Hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)-aramide segmented block copolymers

The present paper discusses block copolymers with segments of either poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), or mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide) and monodisperse aramide segments. The length of the polyether segments as well as the concentration of polyethylene oxide was varied. The synthesized copolymers were analyzed by DSC, FTIR, AFM and DMTA. In addition, the hydrophilicity was studied. The crystallinity of the monodisperse aramide segments was found to be high and the crystals, dispersed in the polyether phase, displayed a nano-ribbon morphology. The PEO segments were able to crystallize and this crystalline phase reduced the low-temperature flexibility. The PEO crystallinity and melting temperature could be strongly reduced by copolymerization with PPO segments. By using mixtures of PEO and PPO segments, hydrophilic copolymers with decent low-temperature properties could be obtained. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.