Microlayer and Glass Formation in Block Copolymers

The present state of the theoretical and experimental studies on one of the possible types of phase transformations in block copolymers, namely microlayer formation, as well as the influence on the latter of vitrification is surveyed. It is shown that microlayer formation leads to the appearance of supermolecular structures whose parameters depend on the composition, temperature, and the number and length of the blocks; microlayer formation also determines the vitrification parameters, which can in their turn inhibit the microlayer formation. The mutual influence of microlayer and glass formation processes is discussed.
The bibliography includes 165 references.