Ordered Network Mesostructures in Block Polymer Materials

Abstract

Block polymers are formed by the covalent union of two or more chemically distinct homopolymers. These composite macromolecules self-assemble into a variety of ordered morphologies with features on the nanometer length scale, a phenomenon that has interested researchers for roughly four decades. The known ordered morphologies include numerous multiply continuous network mesostructures, the focus of this review. Multiply continuous network morphologies contain two or more chemically distinct domains that continuously percolate through the specimen in all three dimensions. They have captivated researchers because of their superior mechanical properties and could potentially find utility in technologies such as catalysis, photonic materials, solar cells, and separations. This review summarizes experimental and theoretical investigations of the structures and properties of network morphologies in AB block copolymer and ABC block terpolymer systems and includes a discussion of some proposed technological applications of these intriguing mesostructures.