Self-assembled structures in blends of block copolymer A-block-B with homopolymer A:: SAXS and SANS study

The study describes the investigation of the microphase-separated morphology of a block copolymer A-block-B with the parent homopolymer A, where A is polystyrene and A-block-B is poly(perdeuterated styrene)-blockpoly(methyl methacrylate) (dPS-block-PMMA). The microdomain morphology and phase behavior in blends of dPS-block-PNIMA with polystyrene of (M) over bar (W) =8000 and 35000 were investigated. Binary blends of the diblock copolymer and homopolymers were prepared with various amounts of homopolymers. The criterion for "wet and dry brush" taking into account different solubilization of homopolymer has been applied to explain the changes in microdomain morphology during the self-assembling process.