Solid state properties of xylenyl ether-aryl ether sulfone triblock copolymers

The morphology and mechanical properties of a series of xylenyl ether-aryl ether sulfone ABA triblock copolymers were studied, where the A represents the xylenyl ether block (PXE) and the B represents aryl ether sulfone block (PSF). The copolymers investigated were composed of PXE block lengths of 16,000 or 23,000 g/mol together with aryl ether sulfone oligomers with molecular weights ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 g/mol. Both homo- and heterogeneous morphologies were observed depending on the composition of the copolymers. The copolymers with the high polysulfone block lengths showed higher phase demixing. The triblock copolymers showed the expected tough ductile mechanical properties, as judged by the high elongations (50-165%). © 1992 Springer-Verlag.