IX International Conference on Small Angle Scattering

J. Phys. IV France 03 (1993) C8-63-C8-66
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:1993813

SAXS study of solutions of telechelic polymers in nonpolar solvents

P. VANHOORNE¹, C. MAUS², G. VAN DEN BOSSCHE³, F. FONTAINE⁴, R. SOBRY⁴, R. JÉRÔME² and M. STAMM<sup>5

1</sup>  Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
²  Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Institute of Chemistry B6, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
³  Unité de Cristallographie, Institute of Physics B5, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
⁴  Laboratoire de Physique Expérimentale, Institute of Physics B.5, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
⁵  Max-Planck Institut für Polymerforschung, Ackermannweg 10, Postfach 3148, 55021 Mainz, Germany

Abstract
Influence of both polymer molecular weight and concentration, and solution preparation on the SAXS profile of ω- and α,ω-metal sulfonato and carboxylato polystyrenes in toluene has been investigated. For sulfonated polymers, position of the ionic peak obeys a general law which allows the phase morphology to be predicted. Ionic end-groups are phase-separated into small multiplets which act as physical crosslinks. Size of the multiplets does not depend on polymer molecular weight and concentration. Multiplets are homogeneously distributed throughout the polymer matrix, and organized in a liquid-like manner. Difunctional samples obey the same general behavior but only above a critical concentration which depends on the chain molecular weight. Although the position of the ionic peak is independent of the sample preparation, shape and intensity are clearly related to the large-scale heterogeneity of solutions.

© EDP Sciences 1993