SMALL-ANGLE X-RAY-SCATTERING IN BOTTLEBRUSH IONOMERS

Block copolymers consisting of long styrene midblocks and much shorter 4‐vinyl pyridine end‐blocks were quaternized with n‐iodo alkanes (2 ≤ n ≤ 10) to give block ionomers of a novel architecture. The name “bottlebrush” seems appropriate for these materials. A preliminary investigation of the morphology of these systems, prepared by in situ quaternization, is reported here. The morphology is dependent on both the length of the iodo alkane and the relative sizes of the blocks. Even with identical sample histories, two distinct morphologies are seen. One of these is characterized by a single broad SAXS peak, while the other shows a much narrower peak and higher‐order features. The latter morphology is associated with the higher ionic to nonionic ratios and long side chains. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.