Netsu Sokutei, 31 (5), p. 234, (2004)

解説

両親媒性ブロック共重合体が形成するメゾスコピックスケール規則構造

Ordered Structures in Mesoscopic Scale of Amphiphilic Block Copolymers

ポリエチレンオキシド(PEO)とアゾベンゼン(AZO)をエステル側鎖に持つポリメタクリル酸エステルから構成する液晶型両親媒性二元共重合体,p(EO)mpMA(AZ)n,のナノ規則構造と相転移を概説した。p(EO)mpMA(AZ)nは広い組成ならびに温度範囲で,PEOシリンダーが六方晶配列したナノ構造を示した。低温側からPEOの融解,AZOの融解,スメクチックAからCへの転移,等方性転移の4種類の転移が観察された。ナノ規則構造の秩序と配列は熱処理温度と液晶配向の影響を受ける。
The nano-scale ordered structure and phase transitions of amphiphilic di-block copolymers consisted of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic poly(methacrylate) derivatives having azobenzene (AZO) moieties as ester groups, p(EO)mpMA(AZ)n, were reviewed. Hexagonal-packed PEO cylinder structure, caused by micro phase separation of amphiphilic di-block copolymers were selectively formed in wide copolymer content and temperature ranges for p(EO)mpMA(AZ)n. The order of hexagonal cylinder depended strongly on the annealing temperature, however, slightly on copolymer content. The series of p(EO)mpMA(AZ)n showed four endothermic transitions on heating. From the simultaneous DSC-XRD measurements, four phase transitions were assigned, in the order of the low to high temperatures, as the melting of PEO, the melting of AZO moieties, the transition from smectic C to smectic A and the isotropic transitions, respectively. AZO moieties acted as megenic groups. The formation of hexagonal cylinder structure was expected as the results of entropy loss casued by liquid crystalline formation. The director orientation of the liquid crystalline state would be the key in producing the single crystalline nano-scale ordered hexagonal cylinder structure.