Synthesis and characterization of brush-like multigraft copolymers PnBA-g-PMMA by a combination of emulsion AGET ATRP and emulsion polymerization

Hui Li; Wenwen Wang; Chunmei Li; Jiaojun Tan; Dezhong Yin; Hepeng Zhang; Baoliang Zhang; Changjie Yin; Qiuyu Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2015.04.051

Synthesis and characterization of brush-like multigraft copolymers PnBA-g-PMMA by a combination of emulsion AGET ATRP and emulsion polymerization

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2015 Sep 1:453:226-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.04.051. Epub 2015 May 7.

Authors

Hui Li¹, Wenwen Wang², Chunmei Li¹, Jiaojun Tan¹, Dezhong Yin¹, Hepeng Zhang¹, Baoliang Zhang¹, Changjie Yin¹, Qiuyu Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Applied Physics and Chemistry in Space of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
² School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Applied Physics and Chemistry in Space of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China. Electronic address: qyzhang1803@gmail.com.

PMID: 25988487
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.04.051

Abstract

In this paper, poly(n-butyl acrylate)-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) multigraft copolymers were synthesized by macromonomer technique and miniemulsion copolymerization. The PMMA macromonomers were obtained by an activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) in emulsion system and subsequent allylation. Then the copolymerization of different macromonomers with nBA was carried out in miniemulsion system, obtaining multigraft copolymers with high molecular weight. The latex particles and distribution of emulsion AGET ATRP and miniemulsion copolymerization were characterized using laser light scattering. The molecular weight and polydispersity indices of macromonomers and multigraft copolymers were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography, and the number-average molecular weight range is 187,600-554,800 g/mol for PnBA-g-PMMA copolymers. In addition, the structural characteristics of macromonomer and brush-like copolymers were determined by infrared spectra and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The thermal performance of brush-like copolymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Atomic force microscopy results showed that the degree of microphase separation was varying with increasing PMMA content in PnBA-g-PMMA. The dynamic rheometer analysis revealed that multigraft copolymer with PMMA content of 31.4% exhibited good elastomeric properties to function as a TPE. These multigraft copolymers show a promising low cost and environmental friendly thermoplastic elastomer.

Keywords: AGET ATRP; Brushlike; Emulsion polymerization; Multigraft copolymer; Thermoplastic elastomer.