Y-shaped diblock copolymer with epoxy-based block of poly(glycidyl methacrylate): Synthesis, characterization, and its morphology study

Phase Behavior of Polydisperse Y-Shaped Polymer Brushes under Good Solvent Conditions

Y-shaped polymer brushes represent a special class of binary mixed polymer brushes, in which a combination of different homopolymers leads to unique phase behavior. While most theoretical and simulation studies use monodisperse models, experimental systems are always polydisperse. This discrepancy hampers linking theoretical and experimental results. In this theoretical study, we employed dissipative particle dynamics to study the influence of polydispersity on the phase behavior of Y-shaped brushes grafted to flat surfaces under good solvent conditions. Polydispersity was kept within experimentally achievable values and was modeled via Schulz-Zimm distribution. In total, 10 systems were considered, thus covering the phase behavior of monodisperse, partially polydisperse and fully polydisperse systems. Using such generic representation of real polymers, we observed a rippled structure and aggregates in monodisperse systems. In addition, polydisperse brushes formed a stable perforated layer not observed previously in monodisperse studies, and influenced the stability of the remaining phases. Although the perforated layer was experimentally observed under good solvent conditions and in the melt state, further confirmation of its presence in systems under good solvent conditions required mapping real polymers onto mesoscale models that reflected, for example, different polymer rigidity, and excluded volume effects or direct influence of the surface, just to mention a few parameters. Finally, in this work, we show that mesoscale modeling successfully describes polydisperse models, which opens the way for rapid exploring of complex systems such as polydisperse Y-shaped brushes in selective or bad solvents or under non-equilibrium conditions.

Post-polymerization modification reactions of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)s

Single and multiple post-polymerization modifications of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) scaffold through the nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of the pendent epoxide groups are described.

Synthesis of Y-shaped amphiphilic copolymers by macromolecular azo coupling reaction

The synthesis of well-defined AB₂ Y-shaped amphiphilic block copolymers by macromolecular azo coupling reaction is reported.

Homopolymer bifunctionalization through sequential thiol–epoxy and esterification reactions: an optimization, quantification, and structural elucidation study

In this study, we probe various aspects of a post-polymerization double-modification strategy involving sequential thiol–epoxy and esterification reactions for the preparation of dual-functional homopolymers.

Effect of carboxylated poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) block copolymer on nanostructured unsaturated polyester resin

A carboxylated poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) (PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO) block copolymer was used to fabricate nanostructured unsaturated polyester materials.

New polymethylene-based AB2 star copolymers synthesized via a combination of polyhomologation of ylides and atom transfer radical polymerization

Polymethylene-based AB₂ star copolymers were synthesized. PM-b-(PS)₂ porous films and particles were fabricated via static breath-figure process and electrospraying, respectively.

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of polymeric materials using lipases as catalysts: a review

In the past two decades, enzymatic polymerization has rapidly developed and become an important polymer synthesis technique. However, the range of polymers resulting from enzymatic polymerization could be further expanded through combination with chemical methods. This review systematically introduces recent developments in the combination of lipase-catalyzed polymerization with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), kinetic resolution, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), click reaction and carbene chemistry to construct polymeric materials like block, brush, comb and graft copolymers, hyperbranched and chiral polymers. Moreover, it presents a thorough and descriptive evaluation of future trends and perspectives concerning chemoenzymatic polymerization. It is expected that combining enzymatic polymerization with multiple chemical methods will be an efficient tool for producing more highly advanced polymeric materials.