Synthesis and properties of amphiphilic vinyl acetate triblock copolymers prepared by copper mediated living radical polymerisation

Polymerisation of vinyl acetate by conventional free radical polymerisation using a diazo initiator followed by copper mediated living radical polymerisation with a range of monomers was studied. This method led to the synthesis of triblock copolymers. We have thus successfully prepared several new ABA triblock copolymers where B is poly(vinyl acetate) and A is (dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), (polyethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MeO(PEG)MA) or solketal methacrylate (SMA). The sequential conventional/living radical polymerisation approach provided an efficient route to synthesis of new block copolymers. The properties of these amphiphilic polymers have been subsequently investigated by ¹H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, tensiometry and dynamic light scattering to investigate their behaviour as potential surfactants.     

Synthesis and crystallization behaviors of poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-ε-caprolactone) triblock copolymers

The triblock copolymers, poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-ε-caprolactone)s (PS-b-PI-b-PCL) have been synthesized successfully by combination of anionic polymerization and ring-opening polymerization. Diblock copolymer capped with hydroxyl group, PS-b-PI-OH was synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization of styrene and isoprene and following end-capping reaction of EO, and then it was used as macro initiator in the ring-opening polymerization of CL. The results of DSC and WAXD show big effect of amorphous PS-b-PI on the thermal behaviors of PCL block in the triblock copolymers and the lower degree of crystalline in the triblock copolymer with higher molecular weight of PS-b-PI was observed. The real-time observation on the polarized optical microscopy shows the spherulite growth rates of PCL₂₇, PCL₃₂₈ and PS-b-PI-b-PCL₃₄₄ are 0.71, 0.46 and 0.07 μm s⁻¹, respectively. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the PS₉₀-b-PI₆₆-b-PCL₂₈ show the columns morphology formed by it’s self-assembling.     

苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯/聚乙烯基甲基醚共混体系相容性的FT-IR及DSC研究

嵌段高聚物、均聚物共混体系相容性是近年来研究的热点。本工作以光学显微镜、DSC、FT-IR为手段,研究了三嵌段高聚物苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯(SBS);SBS-48、SBS-30,SBS-28与聚乙烯基甲基醚共混体系的相容性。DSC结果表明,随SBS中PS含量的升高,体系相容性变好,PS段分子量增大,也有助于体系相容。FT-IR结果表明PVME中COCH_3在1100cm~(-1)附近呈现的双峰的相对强度对体系的相容性十分敏感,而由于苯环C—H振动产生的698cm~(-1)峰位却不象PS/PVME体系那样随相容性的改变而有显著的改变。总而言之,嵌段高聚物SBS/均聚物PVME共混体系中,体系的相容性依赖于嵌段高聚物在体系中的组份含量及嵌段高聚物中PS的重量百分含量,PS段分子量的大小对体系相容性也有影响。     

Small-angle neutron scattering study on microstructure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) in water

By employing small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), we investigated the microstructures of, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (NE) in deuterated water D₂O, as related to macroscopic behaviors of fluidity, turbidity and synerisis. SANS revealed following results: (i) microphase separation occurs at around above 17 °C in a temperature range of transparent sol below 30 °C. In the microdomain appeared in the transparent sol state, both block chains of PNIPA and PEG are swollen by water; (ii) for the NE solution of polymer concentration W_p > 3.5% (w/v), corresponding to opaque gel above 30 °C, a percolated structure, i.e., network-like domain is formed by NE as a result of macrophase separation due to dehydration of the PNIPA chains. As the temperature increases toward 40 °C, the network domain is squeezed along a direction parallel to the NE interface, which leads to increase of the interfacial thickness given by swollen PEG chains and to the macroscopic synerisis behavior.     

Surface structure of thin asymmetric PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymers investigated by atomic force microscopy

Asymmetric poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers of molecular weight M_n = 29,700 g mol⁻¹ (M_PS = 9300 g mol⁻¹M_PMMA = 20,100 g mol⁻¹, PD = 1.15, χ_PS = 0.323, χ_PMMA = 0.677) and M_n = 63,900 g mol⁻¹ (M_PS = 50,500 g mol⁻¹, M_PMMA = 13,400 g mol⁻¹, PD = 1.18, χ_PS = 0.790, χ_PMMA = 0.210) were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface structure of thin films, prepared by spin-coating the diblock copolymers on a silicon substrate. We show that the nanostructure of the diblock copolymer depends on the molecular weight and volume fraction of the diblock copolymers. We observed a perpendicular lamellar structure for the high molar mass sample and a hexagonal-packed cylindrical patterning for the lower molar mass one. Small-angle X-ray scattering investigation of these samples without annealing did not reveal any ordered structure. Annealing of PS-b-PMMA samples at 160 °C for 24 h led to a change in surface structure.     

Concentrated reverse micelles in a random graft block copolymer system: structure and in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles

The structure and rheological properties of a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-poly(oxyethylene) copolymer at high concentrations in block-selective solvents were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheometry. Analysis of SAXS data indicates that quasispherical, reverse micellar aggregates (with no ordered packing) are present in concentrated solutions of the copolymer in nonpolar solvents, and that upon addition of water, the size of such aggregates increases due to the solubilization inside the micellar cores. The viscosity of concentrated polymer solutions increases exponentially as water is added, and finally, viscoelastic, gel-like behavior is found in the vicinity of the phase separation limit. It was found that small silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of ≈3 nm can be synthesized inside the copolymer aggregates without the need of a reducing agent; namely, particles embedded in a viscoelastic matrix are obtained. The synthesis seems to follow first-order kinetics. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Non-ionic amphiphilic block copolymers by RAFT-polymerization and their self-organization

Water-soluble, amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. They consist of poly(butyl acrylate) as hydrophobic block with a low glass transition temperature and three different nonionic water-soluble blocks, namely, the classical hydrophilic block poly(dimethylacrylamide), the strongly hydrophilic poly(acryloyloxyethyl methylsulfoxide), and the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine). Aqueous micellar solutions of the block copolymers were prepared and characterized by static and dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS and SLS). No critical micelle concentration could be detected. The micellization was thermodynamically favored, although kinetically slow, exhibiting a marked dependence on the preparation conditions. The polymers formed micelles with a hydrodynamic diameter from 20 to 100 nm, which were stable upon dilution. The micellar size was correlated with the composition of the block copolymers and their overall molar mass. The micelles formed with the two most hydrophilic blocks were particularly stable upon temperature cycles, whereas the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine) block showed a temperature-induced precipitation. According to combined SLS and DLS analysis, the micelles exhibited an elongated shape such as rods or worms. It should be noted that the block copolymers with the most hydrophilic poly(sulfoxide) block formed inverse micelles in certain organic solvents.     

双嵌段共聚物薄膜介观结构的耗散粒子动力学模拟

采用耗散粒子动力学(Dissipative Particle Dynamics, DPD)方法模拟两平行平板间的双嵌段共聚物体系的介观结构. 模拟结果表明, 随板间距的增大, 体系分层数量的增加是不连续的, 在分层数量的增加过程中, 出现不规则结构的过渡区；聚合物链末端距随板间距的增大呈周期性振荡, 振荡幅度逐渐减小. 对模拟结果的分析表明：层状结构转变点与分层数量之间存在近似线性关系；层状结构转变点近似与共聚物链长的2/3次方成正比.     

The use of the DPE radical polymerization method for the synthesis of chromophore-labelled polymers and block copolymers

Two analogues of diphenylethene carrying phenanthrene (1-(9-phenanthryl)-1-phenylethene (PPE)) and anthracene (1-(2-anthryl)-1-phenylethene (APE)) units were used in radical polymerization of styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 80 °C using AIBN as initiator. Because of the nature of the polymerization, the resulting polymers possess the corresponding chromophoric groups. Using the methodology of a DPE system, these labelled polymers were further used for the synthesis of block copolymers. In this way poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(styrene) and poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(acrylonitrile) with molar masses of 60,000-90,000 g/mol were synthesized. Incorporation of the chromophoric groups into both homo- and block copolymers was confirmed by spectral measurements.