Architecture of prototype copolymer brushes composed of alternating structure and intramolecular phase separation of side chains in solution

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 116; no. 4; pp. 2298 - 2304
• Main Authors: Ishizu, Koji, Furuta, Yuya, Nojima, Shuichi, Uchida, Satoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.05.2010; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); Brushes; Copolymers; Exact sciences and technology; Guinier's plots; Gyration; Organic polymers; Phase separation; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Polystyrene resins; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; prototype copolymer brush; Prototypes; Solvents; Styrenes; Graft copolymer; Molecular structure; Atom transfer polymerization; Polymer brush; atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); prototype copolymer brush; Radius of gyration; Maleimide derivative copolymer; Experimental study; Organic solution; Initiator polymer; Preparation; Phase separation; Alternating copolymer; Guinier's plots; Butyl methacrylate copolymer; Conformation; Styrene copolymer
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.31696

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was applied to the synthesis of prototype copolymer brushes composed polystyrene/poly(t-butyl methacrylate) (PS/PBMA) alternating structure. Dilute solution properties of prototype copolymer brush were investigated by static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). As a result, such prototype copolymer brush composed of short aspect ratio formed a star-like single molecule in THF. To discuss the intramolecular phase separation of PS/PBMA brushes in solution, we determined the radius of gyration (Rg) and cross-sectional radius of gyration (Rg ,c) of prototype copolymer brush by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) using Guinier's plots in THF and styrene. We used styrene as solvent to cancel each other out with the electron density of PS side chains. Both Rg and Rg ,c obtained in styrene decreased drastically compared with those obtained in THF. These results indicated strongly that PS and PBMA side chains of prototype brushes formed intramolecular phase separation even in good solvent.