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Preparation and properties of ABA block polymers of styrene and butadiene or isoprene made with sec ‐C 4 H 9 Li·2(C 2 H 5 ) 2 O
Author(s) -
Cunningham Robert E.,
Wise Mary L.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1972.070160110
Subject(s) - isoprene , polymer , materials science , polymer chemistry , polybutadiene , polymerization , copolymer , styrene , ether , butyllithium , miscibility , anionic addition polymerization , monomer , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry
ABA‐type “tapered” block polymers were prepared from styrene (monomer A) and butadiene or isoprene, using an initiator of sec ‐butyllithium complexed with two molecules of ethyl ether. The stress–strain curves of polymers containing about 20–50% styrene show the usual resemblance to curves of crosslinked elastomers. The SBS polymers had higher tensile strengths than the SIS polymers. They also had slightly higher tensile strengths than comparable SBS polymers made with sec ‐butyllithium. The SIS polymers, however, had generally lower tensile strengths than those made with sec ‐butyllithium. This is probably caused by higher styrene content of the isoprene block, brought about by increased randomization of the styrene–isoprene copolymerization due to the presence of the ether. The A and B blocks become more compatible, producing loss of strength in the polymer. Infrared analyses of polydienes made with the sec ‐C 4 H 9 Li·2(C 2 H 5 ) 2 O initiator showed a 6% to 8% increase in 1,2‐content (for polybutadiene) or 3,4‐content (for polyisoprene), compared to polymers made with sec ‐butyllithium. The polymer microstructures still have high (>80%) total 1,4‐content, however. Thus, this amount of ether can be tolerated in the polymerization system without great loss of rubbery properties or block structure in the resultant polymers.