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Abstract This series of publications describes research rendering soft polyisobutylene (PIB)‐based thermoplastic elastomers 3D printable by blending with rigid chemically compatible thermoplastics. The molecular structure, morphology, physical properties, and 3D printability of such blends have been systematically investigated. The authors' first report was concerned with the rendering of soft poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene‐b‐styrene) (SIBS) 3D printable by blending with rigid polystyrene (PS). Here they report the macromolecular engineering of SIBS/polyphenylene oxide (PPO) blends for 3D printing. PPO, a rigid high‐performance thermoplastic, is compatible with the hard PS block in SIBS; however, neither PPO nor SIBS can be directly 3D printed. The microphase‐separated structures and physical properties of SIBS/PPO blends are systematically tuned by controlling blending ratios and molecular weights. Suitable composition ranges and desirable properties of SIBS/PPO blends for 3D printing are optimized. The morphology and properties of SIBS/PPO blends are characterized by an ensemble of techniques, including atomic force microscopy, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and thermal and mechanical properties testing. The elucidation of processing‐structure‐property relationship of SIBS/PPO blends is essential for 3D printing and advanced manufacturing of high‐performance polymer systems.
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Morphology of poly-3-hexyl-thiophene blends with styrene–isoprene–styrene block-copolymer elastomers from X-ray and neutron scattering
The nano- and micron scale morphology of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene (PS–PI–PS) elastomeric blends is investigated through the use of ultra-small and small angle X-ray and neutron scattering (USAXS, SAXS, SANS). It is demonstrated that loading P3HT into elastomer matrices is possible with little distortion of the elastomeric structure up to a loading of ∼5 wt%. Increased loadings of conjugated polymer is found to significantly distort the matrix structure. Changes in processing conditions are also found to affect the blend morphology with especially strong dependence on processing temperature. Processing temperatures above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polystyrene and the melting temperature (Tm) of the conjugated polymer additive (P3HT) creates significantly more organized mesophase domains. P3HT blends with PS–PI–PS can also be flow-aligned through processing, which results in an anisotropic structure that could be useful for the generation of anisotropic properties (e.g. conductivity). Moreover, the extent of flow alignment is significantly affected by the P3HT loading in the PS–PI–PS matrix. The work adds insight to the morphological understanding of a complex P3HT and PS–PI–PS polymer blend as conjugated polymer is added to the system. We also provide studies isolating the effect of processing changes aiding in the understanding of the structural changes in this elastomeric conjugated polymer blend.
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- PAR ID:
- 10539052
- Publisher / Repository:
- RSC
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Soft Matter
- Volume:
- 20
- Issue:
- 31
- ISSN:
- 1744-683X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 6247 to 6265
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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