The effect of block lengths on micelle structure in blends of styrene–isoprene diblock copolymer and poly(vinyl methyl ether)

The micellar structure of styrene–isoprene diblock copolymer and poly(vinyl methyl ether) blends was investigated by using small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques. In order to determine the effect of styrene block length on the formation of micellar structure, three sets of diblock copolymers, with near-identical isoprene block molecular weights, but with different styrene block lengths were studied. With modeling based on the polydisperse Percus–Yevick hard sphere fluid model, the structural parameters characterizing the micelles were determined as a function of copolymer concentrations, temperature, and copolymer block lengths. The core radius was found to decrease on increasing the length of styrene block. The degree of swelling of the corona by PVME increased steadily with increasing the styrene block length.