| Abstract: | N-Methylacrylamide (NMAAm) was polymerized quantitatively by using di-tert-butyl peroxide as photosensitizer to be, for the most part, incorporated in living poly(NMAAm) radical. The living polymer radical reacted effectively with acrylate monomers to yield block copolymer. Longer alkyl chain of the acrylate monomer caused a decrease in the conversion of the second monomer. Methacrylate monomers, such as methyl methacrylate and cyclohexyl methacrylate, showed relatively low reactivities in comparison with acrylates. Styrene exhibited a much lower conversion. The resulting block copolymers showed different thermochromic behaviors in methyl benzoate from that of poly(NMAAm). This is explained on the basis of the difference between refractive indexes of the block copolymers and poly(NMAAm). |
