Poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-polyethylene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) Triblock Copolymers as Compatibilizers for Polyethylene/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Blends

Abstract

Poly­(methyl methacrylate)-block-polyethylene-block-poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA–PE–PMMA) triblock copolymers were prepared by a combination of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), hydrogenation, and reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The number-average molar masses of the PMMA end blocks were varied (M n = 1, 4, 12, and 31 kg mol–1), whereas that of the PE middle block was kept constant at M n = 13 kg mol–1. The copolymers were evaluated as compatibilizers in PE/PMMA homopolymer blends containing PE in a 4:1 excess by weight. The compatibilized blends displayed significant improvements in elastic modulus, hardness, and scratch resistance as compared to uncompatibilized binary blends. The effects of the PMMA end-block molar mass and compatibilizer concentration on the blend morphology and mechanical properties were investigated. The triblock copolymer with the highest-molar-mass PMMA end blocks was most effective, presumably because of enhanced stress transfer between phases by virtue of a higher degree of entanglement of the end blocks with the PMMA dispersed phase.

Inorganic nanoparticles engineered to attack bacteria

“…3). [189][190][191][192][193][194] Surface functionalization of nanoparticles via controlled radical polymerization generates controlled chain length and polydispersity of polymers on surfaces. However, the PDMAEMA polymer is also pH-responsive due to the presence of multiple amino groups in its structures.…”

Synthesis and utility of ethylene (meth)acrylate copolymers prepared by a tandem ring‐opening polymerization hydrogenation strategy

“…[10][11][12]20 In this work, a PE/PMMA blend with PMMA as the dispersed phase was targeted in an effort to improve the blend properties by using a "random" copolymer compatibilizer. In a binary blend of PE/PMMA (80/20), clear macrophase separation was observed.…”

“…More recently, we have been working on the compatibilization of polyolefins and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) using either graft or block polymers prepared using cyclooctenes and its derivatives through a ROMP/hydrogenation protocol. [10][11][12] In the work described here we prepared two substituted cyclooctenes that gave statistical copolymers of ethylene and either methyl methacrylate or t-butyl acrylate/acrylic acid (closely following the work of Wagener and co-workers in the latter case). 13 and used without further purification unless noted otherwise.…”

The chemistry of the carbon-transition metal double and triple bond: Annual survey covering the year 2014

“…84) and cyclohexene (copolymer) [378]; (3) cyclopentenes (e.g. 86) in an equilibrium polymerization process [379]; (4) cyclooctene or substituted cyclooctene derivatives [380,381,382,383]; (5) 1,5-cyclooctadiene [384,385]; (6) the 1,5-cyclooctadiene anthracene Diels-Alder adduct (e.g. 87) [386]; (7) cyclooctene fused to a dichlorocyclopropane ring (e.g.…”