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A series of poly(vinylphenol-b-vinylpyridine) (PVPh-b-P4VP) block copolymers were prepared through anionic polymerizations of 4-tert-butoxystyrene with 4-vinylpyridine followed by subsequent selective hydrolysis of the 4-tert-butoxystyrene protective groups. Infrared spectrum analysis suggests that this block copolymer possesses strong hydrogen-bonding interaction between the hydroxyl group of PVPh and the pyridine group of P4VP. DSC analyses indicate that these PVPh-b-P4VP copolymers always have higher glass transition temperatures than the corresponding PVPh/P4VP miscible blends obtained from DMF solution. However, the thermal behavior of PVPh-b-P4VP diblock copolymer shows a similar Tg value with the PVPh/P4VP blend complex obtained from methanol solution at a 1:1 (PVPh:P4VP) molar ratio. We proposed that the polymer chain behavior of the PVPh/P4VP blend from DMF solution is separated coils. However, by increasing the hydrogen bonding for PVPh-b-P4VP diblock copolymer, a polymer complex aggregate is proposed, which is similar to the PVPh/ P4VP blend complex from methanol solution. The spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame ( T 1F H ) based on solid-state NMR analysis is able to provide positive evidence that the polymer complex aggregate in the diblock copolymer has a shorter T1F H value than the separated coils in the miscible blend.

In this study, we report on a simple two-step casting process designed to create a stable superhydrophobic surface. This method possesses the advantages of being both simple and inexpensive as well as utilizing non-fluorine-containing compounds. Most interestingly, we found that the as-prepared surface possesses superhydrophobic properties not only for pure water but also for corrosive water under both acidic and basic conditions. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic polybenzoxazine surfaces had excellent environmental stability with regard to both heating and organic solvent treatment in terms of the contact angle to water.