Core-crystalline nanoribbons of controlled length via diffusion-limited colloid aggregation.
Soft Matter
; 15(23): 4751-4760, 2019 Jun 12.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31150039
ABSTRACT
It has been previously reported that poly(ethylene) (PE)-based block copolymers self-assemble in certain thermosetting matrices to form a dispersion of one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons. Such materials exhibit exceptional properties that originate from the high aspect ratio of the elongated nano-objects. However, the ability to prepare 1D assemblies with well-controlled dimensions is limited and represents a key challenge. Here, we demonstrate that the length of ribbon-like nanostructures can be precisely controlled by regulating the mobility of the matrix during crystallization of the core-forming PE block. The selected system to prove this concept was a poly(ethylene-block-ethylene oxide) (PE-b-PEO) block copolymer in an epoxy monomer based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). The system was activated with a dual thermal- and photo-curing system, which allowed us to initiate the epoxy polymerization at 120 °C until a certain degree of conversion, stop the reaction by cooling to induce crystallization and micellar elongation, and then continue the polymerization at room temperature by visible-light irradiation. In this way, crystallization of PE blocks took place in a matrix whose mobility was regulated by the degree of conversion reached at 120 °C. The mechanism of micellar elongation was conceptualized as a diffusion-limited colloid aggregation process which was induced by crystallization of PE cores. This assertion was supported by the evidence obtained from in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), in combination with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
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1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Soft Matter
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Argentina