Tailor-made thermoplastic elastomers: customisable materials via modulation of molecular weight distributions. Issue 5 (24th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosenbloom, Stephanie I.; Gentekos, Dillon T.; Silberstein, Meredith N.; Fors, Brett P.
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 11:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 1361
• Page End: 1367
• Publication Date: 2019-12-24
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9sc05278j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : Taking advantage of molecular weight distributions shape, we report a simple and efficient approach for predictably tuning material properties for thermoplastic elastomers. Abstract : The ability to change polymer properties has in the past largely been a factor of modulating the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution breadth, crosslinking, or branching. The use of controlled MWD shape has recently emerged as a promising avenue towards modifying polymer properties. Taking advantage of molecular weight distribution shape, we report a simple and efficient approach for tuning material properties in polystyrene- block -polyisoprene- block -polystyrene (SIS) thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). We find that the skew of the MWD function governs tensile properties and can be used as a handle to predictably vary polymer toughness while reducing energy dissipation.