A cartoon summarizing the polymer chains conformations as the Langmuir monolayers of

the linear PEO-b-PCL diblock copolymers are compressed is proposed in Figure 4-30. For

surface pressure values lower than 6.5 mN/m, both the PEO and the PCL segments are adsorbed

at the A/W interface in a pancake conformation (1). As the surface pressure is increased, the

PEO segments irreversibly dissolve in the aqueous subphase and adopt a mushroom

conformation around 6.5 mN/m (2), before forming a brush above 10.5 mN/m upon further

compression (3). Finally, around 13.5 mN/m, the PCL segments collapse and crystallize

perpendicularly to the interface (4).


Ethylene oxide repeat unit
O e-caprolactone repeat unit

 (2) 6.5 mN/m < xr < 10.5 mN/m


(1) x < 6.5 mN/m


Air






 (3) 10.5 mN/m < 7x7 < 13.5 mN/m


Water


Water


Figure 4-30. Proposed conformations modeling the adsorption of the linear PEO-b-PCL diblock
 copolymers at the A/W interface versus surface pressure.


(4) 13.5 mN/m < r