Structure-Property Relationships in Polyolefin Block Copolymers

Poly(cyclohexylethylene) (PCHE for a homopolymer or C in a block copolymer) is created by hydrogenating polystyrene, and this polymer exhibits interesting properties, such as a high glass transition temperature (147 °C), high flexural modulus (2.8 GPa), low stress optical coefficient (-0.2 * 10-9 Pa-1), and low cost. However, the inherently brittle nature of PCHE prevents it from being used in applications that simultaneously require high modulus, ductility, thermal stability, and optical clarity. Previous research has shown that incorporating PCHE into a block copolymer with rubbery poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) (P) or poly(ethylethylene) (EE) or semicrystalline polyethylene (E) results in a tough material. In some cases, applications also require specific mechanical or optical properties. In order to tune these properties, this research examined tuning crystallinity using two methods: (1) by controlling the microstructure of the soft block by synthesizing a random copolymer of E and EE, and (2) by blending high C content pentablock copolymers with semicrystalline and rubbery minority components. In the first study, diblock copolymers of C(EcoEE) also were used to understand how the microstructure of the random copolymer affects the thermodynamics of the system. In the second study, CECEC and CPCPC, designed to form the same morphology (hexagonally packed cylinders with glassy C matrices), and have similar order-to-disorder transition temperatures and domain spacings, were blended together. Isothermal crystallization experiments were used to determine how the confining E and P in one domain affects the crystallization process. The effect of architecture, the state of the minority component, and the percent crystallinity on the mechanical properties of high glass content materials was also examined. These results were compared to the mechanical properties of homopolymer PCHE, polystyrene, and polycarbonate. The processing conditions needed to create smooth films of CECEC with a high fraction of C, which could be used in optical experiments, were determined.