Anisotropic phase separation of polymer blends induced by polarization-selective photoisomerization

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 390 - 393
• Main Authors: Endoh, Kouichi, Tran-Cong, Qui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH 01-07-1999; WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers and radiations; Properties and characterization; Rectilinear polarization; Polymer blends; Phase diagram; Photoisomerization; Temperature effect; Photoinduced effect; Cis trans isomerization; Styrene derivative copolymer; Experimental study; Lateral group; Stilbene derivatives; Polarized radiation; Anisotropy; Methyl vinyl ether polymer; Phase separation; Light sensitive copolymer; Thermodynamic properties; Styrene copolymer
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-3927(19990701)20:7<390::AID-MARC390>3.0.CO;2-F

Anisotropic phase separation of polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PS/PVME) blends was induced by photoisomerization of trans‐stilbene moieties labeled on the PS chains (abbreviated hereafter as PSS chains) using linearly polarized light. As temperature increases, the anisotropy becomes weaker and eventually disappears at 10°C above the glass transition of the PSS component. It was concluded that the elastic stress associated with the spatial distribution of the reaction is responsible for this morphological anisotropy.