Synthesis of high molecular weight poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) using a plug flow reactor system by anionic polymerization

Abstract

Sequential anionic polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate and 2-vinylpyridine in tetrahydrofuran (THF) were conducted in a plug flow reactor system with a static mixer. Polymers [polystyrene (PS), M n : 120×10 3 g·mol -1 , M w /M n : 1.08), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, M n : 28×10 3 g·mol -1 , M w /M n : 1.09), poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP, M n : 53×10 3 g·mol -1 , M w /M n : 1.08), and PS-b-PMMA (M n : 117×10 3 g·mol -1 , M w /M n : 1.12)] with a precisely controlled high molecular weight were obtained using a 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium initiator in a plug flow reactor system. PS-b-PMMA, PMMA, and P2VP were obtained in the presence of LiCl. The molecular weight distribution, which was related to the mixing efficiency of the static mixer, decreased with increasing flow rate. Additionally, the molecular weight of the polymers could be adjusted by varying the flow rates.

Fabrication of methyl methacrylate-based polymer particles by miniemulsion and combined miniemulsion/emulsion polymerization using an atomization apparatus

“…The interest in the manufacture of MMA-based copolymers arose to overcome the deficiencies of PMMA in terms of thermal resistance (Kim et al 2015;Zhang et al 2015). The literature has proposed a series of polymerization methods for obtaining styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer (STMMA) (Jalili et al 2011;Vaganova et al 2011;Mehravar et al 2012).…”

Characteristics and Mechanism of Styrene Cationic Polymerization in Aqueous Media Initiated by Cumyl Alcohol/B(C6F5)3

“…Poly(styrene) has various synthesis methods (e.g., radical, anionic, and cationic polymerizations) and is an important commodity in the polymerization industry . Current works focus on styrene derivatives with electron‐donating substitutes, such as pMOS and pHS .…”

A controlled synthesis method of alkyl methacrylate block copolymers via living anionic polymerization at ambient temperature

“…18 Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly methyl (3,3,3-triuoropropyl) siloxane (PMMA-b-PMTFPS) diblock copolymers was conducted via anionic polymerization initiated by alkyl lithium functionalized by acetal. 19 A plug ow reactor was chosen as reaction vessel to synthesize PS-b-PMMA with high molecular weight in THF at À78 C. 20 PS-b-PI-b-PMMA tri-block copolymer was also produced in which PS-b-PI di-block copolymer polymerized in toluene at room temperature rstly and then the anionic polymerization of MMA was carried out at À78 C aer LiCl/THF adding to the system. 21 Moreover, anionic polymerization of dendrimer-like star-branched poly(tert-butyl methacrylate)s (PtBMA) and their block copolymers were also studied at À78 C. 22 However, the polymerization was conducted at low temperatures or initiated by complex and expensive compound which could not be realized in industrialized conditions, which limited the further application.…”