Abstract: | The synthesis of triblock copolymers with crystalline outer blocks of polybutyramide and a central block of polystyrene or polyisoprene was performed. First polystyrene (or polyisoprene) fitted at both ends with acyllactam functions were obtained. In a second step these endstanding functions promote the lactame polymerization to yield the polyamide blocks. A careful characterization of the resulting samples was carried out. The behaviour of these block copolymers is typically that of a thermoplastic elastomer, whereby the crystalline blocks constitute the physical crosslinks in the samples. |