Block Copolymer PEO‐<i>b</i>‐PHPMA Synthesis Using Controlled Radical Polymerization on a Chip

Abstract

Abstract Summary: Block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide‐ block ‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PEO‐ b ‐PHPMA) with a range of molecular masses of the PHPMA block were obtained by controlled radical polymerization on a chip (CRP chip) using a PEO macroinitiator. A series of well‐controlled polymerizations were carried out at different pumping rates or reaction times with a constant ratio of monomer to initiator. The stoichiometry of the reactants was also adjusted by varying relative flow rates to change the reactant concentrations. A schematic of a CRP chip and SEC traces of the PEO‐ b ‐PHPMA produced from different pump rates with a 1:100 ratio of initiator to monomer. The dashed peaks are the macroinitiator, PEO‐Br (left), and monomer, HPMA (right). magnified image A schematic of a CRP chip and SEC traces of the PEO‐ b ‐PHPMA produced from different pump rates with a 1:100 ratio of initiator to monomer. The dashed peaks are the macroinitiator, PEO‐Br (left), and monomer, HPMA (right).