Wiktor Steinhauer, R. Hoogenboom, H. Keul
Feb 11, 2013
Citations
1
Influential Citations
66
Citations
Journal
Macromolecules
Abstract
Well-defined homopolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) with different degrees of polymerization are synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), using dibenzyltrithiocarbonate (DBTTC) as chain transfer agent. Subsequently, well-defined triblock copolymers of HEA and 2-methoxyethyl acrylate (MEA) with the general microstructure P(HEA)-block-P(MEA)-block-P(HEA) and P(HEA)-block-P(HEA-grad-MEA)-block-P(HEA) are synthesized via RAFT, using previously prepared HEA-based homopolymers with degrees of polymerization of Pn ∼ 20–70 as macro-chain transfer agents (MCTAs). Kinetic investigations on all of the performed (co)polymerizations are summarized, revealing that all polymerizations proceed in a controlled manner. The thermoresponsive properties of aqueous solutions of the synthesized copolymers with block or gradient microstructures are determined and discussed, revealing adjustable cloud point (CP) temperatures between 0 and 80 °C for copolymers with the pure blo...