Hidden Dynamics in Nanophase Segregated Tri‐Pentablocks Copolymers Melt

The rheological properties of CEC triblock and CECEC pentablock copolymers (where C and E refer to poly(cyclohexylethylene) and poly(ethylene) respectively) have been evaluated in this work. It was found, as expected, that their terminal behavior diverges strongly from the terminal relaxations of single homopolymers. Their behavior reflects a long‐time relaxation process which is beyond the time‐scale of experimental observation. Nevertheless, new relaxation processes have been found which fit within the experimental time‐scale.The “new transitions” observed in the dynamic behavior, were identified by plotting phase angle (δ) versus dynamic complex modulus (G*). The process observed is temperature dependent and seems to be correlated with the content of PCHE (poly(cyclohexylethylene) in the block copolymer. This relaxation has been observed only in lamellar triblock and pentablock copolymers. Shear alignment does not affect the relaxation behavior. There is no evidence in literature that this relaxation h...