Restricted swelling and its orientation effect on copolymer micellar solutions of hexagonal-packed cylinders under steady shear flow

We investigate the structure of polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid, sodium salt) copolymer in aqueous solutions. We offer detailed characterization of the micellar solutions by scattering techniques and show that they form hexagonal-packed cylinders. The micelles follow the swelling law expected for cylinders, upon addition of water, down to a concentration threshold below which the distance cylinders cylinder remains constant. The results suggest that the cylinders are aggregated. It is proposed that this micellar association is the cause of the unusual orientation of the cylinders in a steady shear flow field, where the cylinder axis is found to be parallel to the velocity gradient.