Temperature influence on the behavior of polysulfone‐b‐poly(alkylene oxide)‐b‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) triblock copolymers in a selective solvent

Triblock copolymers containing polysulfone, poly(alkylene oxide), and poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments were obtained by addition of preformed α,ω‐bis(hydrogensilyl) poly(dimethylsiloxane) oligomers to alyl end‐capped poly(alkylene oxide)‐b‐polysulfone. Viscometric and UV absorption measurements were carried out in dilute 1,2‐dichlorethane solutions, in the temperature range of 20–75°C. The specific interactions exhibited by the block copolymers in a selective solvent are influenced by the copolymer composition and temperature. The results point to a conformational transition phenomenon, located around 55°C, which is attributed to the transition from a segregated to a pseudo‐Gaussian conformation through a compressed‐segregated conformation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:114–118, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers