Controlling morphology of block copolymers

1. A method for modifying morphology of a copolymer comprising:

1) combining ingredients comprising

A) an MQ resin,

B) a block copolymer comprising a compatible unit and an incompatible unit, where ingredient B) has capability to form a structured morphology in the absence of ingredient A), and optionally

C) a solvent; and

2) annealing, thereby forming a combination having a different structured morphology from the structured morphology of ingredient B).

2. The method of claim 1 where the MQ resin comprises units of formula R 3 SiO 1/2 , and tetrafunctional (Q) units represented by SiO 4/2 , where each R is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group.

3. The method of claim 1 , where ingredient B) is a silicone-organic block copolymer.

4. The method of claim 3 , where ingredient B) has a formula selected from

E-(D a -X b ) c -E,

E-(D d -X e -D f ) g -E,

E-(X h -D i -X j ) k -E, and

a combination thereof; where

each E is an endblocking group,

each D is a difunctional siloxane unit of formula (R 1 2 SiO 2/2 ),

each R 1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon group,

each X is an organic group,

subscript a has a value of at least 2,

subscript b has a value of at least 2,

subscript c has a value of at least 1,

subscript d has a value of at least 2,

subscript e has a value of at least 2,

subscript f has a value of at least 2,

subscript g has a value of at least 1,

subscript h has a value of at least 2,

subscript i has a value of at least 2,

subscript j has a value of at least 2, and

subscript k has a value of at least 1; and

subscripts a to k have values such that

each block has a number average molecular weight of at least 1,000; and

volume fraction of D units ranges from 0.01 to 0.6.

5. A method comprising:

1) combining ingredients comprising

A) a tri-functional silicate nanoparticle,

B) a silicone-organic block copolymer having a formula selected from

E-(D a -X b ) c -E,

E-(D d -X e -D f ) g -E,

E-(X h -D i -X j ) k -E, and

a combination thereof; where

each E is an endblocking group,

each D is a difunctional siloxane unit of formula (R 1 2 SiO 2/2 ),

each R 1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, i

each X is an organic group comprising carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms,

with the proviso that X does not include a nitrogen atom,

subscript a has a value of at least 2,

subscript b has a value of at least 2,

subscript c has a value of at least 1,

subscript d has a value of at least 2,

subscript e has a value of at least 2,

subscript f has a value of at least 2,

subscript g has a value of at least 1,

subscript h has a value of at least 2,

subscript i has a value of at least 2,

subscript j has a value of at least 2, and

subscript k has a value of at least 1;

subscripts a to k have values such that

 each block has a number average molecular weight of at least 1,000; and

volume fraction of D units ranges from 0.01 to 0.6; and optionally

C) a solvent, thereby forming a composition;

2) using the composition in an application selected from hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, or reversible elastomers; and optionally

3) removing the solvent; thereby forming a combination

4) annealing, thereby causing the combination to have a different structured morphology from the structured morphology of ingredient B).

6. The method of claim 5 , where step 2) is performed by a method comprising coating a release composition comprising the combination on a web substrate.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the amount of ingredient A) ranges from greater than 0% to 80% of the combination.

8. The method of claim 7 , where the amount of ingredient A) ranges from 5% to 25% of the combination.

9. The method of claim 4 , where each D is independently selected from Me 2 SiO 2/2 units, PhMeSiO 2/2 units, and Ph 2 SiO 2/2 units, where Me represents a methyl group and Ph represents a phenyl group.

10. The method of claim 4 , where each X is independently selected from the group consisting of butyl acrylate, caprolactone, isobutylene, methyl methacrylate, propylene oxide, styrene, and vinyl naphthalene.

11. The method of claim 4 , where each E is independently selected from Me 3 SiO 1/2 units and PhMe 2 SiO 1/2 units, where Me represents a methyl group and Ph represents a phenyl group.

12. The method of claim 4 , where each E is a Me 3 SiO 1/2 unit, each D is a Me 2 SiO 2/2 unit, and each X is styrene, where Me represents a methyl group.

13. The method of claim 1 where the annealing step is performed by heating at a temperature of 50° C. or higher for a time ranging from 1 second to 50 hours.

14. A combination comprising:

A) a tri-functional silicate nanoparticle,

B) a silicone-organic block copolymer having a formula selected from

E-(D a -X b ) c -E,

E-(D d -X e -D f ) g -E,

E-(X h -D i -X j ) k -E, and

a combination thereof; where

each E is an endblocking group,

each D is a difunctional siloxane unit of formula (R 1 2 SiO 2/2 ),

each R 1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon group,

each X is an organic group comprising carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms,

with the proviso that X does not include a nitrogen atom,

subscript a has a value of at least 2,

subscript b has a value of at least 2,

subscript c has a value of at least 1,

subscript d has a value of at least 2,

subscript e has a value of at least 2,

subscript f has a value of at least 2,

subscript g has a value of at least 1,

subscript h has a value of at least 2,

subscript i has a value of at least 2,

subscript j has a value of at least 2, and

subscript k has a value of at least 1; and

subscripts a to k have values such that

each block has a number average molecular weight of at least 1,000; and

volume fraction of D units ranges from 0.01 to 0.6,

where the combination has a structured morphology selected from cylindrical, lamellar, and gyroid.

15. The combination of claim 14 , where each D is independently selected from the group consisting of Me 2 SiO 2/2 units, PhMeSiO 2/2 units, and Ph 2 SiO 2/2 units, where Me represents a methyl group and Ph represents a phenyl group.

16. The combination of claim 14 , where each X is independently selected from the group consisting of styrene, methyl methacrylate, isobutylene, butyl acrylate, vinyl naphthalene, propylene oxide, and caprolactone.

17. The combination of claim 14 , where each E is independently selected from Me 3 SiO 1/2 units and PhMe 2 SiO 1/2 units, where Me represents a methyl group and Ph represents a phenyl group.

18. The combination of claim 14 , where each E is a Me 3 SiO 1/2 unit, each D is a Me 2 SiO 2/2 unit, and each X is styrene, where Me represents a methyl group.

19. The combination of claim 14 , where ingredient A) is an MQ resin comprising units of formula R 3 SiO 1/2 , and tetrafunctional (Q) units represented by SiO 4/2 , where each R is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group.

20. The combination of claim 14 , where the combination is in the form of a thin film on a substrate.