POLYMER AGING, STABILIZERS AND AMPHIPHILIC BLOCK COPOLYMERS

The molecular self-assembly is induced by variation in the surroundings, such as temperature [1-4], pressure [5-9], pH [10-14], salt formation [13-18], and noncovalent bond cross-linking [19- 21]. The block copolymers are molecularly converted in situ from the nonamphiphilic copolymers completely dissolved in a solvent to amphiphilic copolymers due to these stimuli. Therefore, the association and dissociation of the isolated copolymers are reversibly controlled by such stimuli. The induced self-assembly has advantages over direct self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers in molecular designing. There is no dependence on the balance of solvophilic and solvophobic moieties when designing the copolymers. Thus, a better selection of the driving force can be provided. The...