3-DIMENSIONAL STUDY OF CYLINDRICAL MORPHOLOGY IN A STYRENE BUTADIENE STYRENE BLOCK COPOLYMER

Microphase separation of a block copolymer gives well ordered microstructures which give the copolymer unique thermal and mechanical properties. In relating these properties quantitatively to the microstructure, and in devising models for the phase separation, theoreticians have always invoked highly idealized structural elements. However, variations in the actual microstructure may also play a significant role in these properties. The authors describe here a method for highly detailed examination of these elements. By using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), they have obtained projections of a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer (30 wt% styrene) at tilt angles ranging from minus 61. 5 degree to plus 48. 5 degree in 5 degree increments.