Synthesis and characterization of α-methylstyrene-butadiene-α-methylstyrene linear block copolymers

Summary -methylstyrene-butadiene- -methylstyrene linear block copolymers with a pure block structure were prepared by sec-butyllithium and coupling agent in a four-step process. Their morphology is built up of microdomains of poly- -methylstyrene, including the unbonded segments, dispersed in a polybutadiene matrix. Cylindrical domains arranged in a hexagonal lattice or irregularly shaped domains in a disordered phase are observed, depending on the molecular weight of the poly- -methylstyrene segment.