Surface segregation of a branched polymer with hydrophilic poly[2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxyethyl vinyl ether] side chains

Abstract

A poly[2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxyethyl vinyl ether] macromonomer with a terminal vinyl group synthesized by living cationic polymerization was successively copolymerized with methyl methacrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization. The branched polymer mixed into poly(methyl methacrylate) was preferentially segregated at the film surface, leading to an anti-biofouling polymer surface.