Smart “All Acrylate” ABA Triblock Copolymer Bearing Reactive Functionality via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP): Demonstration of a “Click Reaction” in Thermoreversible Property

Inhibiting the Thermal Gelation of Copolymer Stabilized Nonaqueous Dispersions and the Synthesis of Full Color PMMA Particles

Polymeric particle dispersions have numerous potential applications; currently one of the most relevant is their use as inks in electrophoretic displays. These colloidal particles are synthesized from the appropriate monomer using nonaqueous dispersion (NAD) polymerization in a nonpolar solvent, which requires a stabilizer to control particle size and morphology. We have previously reported the facile synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(octadecyl acrylate) (PMMA-b-PODA) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and its use in the NAD polymerization of MMA in hexane/dodecane solvent mixtures. Here we report the synthesis of monodisperse PMMA particles in dodecane following a standard "industrial" procedure using these PMMA-b-PODA stabilizers. However, it was observed that the particle suspensions solidified when they were left at temperatures below ∼18 °C yet redispersed upon being heated. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, and rheological studies demonstrated that this thermoresponsive behavior was due to a liquid-gel transition occurring at 17.5 °C as a consequence of the upper critical solution temperature of PODA in dodecane being traversed. Consequently, new copolymers were synthesized by ATRP with an ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) co-monomer incorporated into the lyophilic (dodecane compatible) block. Dispersions stabilized by these PMMA-b-P(ODA-co-EHA) polymers with high EHA contents exhibited lower gelation temperatures because of the greater solvent compatibility with dodecane. The use of a PMMA65-b-(ODA10-co-EHA45) copolymer stabilizer (with the highest EHA content) gave PMMA dispersions that showed no gelation down to 4 °C and monodisperse cross-linked PMMA particles containing organic dyes (cyan, magenta, red, and black) giving colored particles across the size range of approximately 100-1300 nm.

Highly Extensible Supramolecular Elastomers with Large Stress Generation Capability Originating from Multiple Hydrogen Bonds on the Long Soft Network Strands

Highly extensible supramolecular elastomers are prepared from ABA triblock-type copolymers bearing glassy end blocks and a long soft middle block with multiple hydrogen bonds. The copolymer used is polystyrene-b-[poly(butyl acrylate)-co-polyacrylamide]-b-polystyrene (S-Ba-S), which is synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Tensile tests reveal that the breaking elongation (εb ) increases with an increase in the middle block molecular weight (Mmiddle ). Especially, the largest S-Ba-S with Mmiddle of 3140k, which is synthesized via high-pressure RAFT polymerization, achieves εb of over 2000% with a maximum tensile stress of 3.6 MPa, while the control sample without any middle block hydrogen bonds, polystyrene-b-poly(butyl acrylate)-b-polystyrene with Mmiddle of 2780k, is merely a viscous material due to the large volume fraction of soft block. Thus, incorporation of hydrogen bonds into the large molecular weight soft middle block is found to be beneficial to prepare supramolecular elastomers attaining high extensibility and sufficiently large stress generation ability simultaneously. This outcome is probably due to concerted combination of entropic changes and internal potential energy changes originating from the dissociation of multiple hydrogen bonds by elongation.

Amphiphilic functional block copolymers bearing a reactive furfuryl group via RAFT polymerization; reversible core cross-linked micelles via a Diels–Alder “click reaction”

Amphiphilic BCPs, PFMA-b-PPEGMA were prepared via RAFT polymerization. They were self-assembled into micelles in aqueous medium with a hydrophobic PFMA core and hydrophilic PPEGMA corona. Core cross-linked micelles were prepared via the DA reaction.

A self-healing, re-moldable and biocompatible crosslinked polysiloxane elastomer

The self-healable polysiloxane elastomers cross-linked with DA bonds show high healing efficiency, good mechanical properties and good biocompatibility.

Precise synthesis of thermoreversible block copolymers containing reactive furfuryl groups via living anionic polymerization: the countercation effect on block copolymerization behavior

Well-defined block copolymers containing furan groups were anionically synthesized in the presence of NaBPh₄ and used for the formation of thermoreversible networks via a Diels–Alder click reaction.

Recent strategies to develop self-healable crosslinked polymeric networks

Autonomous self-healable crosslinked materials designed with built-in ability to repair physical damage and cracks can prevent catastrophic failure and thus extend the lifetime of materials.

Fluorinated amphiphilic block copolymers via RAFT polymerization and their application as surf-RAFT agent in miniemulsion polymerization

Preparation of an amphiphilic block copolymer (Am-BCP) based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and heptafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA) via RAFT polymerization and application of this Am-BCP as surf-RAFT agent for polymerization of styrene.

An ABA triblock containing a central soft block of poly[2,5-di(n-hexogycarbonyl)styrene] and outer hard block of poly(4-vinylpyridine): synthesis, phase behavior and mechanical enhancement

A new ABA triblock copolymer (P4VP-PHCS-P4VP) with strong microphase separation was successfully synthesized and showed phase transformation and mechanical enhancement by blending with metal salt.

Influence of cross-linkers on the cohesive and adhesive self-healing ability of polysulfide-based thermosets

Synthetic systems with intrinsic self-repairing or self-healing abilities have emerged during the past decade. In this work, the influence of the cross-linker and chain rigidity on the healing ability of thermoset rubbers containing disulfide bonds have been investigated. The produced materials exhibit adhesive and cohesive self-healing properties. The recovery of these two functionalities upon the thermally triggered healing events has shown to be highly dependent on the network cross-link density and chain rigidity. As a result, depending on the rubber thermoset intrinsic physical properties, the thermal mending leading to full cohesive recovery can be achieved in 20-300 min at a modest healing temperature of 65 °C. The adhesive strength ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 MPa and is fully recovered even after multiple failure events.

Acrylic AB and ABA block copolymers based on poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (PEHA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via ATRP

Acrylic block copolymers have several advantages over conventional styrenic block copolymers, because of the presence of a saturated backbone and polar pendant groups. This investigation reports the preparation and characterization of di- and triblock copolymers (AB and ABA types) of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A series of block copolymers, PEHA-block-PMMA(AB diblock) and PMMA-block-PEHA-block-PMMA(ABA triblock) were prepared via ATRP at 90 °C using CuBr as catalyst in combination with N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyl diethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as ligand and acetone as additive. The chemical structure of the macroinitiators and molar composition of block copolymers were characterized by (1)H NMR analysis, and molecular weights of the polymers were analyzed by GPC analysis. DSC analysis showed two glass transition temperatures (T(g)), indicating formation of two domains, which was corroborated by AFM analysis. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of AB and ABA block copolymers showed scattering behavior inside the measuring limits indicating nanophase separation. However, SAXS pattern of AB diblock copolymers indicated general phase separation only, whereas for ABA triblock copolymer an ordered or mixed morphology could be deduced, which is assumed to be the reason for the better mechanical properties achieved with ABA block copolymers than with the AB analogues.

Functional polyolefins: poly(ethylene)-graft-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) via atom transfer radical polymerization from a polybrominated alkane

Poly(cis-cyclooctene) is synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization in the presence of a chain-transfer agent and quantitatively hydrobrominated. Subsequent graft polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) via Cu-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from the non-activated secondary alkyl bromide moieties finally results in PE-g-PtBA copolymer brushes. By varying the reaction conditions, a series of well-defined graft copolymers with different graft densities and graft lengths are prepared. The maximum extent of grafting in terms of bromoalkyl groups involved is approximately 80 mol%. DSC measurements on the obtained graft copolymers reveal a decrease in T(m) with increasing grafting density.