title: Molecularly asymmetric triblock copolymers as a single-molecule route to ordered bidisperse polymer brushes.
abstract: The conditions signaling the formation of bidisperse brushes in ordered block copolymers are investigated as an A(2) block is progressively grown onto an A(1)B diblock copolymer to form a series of molecularly asymmetric, isomorphic A(1)BA(2) triblock copolymers. Small-angle scattering and self-consistent field theory confirm that the microphase-ordered period decreases when the A(2) block is short relative to the A(1) block, but then increases as A(1)+A(2) bidisperse brushes develop. The mechanical properties systematically follow the spatial distribution of the A(2) block.
authors.affiliation: Miami Valley Innovation Center, Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH 45061, USA.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hamersky
authors.forename: Michelle K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Kim Ø
authors.initials: KØ
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Spontak