ABSTRACT
α-methylstyrene-butadiene-α-methylstyrene (MS-B-MS) and α-methylstyrene-butadiene-pivalolactone (MS-B-PVL) linear triblocks were synthesized. Morphology of MS-B-PVL was found to be based on cylindrical microdomains containing glassy MS segments and crystalline microdomains of PVL, regularly arranged in a two-dimensional square lattice. Cylindrical microdomains in an hexagonal lattice were observed in MS-B-MS. According to dynamic mechanical and stress relaxation experiments, ‘high temperature’ behaviour of both copolymers is improved with respect to SBS, the best result being displayed by MS-B-PVL. Some depression of ultimate tensile properties occur in copolymers containing PVL segments.
