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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Addition of a block-selective homopolymer to a microphase-ordered block copolymer is known to result in preferential swelling of the chemically compatible microdomain. In this work, we examine the miscibility between a triblock copolymer and a relatively low-molecular-weight, chemically dissimilar, midblock-associating homopolymer and demonstrate that the homopolymer molecules residing in the swollen midblock matrix self-assemble to avoid repulsive interactions with neighboring microdomains. We extend this investigation to include systems composed of a very low-molecular-weight, midblock-associating additive (an oil). At high oil concentrations, the glassy copolymer endblocks micellize, resulting in the formation of a thermoplastic elastomer gel.