Understanding copolymerisation kinetics for the design of functional copolymers via free radical polymerisation

Boulding, Natasha A.; Millican, Jonathan M.; Hutchings, Lian R.

Abstract

Determining the monomer sequence distribution of copolymers is important when correlating copolymer molecular structure (random, gradient etc.) to macroscopic/material properties. We report here the relative monomer reactivities for the copolymerisation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with functional monomers – poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM Mn 500 g mol−1), acetonide-protected dopamine methacrylamide (ADMA), methacrylic acid (MAA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) – to provide information on monomer sequence distribution and compositional drift. Reactivity ratios were calculated, using non-linear least squares regression analysis, in the cases of the free radical copolymerisation of MMA with (i) PEGMEM (rMMA = 1.17 rPEGMEM = 0.62) and (ii) ADMA (rMMA = 2.21 rADMA = 0.17). Additionally, monomer feed depletion as a function of total monomer conversion was monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy for a series of batch co- and terpolymerisations. This approach offers detailed insight into monomer compositional drift and copolymerisation kinetics. Such information provides a platform for the design of copolymers with specific desired properties e.g. adhesion, solubility or interfacial activity.

Citation

Boulding, N. A., Millican, J. M., & Hutchings, L. R. (2019). Understanding copolymerisation kinetics for the design of functional copolymers via free radical polymerisation. Polymer Chemistry, 10(41), 5665-5675. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9py01294j

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 7, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Oct 8, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 7, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 23, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 8, 2020
• Journal: Polymer Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 1759-9954
• Electronic ISSN: 1759-9962
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 41
• Pages: 5665-5675
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c9py01294j
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1281793