A procedure was developed for the FriedelCrafts naphthoylation of the polystyrene segments of a polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer. It was possible to obtain up to 72% 1-naphthoylation or 100% 2-naphthoylation of the polystyrene segments in the copolymer. Naphthoylation could also be accomplished using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst. The naphthoylated products were characterized by 1 H-NMR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The mechanical properties of the original and naphthoylated polymers were measured from 25 to 125°C. The results obtained indicate that naphthoylation enhances the tensile properties of the polymers at elevated temperatures.
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