Synthesis of polystyrene-block-poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) block copolymers and thermoanalytical studies of nitroxide-terminated poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) copolymers

Abstract

The synthesis of polystyrene-block-poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) block copolymers by conversion of polystyrene terminated with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) are described. We have found a considerable acceleration in polymerization rate and increasing of molecular weights due to the donor acceptor interaction of styrene and acrylonitrile. Analysis of the block copolymer composition by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy allowed to determine the copolymerization parameters. The comparison with the parameters of the free radical copolymerization shows that there is no influence of TEMPO on the composition. The polydispersity index of the copolymer subchain in the block copolymers decreases rapidly with increasing time of polymerization, depending on the polymerization rate of the copolymerization. The thermal stability of nitroxide-terminated poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) copolymers was investigated by means of thermogravimetry and pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. At temperatures above 200°C the splitting of the nitroxyl polymer bond takes place, indicating a weak degradation of the polymer. However, there is no effect of the terminator on the decomposition pattern of the copolymer at 500°C.