1 N. Hadjichristidis, M. Pitsikalis, H. Iatrou: Synthesis of Block Copolymers.- 2 V. Abetz: Phase Behaviour and Morphologies of Block Copolymers.-

It is the belief of the editors of this book that the recognition of block copolymers as being amphiphilic molecules and sharing common features with other well-studied amphiphiles will prove beneficial to both the surfactant and the polymer communities. An aim of this book is to bridge the two communities and cross-fertilise the different fields. To this end, leading researchers in the field of amphiphilic block copolymer self-assembly, some having a background in surfactant chemistry, and others with polymer physics roots, have agreed to join forces and contribute to this book.The book consists of four entities. The first part discusses theoretical considerations behind the block copolymer self-assembly in solution and in the melt. The second part provides case studies of self-assembly in different classes of block copolymers (e.g., polyethers, polyelectrolytes) and in different environments (e.g., in water, in non-aqueous solvents, or in the absence of solvents). The third part presents experimental tools, ranging from static (e.g., small angle neutron scattering) to dynamic (e.g., rheology), which can prove valuable in the characterization of block copolymer self-assemblies. The fourth part offers a sampling of current applications of block copolymers in, e.g., formulations, pharmaceutics, and separations, applications which are based on the unique self-assembly properties of block copolymers.

Polymers may be classified as either homopolymers, consisting of one single repeating unit, or copolymers, consisting of two or more distinct repeating units. Block copolymers contain long contiguous blocks of two or more repeating units in the same polymer chain. Covering one of the hottest topics in polymer chemistry, Block Copolymers provides a coherent overview of the synthetic routes, physical properties, and applications of block copolymers. This pioneering text provides not only a guideline for developing synthetic strategies for creating block copolymers with defined characteristics, but also a key to the relationship between the physical properties of block copolymers and the structure and dynamics of materials. Covering features of the chemistry and physics of block copolymers that are not found in comparable texts, Block Copolymers illustrates the structure-activity relationship of block copolymers and offers suggestions for the design of specific applications. Divided into five sections-Block Copolymers includes chapters on: * Block Copolymers by Chemical Modification of Precursor Polymers * Nonlinear Block Copolymers * Adsorption of Block Copolymers at Solid-Liquid Interfaces * Theory of Block Copolymer Segregation * Phase Transformation Kinetics * Block Copolymer Morphology * Block Copolymer Dynamics Polymer chemists, physicists, chemical engineers, and materials scientists, as well as graduate students in polymer science, will find Block Copolymers to be an invaluable text.

Block polymers represent another milestone in the preparation of polymers of controlled structure. Catalysts and polymerization methods that allowed the preparation of polymers in which the stereo- and geometric isomerism of the monomer units could be con trolled have indeed been among the major developments in polymer science during the last decade. The synthesis of block polymers, in which the sequence length of the comonomer units can be con trolled, portends equally important developments in the science and technology of polymers. The papers collected in this volume cover primarily the pro ceedings of the most recent symposium on block polymers, sponsored by the Division of Polymer Chemistry of the American Chemical Society. It was held in New York City during the Society's 158th National Meeting in September, 1969. Additional contributions from selected authors were invited especially for this book to achieve the most up-to-date account of the advances that have been made since the development of the thermoplastic elastomers that first brought into focus this important area of research. The first two papers in this volume draw attention to the various problems that should be considered in the preparation of block polymers of precisely defined structure from styrene and butadiene or isoprene by anionic polymerization. Characterization of block polymers presents many problems and there is a paucity of systematic work in this area. Attention has been given to the di lute solution properties of block polymers,however, in one of the papers in this volume.

Block Copolymers: Overview and Critical Survey is a critical review of block copolymer technology and a comprehensive critical survey on the synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of the specific block copolymer structures reported in the literature. The copolymers are organized according to segmental architecture and chemical composition. Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with an overview of what block copolymers are, how they are made, and what they can and cannot be expected to do. The next chapter defines block copolymers and compares them with other types of polymer "hybrids," that is, polymer blends, random copolymers, and graft copolymers. The various segmental architectures that are possible with block copolymers are then described, followed by a discussion on the various synthesis techniques applicable to block copolymers; the characterization methods capable of elucidating block copolymer structures; some applications of commercially available block copolymers; and some future challenges for block copolymer technology. The last three chapters are devoted to A-B diblock copolymers, A-B-A triblock copolymers, and (A-B)n multiblock copolymers. This monograph should be useful to readers who want to become generally conversant with block copolymer technology and to those who need to delve more deeply into the subject.

Block copolymers represent an important class of multi-phase material, which have received very widespread attention, particularly since their successful commercial development in the mid-1960s. Much of the interest in these polymers has arisen because of their rather remarkable micro phase morphology and, hence, they have been the subject of extensive microstructural examination. In many respects, the quest for a comprehensive interpretation of their structure, both theoretically and experimentally, has not been generally matched by a corresponding enthusiasm for developing structure/property relationships in the context of their commercial application. Indeed, it has been left largely to the industrial companies involved in the development and utilization of these materials to fulfil this latter role. While it is generally disappointing that a much greater synergism does not exist between science and technology, it is especially sad in the case of block copolymers. Thus these materials offer an almost unique opportunity for the application of fundamental structural and property data to the interpretation of the properties of generally processed artefacts. Accordingly, in this book, the editor has drawn together an eminent group of research workers, with the specific intention of highlighting some of those aspects of the science and technology of block copolymers that are potentially important if further advances are to be made either in material formulation or utilization. For example, special consideration is given to the relationship between the flow properties of block copo lymers and their microstructure.