Issue 16, 2017

Synthesis of diblock copolymers consisting of POSS-containing random methacrylate copolymers and polystyrene and their cross-linked microphase-separated structure via fluoride ion-mediated cage scrambling

Abstract

Synthesis of a series of diblock copolymers consisting of POSS-containing random methacrylate copolymers and polystyrene (P(MAPOSS-r-methyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene etc.) has been established by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. The polymerisation of styrene as the second block was well controlled when POSS-containing random copolymers were used as the chain transfer agent (CTA). Dynamic cross-linking of POSS-containing block copolymers, which utilized a cage scrambling reaction among pendant POSS units mediated by a fluoride ion, was achieved by evaporating the solvent from a solution of block copolymers tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (BTSB) in THF. During the solvent evaporation and thermal annealing that provided cross-linked polymer films, a phase-separated structure was formed. The microphase-separated structure of the cross-linked block copolymers showed the cylindrical morphology of the POSS-containing blocks, which was proved by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. A clear microphase-separated structure was obtained when a larger amount of fluoride ions was used for cage scrambling. The morphology was maintained even after immersing in tetrahydrofuran, indicating that the phase-separated structure was completely immobilized by cross-linking.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of diblock copolymers consisting of POSS-containing random methacrylate copolymers and polystyrene and their cross-linked microphase-separated structure via fluoride ion-mediated cage scrambling

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Dec 2016
Accepted
27 Mar 2017
First published
05 Apr 2017

Polym. Chem., 2017,8, 2516-2527

Synthesis of diblock copolymers consisting of POSS-containing random methacrylate copolymers and polystyrene and their cross-linked microphase-separated structure via fluoride ion-mediated cage scrambling

K. Tsuchiya, Y. Ishida and A. Kameyama, Polym. Chem., 2017, 8, 2516 DOI: 10.1039/C6PY02236G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements