Double Yielding in a Styrene/Butadiene Star Block Copolymer

Summary: The morphology and tensile deformation behaviour of a highly asymmetric styrene/butadiene star block copolymer (polystyrene (PS) content = 74%) containing random PS‐ co ‐PB (polybutadiene) copolymer as a rubbery phase were investigated. The existence of double yielding, similar to that observed in some semicrystalline polymers, was detected in this nanostructured amorphous polymer. The observed phenomenon may be correlated with two different micromechanical processes taking place at the initial stage of deformation. The stress‐strain curve of the star block copolymer prepared here (each curve represents a different method). The two yield points are clearly visible (labelled I and II). image The stress‐strain curve of the star block copolymer prepared here (each curve represents a different method). The two yield points are clearly visible (labelled I and II).