Kejian Bian, M. Cunningham
Jul 26, 2006
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Influential Citations
31
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Journal
Polymer
Abstract
Abstract 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) was grafted from the surface of alkoxyamine-functionalized crosslinked poly(styrene- co -chloromethylstyrene) microspheres by nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). Latex particles (∼60 nm diameter) bearing chloromethyl groups were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. N - tert -butyl- N -(1-diethyl phosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl)nitroxide (SG1) was then immobilized on the particle surface. Microspheres grafted with the homopolymer pDMAEA, as well as block copolymers poly(styrene- b -DMAEA) and poly(butyl acrylate- b -DMAEA) were prepared by surface-initiated NMRP in N , N -dimethylformamide at 112 °C, with the addition of free SG1 to ensure that control is maintained. Particle size increases with number average molecular weight ( M n ) of untethered polymers. The polymerizations exhibit linear first order kinetic plots and slight curvature of evolution of M n with conversion. The functional microspheres were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis, as well as their dispersibility in water; the results support the formation of surface-grafted pDMAEA on the microspheres.