Surface morphology and composition of solution-cast films of poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene oxide)(PMMA-g-PEO) were investigated by using XPS

DSC

SEM and contact angle measurement. The microphase separatedstructure of the copolymers was studied by TEM. Generally

for the same graft copolymer

the surface content of PEO orhydrophilicity can be as follows: Surface treated with petroleum ether or cyclohexane>surface untreated with solvent>surface treated with water or ethyl alcohol. Graft copolymer having longer PEO side chains and higher PEO content shows a separated PEO phase with even a certain degree of crystallinity on the surface.PEO crystallinity was destroyed by water or ethyl alcohol treatment;however

surface treatment with petroleum ether or cyclohexane favors the growth of PEO crystal.TEM shows that graft copolymers with longer PEO side chains (Mn of PEO

3200)may readily undergo microphase separation and the shape and size of domains depend on the copolymer's composition.