SYNTHESIS OF BLOCK COPOLYMERS WITH TETRAPHENYL BIPHOSPHINE INIFERTER

Ida Poljanšek, Vid Margon & Anton Šebenik
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

ABSTRACT

In this study PS/PMMA block copolymers were synthesized from polystyrene - (PS-) with active aromatic phosphorous end groups as macroinitiator using UV light as the energy source. The yield of block copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) with PS-macroinitiator in bulk was determined in relation to the wavelength of UV light and on the ratio of initiator and monomer. The molecular weights of block copolymers increased with the increase of the reaction time. It was found out that block copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate with PS-macroinitiator gives higher yields at the wavelength of 302 nm than at 366 nm. The macroinitiators decomposed into phosphorous radical and macroradical. The macromolecules were terminated by primary Ph2P· radicals and by the combination of two equal or different macroradicals as observed by NMR spectroscopy. The quantities of homopolymers and block copolymer in our products were determined by solid-fluid extraction.