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Nonionic UCST–LCST Diblock Copolymers with Tunable Thermoresponsiveness Synthesized via PhotoRAFT Polymerization
Author(s) -
Xu Jingcong,
Abetz Volker
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.202000648
Subject(s) - upper critical solution temperature , lower critical solution temperature , copolymer , materials science , polymer chemistry , methacrylate , thermoresponsive polymers in chromatography , polymerization , ethylene glycol , comonomer , polymer , chain transfer , chemical engineering , binodal , cloud point , radical polymerization , chemistry , organic chemistry , phase (matter) , phase diagram , aqueous solution , reversed phase chromatography , engineering , composite material
Nonionic double thermoresponsive diblock copolymers with both upper critical solution temperature (UCST) and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transitions are synthesized via eco‐friendly photoiniferter reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. While the biocompatible random copolymer of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate accounts for the LCST transition, the block of polymethacrylamide from an easily accessible monomer with low health hazard is responsible for the UCST transition. Temperature‐dependent dynamic light scattering measurements confirm the formation of micellar aggregates in water at the temperatures below UCST‐ and above LCST‐type cloud points. Additionally, the temperature interval between UCST and LCST, where both blocks are dissolved, can be tailored by varying the comonomer ratio in the random copolymer block. With these unique advantages, the presented work introduces a new polymer system for the design of schizophrenic polymers.