Synthesis and characterization of poly(butadiene-b-sulphone) by block-copolycondensation—II. Synthesis from α,ω-dicarboxylic oligobutadienes and α,ω-diepoxy oligosulphones

The synthesis of poly(butadiene-b-sulphone) by two methods was described in part I (Eur. Polym. J. 20, 305 1]). The results obtained by reaction of α,ω-dicarboxylic oligobutadiene with α,ω-diepoxy oligosulphones are reported here. The kinetics of the reaction are studied on models: reaction orders, rate constants, activation parameters are determined. Their values fit Madec's kinetic pattern 2] and are close to those obtained by Crépeau 6] for the grafting of hydroxybenzoic acid onto a copolymer bearing epoxy side-groups. Contribution of the side-reaction 2] is quantified. Block-copolycondensation of the reactive oligomers are carried out both in solution and in the melt. Contribution of the side-reaction is higher in the melt than in solution, but in both cases block-copolymers are obtained and characterized by GPC.