylenepropylene diblock copolymer, SEP, in isotridecyl isononanoate solution were examined in order to clarify the rheology–structure relationship for block copolymer micellar solutions. SAXS experiments at room temperature indicated formation of the BCC super-lattice of the micelles, composed of S chain core and EP chain corona. The complex strain-optical coefficient, being the complex ratio of birefringence to strain in dynamic measurements, changed its sign with angular frequency, ω, and exhibited a very complicated ω dependence, indicating that the stress relaxed through several relaxation mechanisms. Assuming the stress-optical rule for each mechanism, the complex shear modulus was separated into three components. The three components could be assigned to the reorientation of corona chains, reorientation of core chains, and deformation of the lattice. Steady shear viscosity, η, showed strong thinning behavior. Shear rate dependence of η and the first normal stress difference were described well with the BKZ constitutive equation composed of the above three mechanisms having different damping parameters.

Graphical abstract: Dynamic birefringence and non-linear rheology of diblock copolymer micellar solutions

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jan 2012
Accepted
29 Mar 2012
First published
03 May 2012

Soft Matter, 2012,8, 6161-6166

Dynamic birefringence and non-linear rheology of diblock copolymer micellar solutions

E. Tamura, Y. Kawai, T. Inoue, A. Matsushita and S. Okamoto, Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 6161 DOI: 10.1039/C2SM25064K

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