Polyisobutylene-Containing Block Copolymers by Sequential Monomer Addition. V. Synthesis, Characterization, and Select Properties of Poly(p-tert-Butylstyrene-b-Isobutylene-b-p-tert-Butylstyrene)

• Published in: Macromolecules Vol. 24; no. 25; pp. 6572 - 6577
• Main Authors: Kennedy, J P, Meguriya, N, Keszler, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 09.12.1991
• ISSN: 0024-9297

Novel triblock copolymers poly(p-tert-butylstyrene-b-isobutylene-b-p-tert-butylstyrene) (Ppt-BuSt--PIB--PptBuSt) have been synthesized by the addition of p-tert-butylstyrene (ptBuSt) to biliving polyisobutylene carbocations ( exp + PIB exp + ). Triblocks containing PIB midblocks in the range of 50 000-70 000 (M sub w /M sub n = 1.3-1.27) and 27-44 wt.% PptBuSt outer blocks were prepared. The molecular weights of the respective blocks (i.e. overall composition of triblocks) were controlled by living carbocationic polymerization techniques. The products were characterized by fractional precipitation, GPC, DSC, exp 1 H NMR spectroscopy, and osmometry, and their select physical properties were investigated by Instron testing and penetrometry. The triblocks exhibited interesting thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) properties.