Synthesis, characterization and self-assembly of well-defined linear heptablock quaterpolymers

ABSTRACT Two well‐defined heptablock quaterpolymers of the ABCDCBA type [Α: polystyrene (PS), B: poly(butadiene) with ∼90% 1,4‐microstructure (PB1,4), C: poly(isoprene) with ∼55% 3,4‐microstructure (PI3,4) and D: poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)] were synthesized by combining anionic polymerization high vacuum techniques and hydrosilylation/chlorosilane chemistry. All intermediates and final products were characterized by size exclusion chromatography, membrane osmometry, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to further verify the chemical modification reaction of the difunctional PDMS. The self‐assembly in bulk of these novel heptablock quarterpolymers, studied by transmission electron microscopy and small angle X‐ray scattering, revealed 3‐phase 4‐layer alternating lamellae morphology of PS, PB1,4, and mixed PI3,4/PDMS domains. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to further confirm the miscibility of PI3,4 and PDMS blocks. It is the first time that PDMS is the central segment in such multiblock polymers (≥3 chemically different blocks). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1443–1449 Two novel heptablock quarterpolymers of the PS‐b‐PB1,4‐b‐PI3,4‐b‐PDMS‐b‐PB1,4‐b‐PI3,4‐b‐PS type, are synthesized by anionic polymerization, high vacuum techniques, and hydrosilylation in combination with chlorosilane chemistry. Molecular characterization indicates the molecular and compositional homogeneity of the final materials. The self‐assembly studies lead to unique findings concerning the miscibility of PI3,4 and PDMS domains since 3‐phase morphologies are observed instead of 4‐phase.