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Core Cross‐Linked Amphiphilic Star‐Block Copolymers with (Meth)acrylic Acid Shells Prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Author(s) -
Carletto Andrea,
Cardozo Andrés F.,
Suriano Raffaella,
Manoury Eric,
Turri Stefano,
Poli Rinaldo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201100125
Subject(s) - atom transfer radical polymerization , copolymer , chemistry , polymer chemistry , amphiphile , polymerization , divinylbenzene , methacrylate , methyl methacrylate , styrene , polymer , organic chemistry
Core cross‐linked amphiphilic star‐block copolymers were prepared by hydrolysis of the outer shell of star‐block copolymers prepared using copper mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). In an arm‐first approach, linear poly( tert ‐butyl methacrylate) macroinitiators (P t BMA‐Cl) were extended with styrene to yield P t BMA‐ b ‐PS‐Cl and then cross‐linked with divinylbenzene (DVB) in order to yield (P t BMA‐ b‐ PS) arms ‐PDVB core star‐block copolymers. Then, PMAA‐ b‐ PS block and (PMAA‐PS) arms ‐PDVB core star‐block copolymers were obtained by hydrolysis of the P t BMA blocks in both linear and cross‐linked copolymers, as confirmed by 1 H NMR analyses. The amphiphilic character of these copolymers was confirmed by solubilisation in water. Several factors affecting the polymer aggregation and solubility such as the length, the composition of the arms and the catalyst used were studied. An acrylate analogue, that is, (PAA‐ b‐ PS) arms ‐PDVB core , was also prepared for comparison purposes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to elucidate the morphology and the thermal behaviour of the star‐block copolymers.