Tri-Block Copolymer Based on Crystallizable Amide Segments and Functionalized Polystyrene

Abstract

This article discusses the synthesis and characterization of segmented tri-block copolymers using monofunctional hard segments (mHS) and difunctional polystyrene soft segments. The main goal of this work was to modify high Tg polystyrene to semicrystalline material, thereby increasing the solvent resistance. Three hard segments were used. The soft segment molar mass was varied from 2500 to 10000 g/mol using dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) as a chain extender. The viscosity of the copolymer linearly increased with respect to the molecular weight of the SS. The crystallization behaviour of the copolymer was studied by DSC and FT-IR. The TGA results revealed that all copolymers had single-stage decomposition centred around 427 °C, and the solvent resistance of these materials was very high even at a low amide content. All the copolymers showed low water absorption.