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Formation of hyperbranched polymers in atom transfer radical copolymerization of MMA and DVB

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  • SPECIAL TOPIC / Highly Branched Polymers — Promising Architectural Macromolecules
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Abstract

Hyperbranched poly(methyl methacrylate)s (HPMMAs) have been successfully prepared by atom transfer radical copolymerization of MMA and divinylbenzene (DVB). Kinetic study shows complete consumption of the initiator in 0.5 h, and relatively low polymerization rate when DVB content in the feed was high. By analyzing MALDI-TOF spectra of the resulting copolymers, the linear A n B* (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) oligomers were formed in 0.5 h of polymerization, and then the oligomers reacted each other to form dimers, further reactions produced HPMMA. The SEC and NMR spectroscopies were used to trace the polymerization, and the results demonstrate that small amount of the branching reactions occur in the initial polymerization, and the branched polymers are significantly generated past a certain conversion depending upon the feed ratios. Raising the content of DVB in the monomer mixture can increase the pendent vinyl groups of the linear oligo-inimers, leading to gelation at low MMA conversion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry; Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Miao Sun & CaiYuan Pan

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  1. Miao Sun
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  2. CaiYuan Pan
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Correspondence to CaiYuan Pan.

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Sun, M., Pan, C. Formation of hyperbranched polymers in atom transfer radical copolymerization of MMA and DVB. Sci. China Chem. 53, 2440–2451 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4155-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4155-0

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