Scaling the Graft Length and Graft Density of Irradiation‐Grafted Copolymers. Issue 21 (30th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagy, Gergely; Sproll, Véronique; Gasser, Urs; Schmidt, Thomas J.; Gubler, Lorenz; Balog, Sandor
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular chemistry and physics. Volume 219:Issue 21(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-09-30
• Subjects: irradiation grafting -- nanostructures -- proton conductivity -- proton exchange membranes -- small‐angle X‐ray and neutron scattering; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Synthetic products -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201800311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1352

Abstract

Abstract: Irradiation‐induced graft copolymerization is often the easiest route to combine the functionality of two polymers and, furthermore, the average composition of the copolymer is straightforward to control. However, control of the graft length and the graft density is more difficult and has been considered to be infeasible. To test the hypothesis that the graft density and graft length may be increased or decreased via increasing or decreasing the dose of irradiation and graft level, polymer electrolytes are characterized in terms of water sorption, proton conductivity, and nanostructure. Based on the premise that graft density and graft length define ion transport and phase segregation, impedance spectroscopy and small‐angle scattering support the hypothesis. The method therefore represents a novel degree of freedom in the design and synthesis of radiation grafted copolymers. Abstract : Irradiation‐induced graft copolymerization is often used to combine the functionality of immiscible polymers; however, controlling the graft length and the graft density has been considered infeasible. This paper demonstrates that by tuning the irradiation dose and the graft level, the graft density and graft length—and consequently, the dimensions and density of the phase‐segregated domains—can be scaled.