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Nitroxide‐mediated ‘living’ free radical synthesis of novel rod–coil diblock copolymers with polystyrene and mesogen‐jacketed liquid‐crystal polymer segments
Author(s) -
Wan Xinhua,
Tu Yingfeng,
Zhang Dong,
Zhou Qifeng
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0126(200003)49:3<243::aid-pi330>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - mesogen , copolymer , nitroxide mediated radical polymerization , materials science , polymer chemistry , polystyrene , liquid crystal , polymer , radical polymerization , polymer science , electromagnetic coil , composite material , liquid crystalline , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , engineering
The synthesis of rod–coil diblock copolymers with narrow polydispersity was achieved for the first time by TEMPO‐mediated ‘living’ free radical polymerization of styrene and 2,5‐bis[(4‐methoxyphenyl)oxycarbonyl]styrene. The block architecture of the two diblock copolymers thus prepared, MPCS‐ block ‐St (5400/2400) and MPCS‐ block ‐St (10 800/8700), was confirmed by GPC, 1 H and 13 C NMR and DSC studies. The liquid‐crystalline behaviour of the copolymers was studied by DSC and polarized optical microscope. It was observed that both copolymers showed two distinct glass transitions, corresponding to polystyrene and poly(‐2,5‐bis[(4‐methoxyphenyl)oxycarbonyl]styrene). Above the glass transition temperature of rigid block, liquid‐crystalline phase was formed. The clearing point of the phase is higher than the polymer decomposition temperature. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry