Association of amphiphilic block copolymers in dilute solution: With and without shear forces

The goal of this study is to investigate the self-assembly of block copolymers in aqueous solution and on-line demonstration of the morphology transition of micelles under shear flow upon changing the temperature via rheological measurements. To this end, a series of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polycaprolactone copolymers with variable block ratios and degree of polymerization was synthesized via ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone in the presence of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) macroinitiator (M¯n∼2000g/mol), and the ensuing nanoobject assemblies were scrutinized by small-angle neutron scattering. We take advantage of solution rheology control to understand the micellar transition route of amphiphlies.