Conformations of polysulfone‐block‐polydimethylsiloxane chains in solution and in the solid state

Abstract Polysulfone block copolymers containing polydimethylsiloxane segments were obtained in solution by the condensation reaction of chloro‐terminated polysulfone oligomers and α,ω‐dihydrogensilyl‐polydimethylsiloxane. The conformations of the copolymer chains were investigated both in solution and in the solid state. Viscometric and UV absorption measurements were carried out in dilute dichloroethane solutions over a wide region of concentrations, in the temperature range 20–75 °C. The results point to a conformational transition phenomenon, located at around 55 °C, which is attributed to the transition from a segregated to a pseudo‐Gaussian conformation through a compressed‐segregated conformation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry