Which are the mechanisms governing in cationic emulsion polymerization?

The cationic emulsion polymerization of styrene in a batch reactor using different concentrations of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (HDTAB) as cationic surfactants, and 2,2′-azobisisobutyramidine dihydrochloride (AIBA), and 2,2′-azobis (N,N′-dimethyleneisobutyramidine) dihydrochloride (ADIBA) as cationic initiators has been studied. In the preliminary study, the best conditions to obtain stable cationic latexes at high conversions were identified. When the surfactant concentration was above its cmc, latexes with high conversions were achieved for the two cationic surfactants studied (DTAB and HDTAB). Cationic latexes with less coagulum were obtained using ADIBA as cationic initiator due to its superior resistance to hydrolysis. AIBA is hydrolyzed to amide at basic pHs and in this way, the concentration of radicals formed in the aqueous phase decreases. On the other hand, a stronger effect of the particle size on the kinetics of the cationic emulsion polymerization of styrene using HDTAB as cationic surfactant was observed than using DTAB. Furthermore, different kinetic behaviors were observed with the two cationic initiators (ADIBA and AIBA) using HDTAB as cationic surfactant, due to the lower stabilizing effect of the cationic radicals provided by AIBA.     

Semicontinuous seeded cationic emulsion polymerization of styrene: The effects of the concentration and type of cationic surfactant

The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of the concentration and type of cationic surfactant on the kinetic features (instantaneous and overall conversions) and colloidal characteristics [mean particle diameter, particle size distribution (PSD), and surface charge density] in the semicontinuous seeded cationic emulsion polymerization of styrene. 2,2′‐Azobis(N,N′‐dimethyleneisobutyramidine)dihydrochloride was used as an initiator. The surfactants were dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTAB). So that the evolution of some polymeric and colloidal characteristics of the synthesized latices could be followed, the overall and instantaneous conversions were defined and determined gravimetrically. The PSDs and average particle diameters were determined by transmission electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. The surface charge density was determined by conductimetric titration. The evolution of the instantaneous conversions, the total number of particles, and the PSDs of the different reactions were related to the nucleation, growth, and coagulation processes taking place in the semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerizations. The PSDs obtained from the reactions carried out with the emulsifier DTAB, at a concentration equal to its critical micelle concentration (cmc) and at a concentration twice its cmc, presented more and smaller particles than those obtained by the addition of HDTAB to the polymerization recipe. At lower emulsifier concentrations equal to half of the cmc, the system had lower colloidal stability with DTAB. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2322–2334, 2003     

Amino‐functionalized latex particles obtained by a multistep method: Development of a new immunoreagent

Cationic latex particles with surface amino groups were prepared by a multistep batch emulsion polymerization. In the first one, two or three steps, monodisperse cationic latex particles to be used as the seed were synthesized. In the third and fourth steps, the amino‐functionalized monomer aminoethylmethacrylate hydrochloride was used to synthesize the final functionalized latex particles. Three different azo initiators 2,2′‐azobisisobutyramidine dihydrochloride, 2,2′‐azobisdimethylenisobutyramidine dihydrochloride, and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile were used as initiators. Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide was the emulsifier. To characterize the final latices, conversions were obtained gravimetrically, and particle size distributions and average particle diameters were determined by transmission electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. The amount of amino groups was determined by conductimetric titrations. Colloidal aspects were ascertained by measuring the electrophoretic mobilities. Activation of these particles with glutaraldehyde produced an efficient reagent for latex‐enhanced immunoassay. The covalent coupling efficiency (protein covalently bound with respect to the total amount of protein adsorbed) was compressed between 50 and 80%. The developed immunoreagent was applied to the measurement of serum ferritin concentration in a new turbidimetric procedure that was compared with a commercial nephelometric method; the results obtained with both methods demonstrated that the two procedures correlated well (r = 0.992). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2404–2411, 2003     

On the role of initiator in emulsion polymerization

The use of nonionic poly(ethylene glycol)-azo-initiators instead of ionic initiators in emulsion polymerizations offers interesting possibilities for modifying the colloidal and polymeric properties of polymer dispersions. Experimental results are presented for various kinds of anionic, cationic, and nonionic stabilizers as well as for peroxodisulfate initiators with different counter ions (ammonium and potassium). For example, in a styrene emulsion polymerization (with monomer to water mass ratio of 1:4 at a given concentration of 1% with respect to monomer mass of either an anionic or a cationic surfactant), the replacement of either peroxodisulfate or 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride by a poly(ethylene glycol)-azo-initiator (with a poly(ethylene glycol) molecular weight of 200 g mol^-1) leads to particles with considerably smaller size, polymers with higher molecular weight, and latexes with higher viscosity.     

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of butyl methacrylate in a miniemulsion stabilized with a cationic surfactant

The miniemulsion reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of butyl methacrylate was carried out with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the sole surfactant. The polymerizations were initiated with 2,2′‐azobis[2‐(2‐imidazolin‐2‐yl)propane] dihydrochloride and mediated with copper(II) bromide/tris[2‐di(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate)aminoethyl]amine. The living character was demonstrated by the linear increase in the number‐average molecular weight with conversion and the decreasing polydispersity index with conversion. The polymerizations were conducted at 90 °C with 1 wt % CTAB with respect to the monomer and produced a coagulum‐free latex with a mean particle diameter of 155 nm. The resulting latexes exhibited good shelf‐life stability. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1628–1634, 2006     

Synthesis of poly(chitosan‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) complex particles with the method of soapless dispersion polymerization

Crosslinked poly(chitosan‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) [poly(NIPAAM‐chitosan)] complex particles were successfully synthesized with the method of soapless dispersion polymerization. The anionic initiator ammonium persulfate (APS) and the cationic initiator 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AIBA) were used to initiate the copolymerization. The poly(NIPAAM‐chitosan) copolymer particles synthesized with APS as the initiator had a homogeneous morphology, whereas the copolymer particles synthesized with AIBA as the initiator showed a core–shell morphology. In addition, various variables such as the particle size, reaction rate, and ζ potential were taken into account. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2053–2063, 2003     

Polymerization of o‐quinodimethanes. V. Ionic polymerization of o‐quinodimethanes generated by thermal isomerization of corresponding benzocyclobutenes

The ionic polymerization of substituted o‐quinodimethanes via thermal isomerization of benzocyclobutenes is described. In the cationic polymerizations of 1‐methoxy‐o‐quinodimethane in the presence of various cationic initiators at 110 °C for 12 h, chain transfer reactions also considerably underwent besides the polymerization. Meanwhile, cationic polymerizations of 1‐trimethylsilyloxy‐o‐quinodimethane under the same conditions gave good yields of the corresponding polymer. Anionic polymerizations of 1‐cyano‐o‐quinodimethane in the presence of anionic initiators such as n‐BuLi or t‐BuOK were performed at various temperatures for 12 h. Good yields of hexane‐insoluble polymer, which was produced by anionic polymerization of corresponding o‐quinodimethane as an intermediate, were obtained above 120 °C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 844–850, 2008     

Cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether initiated with transition‐metal ate complexes

The cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was examined with transition‐metal ate complexes with trityl cation as initiators. The initiators were generated by the reaction of triphenylmethyl chloride [trityl chloride (TrCl)] with ate complexes of Nb, Mo, and W with lithium cation, which were obtained in situ by the reaction of the transition‐metal halides with anionic reagents (organolithium or lithium amide). When the polymerization was initiated with a mixture of TrCl and Li⁺[NbH₅(NnBuPh)]^?, the resulting poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)s had narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.13–1.20). Although the polymerization was supposed to be initiated by the electrophilic attack of the trityl cation, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis of the resulting poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)s revealed the presence of H at the α‐chain end. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2636–2641, 2006     

Synthesis of amino‐functionalized latex particles by a multistep method

Cationic latex particles with surface amino groups were prepared by a multistep batch emulsion polymerization. In the first one or two steps, monodisperse cationic latex particles to be used as the seed were synthesized, and in the third step, two different amino‐functionalized monomers [aminoethylmethacrylate hydrochloride (AEMH) and vinylbenzylamine hydrochloride (VBAH)] were used to synthesize the final functionalized latex particles. 2,2′‐Azobisisobutyramidine dihydrochloride was used as the initiator, and different concentrations of two quaternary ammonium emulsifiers with hydrophobic chains of different lengths were examined. To characterize the final latexes yields were obtained gravimetrically, and particle size distributions and average particle diameters were determined by transmission electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. The amount of amino groups was determined by fluorimetry. The effect of the amino‐functional monomer used on the final latexes and the colloidal behavior of the system were studied. The influence of the different conditions utilized to synthesize the latexes on the colloidal stability of the particles was evaluated in terms of the Fuchs stability ratio and electrophoretic mobility. High yields of the amino‐functional monomers were obtained. Surface amino, amidine, and quaternary ammonium groups provided the cationic character. The colloidal stability behavior of the products obtained was compatible with their cationic character. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2929–2936, 2001     

Quantification of ATRP initiator density on polymer latex particles by fluorescence labeling technique using copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition

We developed a novel fluorescence labeling technique for quantification of surface densities of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators on polymer particles. The cationic P(St‐CPEM‐C₄DMAEMA) and anionic P(St‐CPEM) polymer latex particles carrying ATRP‐initiating chlorine groups were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), 2‐(2‐chloropropionyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (CPEM), and N‐n‐butyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloyloxy)ethylammonium bromide (C₄DMAEMA). ATRP initiators on the surface of polymer particles were converted into azide groups by sodium azide, followed by fluorescent labeling with 5‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐N′‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yl)naphthalene‐1‐sulfonamide (Dansyl‐alkyne) by copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The reaction time required for both azidation of ATRP‐initiating groups and successive fluorescence labeling of azide groups with Dansyl‐alkyne by CuAAC were investigated in detail by FTIR and fluorescence spectral measurement, respectively. The ATRP initiator densities on the cationic P(St‐CPEM‐C₄DMAEMA) and anionic P(St‐CPEM) particle surfaces were estimated to be 0.21 and 0.15 molecules nm^?2, respectively, which gave close agreement with values previously determined by a conductometric titration method. The fluorescence labeling through click chemistry proposed herein is a versatile technique to quantify the surface ATRP initiator density both on anionic and cationic polymer particles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4042–4051     

Preaparation of cationic latexes of poly(styrene-CO-butyl acrylate) and their properties evolution in latex dilution

Cationic latexes were prepared through emulsion copolymerization of styrene(St) and butyl acrylate(BA) with a cationic surfactant,cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB).Latex properties,including particle size,size distribution,ζpotential,surface tension and monomer conversion,were determined for latexes prepared with different CTAB amounts. Evolution of these properties during emulsion polymerization was followed in order to understand the mechanism of the particles formation.Results showed that both particle size andζpotential were function of polymerization time and latex solids.Parallel emulsion polymerizations with cationic,anionic charged initiator and charge-free initiators were also carried out,the latex properties were determined at different polymerization time.All these results were attentively interpreted based on the mechanisms of emulsion polymerization,surfactant adsorption and latex particle stabilization.     

Emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene and acrylamide using an amphoteric initiator

Emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and acrylamide (AAm) has been investigated in the presence of an amphoteric water-soluble initiator, 2,2′-azobis[N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-2-methylpropionamidine]hydrate (VA057). The kinetics of polymerization and the colloidal properties of the resulting latices were studied and compared with the cases using ionic initiators. When adopting the amphoteric initiator at pHs lower than 10, stable amphoteric poly (St/AAm) latices, evidenced by the electrophoretic mobility, were prepared directly. Meanwhile, almost the same conversion versus time curves appeared and there were no apparent differences in the final particle sizes for those polymerizations, whereas in the polymerization at pH 10, a much lower rate of copolymerization and a larger size of particles were observed. The surface charge density and the growth rate of latex particles produced with VA057 at pH<10 were comparable to those of the particles with a cationic initiator, 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride, but were apparently lower than those with an anionic initiator, potassium persulfate, when the polymerizations were carried out under corresponding conditions. The number of initiator fragments incorporated onto the particle surfaces was independent of polymerization pH, except for pH 10. The abnormal performance of VA057 at pH 10 was attributed to its degradation due to hydrolysis. Received: 14 December 1999 Accepted: 22 February 2000     

Effect of temperature on styrene emulsion polymerization in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. II

The batch emulsion polymerization kinetics of styrene initiated by a water‐soluble peroxodisulfate at different temperatures in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate was investigated. The curves of the polymerization rate versus conversion show two distinct nonstationary‐rate intervals and a shoulder occurring at a high conversion, whereas the stationary‐rate interval is very short. The nonstationary‐state polymerization is discussed in terms of the long‐term particle‐nucleation period, the additional formation of radicals by thermal initiation, the depressed monomer‐droplet degradation, the elimination of charged radicals through aqueous‐phase termination, the relatively narrow particle‐size distribution and constant polydispersity index throughout the reaction, and a mixed mode of continuous particle nucleation. The maximum rate of polymerization (or the number of polymer particles nucleated) is proportional to the rate of initiation to the 0.27 power, which indicates lower nucleation efficiency as compared to classical emulsion polymerization. The low activation energy of polymerization is attributed to the small barrier for the entering radicals. The overall activation energy was controlled by the initiation and propagation steps. The high ratio of the absorption rate of radicals by latex particles to the formation rate of radicals in water can be attributed to the efficient entry of uncharged radicals and the additional formation of radicals by thermally induced initiation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1477–1486, 2000     

Cationic amino-containing N-isopropyl- acrylamide–styrene copolymer latex particles: 1-Particle size and morphology vs. polymerization process

 Cationic hydrophilic copolymer latexes were synthesized at 70 °C either by batch or two-step emulsifier-free emulsion poly-merization of styrene (St), N-iso-propylacrylamide (NIPAM), and aminoethylmethacrylate hydro-chloride (AEM) using 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride as initiator. At first, batch polymerization kinetics were followed by gas chromatography (GC), revealing that NIPAM rapidly homopolymerized, before the polymerization of styrene had started. Particle size analysis by quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that monodispersed particles were obtained with the formation of a poly[NIPAM] rich shell. Adding a small amount of the cationic monomer caused a strong decrease of the particle size without affecting the size monodispersity. When a shot process was used, a narrow particle size distribution was maintained, provided that the monomer addition was performed at a relatively high conversion of the first batch step. The poly[NIPAM] rich shell layer was larger with the shot process, but increasing the amino-containing monomer in the recipe resulted in a dramatic decrease of the thickness. Combination of transmission, scanning and atomic force microscopy techniques showed that these hydrophilic particles exhibited odd-shaped structures, the unevenness being dependent upon the performed process. Kinetic data and particle morphology information were inferred for discussion of the polymerization mechanism of this system. Received: 21 August 1997 Accepted: 22 October 1997     

The effect of Co(II)‐mediated catalytic chain transfer on the emulsion polymerization kinetics of methyl methacrylate

The effect the catalytic chain transfer agent, bis[(difluoroboryl) dimethylglyoximato] cobalt(II) (COBF), on the course of the ab initio emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate, and the product properties in terms of the molecular weight distribution were investigated. The emulsion polymerization kinetics have been studied with varying surfactant, initiator, and COBF concentrations. The experimentally determined average number of radicals per particle strongly depends on the concentration of COBF and proves to be in good agreement with the results of model calculations. The apparent chain transfer constant, determined up to high conversion, is in excellent agreement with the predicted value based on a mathematical model based on COBF partitioning and the Mayo equation. The results of this work enhance the fundamental understanding of the influence a catalytic chain transfer agent has on the course of the emulsion polymerization and the control of the molecular weight distribution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5078–5089, 2009     

Semibatch emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate using different polyurethane particles

Aqueous acrylic‐polyurethane (AC–PU) hybrid emulsions were prepared by semibatch emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of four polyurethane (PU) dispersions. The PU dispersions were synthesized with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 1000 and 2000 molecular weight (MW) poly(neopentyl) adipate, 1000 MW polytetramethyleneetherglycol, butanediol (BD), and dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA). MMA was added in the monomer emulsion feed. We studied the effect of the use of different PU seed particles on the rate of polymerization, the particle size and distribution, the number of particles, and the average number of radicals per particle. The PU rigidity was controlled by varying the polyol chemical structure, the polyol MW (M_n), and by adding BD. The monomer feed rate was varied to study its influence on the process. It was observed that the PU particles that had been prepared with a higher MW polyol swelled better with MMA before the monomer‐starved conditions occurred. There seemed to be no significant discrepancies between the series with different PU seeds in the monomer‐starved conditions. The overall conversion depended on the monomer addition rate, and the polymerization rate acquired a constant value that was comparable to the value of the monomer addition rate. The instantaneous conversion increased slightly. The average particle size increased, and the total particle number in the reactor was constant and similar to the number of PU particles in the initial charge. The average number of radicals per particle increased. The differences between the system with a constant particle number and average number of radicals per particle and the system with a fixed radical concentration are discussed. The semibatch emulsion polymerization of MMA in the presence of PU particles studied was better compared to the system with a fixed radical concentration. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 844–858, 2005     

Self‐emulsion polymerization of amphiphilic monomers—a green route to synthesis of polymeric nanoscaffolds

Self‐emulsion polymerization (SEP), a green route developed by us for the polymerization of amphiphilic monomers, does not require any emulsifier or an organic solvent except that the water‐soluble initiators such as 2,2′‐azobis[2‐(2‐imidazolin‐2‐yl)propane]dihydrochloride (VA‐044) and potassium persulfate (KPS) are only used. We report here the polymer nanoscaffolds from a number of amphiphilic monomers, which can be used for in situ encapsulation of a variety of nanoparticles. As a demonstration of the efficacy of these nanoscaffolds, the synthesis of a biocompatible hybrid nanoparticle (nanohybrid), prepared by encapsulating Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄ MNPs) in poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) in water, for MRI application is presented. The nanohybrid prepared following the SEP in the form of an emulsion does not involve the use of any stabilizing agent, crosslinker, polymeric emulsifier, or surfactant. This water‐soluble, spherical, and stable nanohybrid containing Fe₃O₄ MNPs of average size 10 ± 2 nm has a zeta potential value of ?41.89 mV under physiological conditions. Magnetic measurement confirmed that the nanohybrid shows typical magnetic behavior having a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 32.3 emu/g and a transverse relaxivity (r2) value of 29.97 mM^?1 s^?1, which signifies that it can be used as a T2 contrast agent in MRI. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019     

Optimization of the nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization conditions for styrene and tert‐butyl acrylate in an automated parallel synthesizer

Automated parallel synthesizers provide fast and comparable screening of different polymerization parameters under similar conditions. In addition, these robotic systems eliminate handling errors, which may affect the results of a kinetic experiment more than the effect of an important parameter. The polymerization temperature and N,N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐[1′‐diethylphosphono‐2,2′‐dimethylpropyl]nitroxide concentration were optimized for the homopolymerization of both styrene and tert‐butyl acrylate to improve the control over the polymerization while reasonable polymerization rates were retained. Subsequently, polystyrene and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) macro initiators were synthesized according to the knowledge obtained from the screening results. These macroinitiators were used for the preparation of block copolymers consisting of styrene and tert‐butyl acrylate. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6202–6213, 2006     

Continuous reaction system to investigate the dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide

A laboratory‐scale continuous reaction system using a stirred tank reactor was assembled in our laboratory to study the dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The apparatus was equipped with a suitable downstream separation section to collect solid particles entrained in the effluent stream from the reactor, whose monomer concentration could be measured online with a gas chromatograph. The dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in scCO₂ was selected as a model process to be investigated in the apparatus. The experiments were performed at 65 °C and 25 MPa with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator and a reactive polysiloxane macromonomer as a surfactant to investigate the effect of the mean residence time of the reaction mixture on the monomer conversion, polymerization rate, polymer molecular weight, and particle size distribution. The results were compared with those obtained in batch polymerizations carried out under similar operative conditions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4122–4135, 2006     

RAFT‐mediated batch emulsion polymerization of styrene using poly[N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N,N‐dibutylamine hydrochloride] trithiocarbonate as both surfactant and macro‐RAFT agent

Poly[N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N,N‐dibutylamine hydrochloride] trithiocarbonate, which contains the reactive trithiocarbonate group and the appending surface‐active groups, is used as both surfactant and macromolecular reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (macro‐RAFT) agent in batch emulsion polymerization of styrene. Under the conditions at high monomer content of ～20 wt % and with the molecular weight of the macro‐RAFT agent ranging from 4.0 to 15.0 kg/mol, well‐controlled batch emulsion RAFT polymerization initiated by the hydrophilic 2‐2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride is achieved. The polymerization leads to formation of nano‐sized colloids of the poly[N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N,N‐dibutylamine hydrochloride]‐b‐ polystyrene‐b‐poly[N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N,N‐dibutylamine hydrochloride] triblock copolymer. The colloids generally have core‐shell structure, in which the hydrophilic block forms the shell and the hydrophobic block forms the core. The molecular weight of the triblock copolymer linearly increases with increase in the monomer conversion, and the values are well‐consistent with the theoretical ones. The molecular weight polydispersity index of the triblock copolymer is below 1.2 at most cases of polymerization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012