Effects of solvent casting copolymer materials as related to mechanical properties

Using a well characterized series of styrene butadiene triblock copolymers a systematic study was carried out to determine the influence of casting solvent, used for film preparation, on the final mechanical properties. The results clearly indicate that in the range of styrene contents of 30-40 mol %, the modulus behavior is greatly affected as the solubility parameter of the casting solvent, delta, is varied. Specifically, the modulus increases as delta increases to the value of polystyrene. At lower or higher styrene content, the properties are influenced but to a much lesser degree. Other mechanical properties measured were yield stress and breaking stress. The ramifications of these data are discussed in light of preparing prosthetic material via solvent casting.