skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Revisiting the Anionic Polymerization of Methyl Ethacrylate

Abstract

Synthesis of poly(methyl ethacrylate), (PMEA), in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C using anionic polymerization techniques results in high molar mass (>30 kg mol-1), low dispersity (1.3), and high conversion (>81%). The molar masses of a series of samples are consistent with values anticipated by the monomer-to-initiator ratio and conversion. These results represent a significant improvement to earlier reported attempts to prepare PMEA using anionic methods. Successful diblock polymerization of polystyrene-block-PMEA, (PS-PMEA), and poly(4-tert-butylstyrene)-block-PMEA, (PtBS-PMEA), is achieved through sequential anionic polymerization techniques with dispersities as low as 1.06 and segment molar fractions close to those targeted. Broad principal scattering peaks observed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for symmetric PS-PMEA at relatively high molar mass (39 kg mol-1) suggests an effective interaction parameter (χeff) that is smaller than for PS-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). On the other hand, PtBS-PMEA block polymers form a well-ordered morphology based on SAXS measurements and is attributable to the more hydrophobic PtBS segment. These results confirm the viability of PMEA as a new constituent in the expanding suite of polymers suitable for preparing nanostructured block polymers.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee FL 32306-4390 USA
  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455-0431 USA
  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455-0431 USA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Org.:
INDUSTRY
OSTI Identifier:
1418059
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 219; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1022-1352
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Kennemur, Justin G., Bates, Frank S., and Hillmyer, Marc A. Revisiting the Anionic Polymerization of Methyl Ethacrylate. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1002/macp.201700282.
Kennemur, Justin G., Bates, Frank S., & Hillmyer, Marc A. Revisiting the Anionic Polymerization of Methyl Ethacrylate. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201700282
Kennemur, Justin G., Bates, Frank S., and Hillmyer, Marc A. 2017. "Revisiting the Anionic Polymerization of Methyl Ethacrylate". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201700282.
@article{osti_1418059,
title = {Revisiting the Anionic Polymerization of Methyl Ethacrylate},
author = {Kennemur, Justin G. and Bates, Frank S. and Hillmyer, Marc A.},
abstractNote = {Synthesis of poly(methyl ethacrylate), (PMEA), in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C using anionic polymerization techniques results in high molar mass (>30 kg mol-1), low dispersity (1.3), and high conversion (>81%). The molar masses of a series of samples are consistent with values anticipated by the monomer-to-initiator ratio and conversion. These results represent a significant improvement to earlier reported attempts to prepare PMEA using anionic methods. Successful diblock polymerization of polystyrene-block-PMEA, (PS-PMEA), and poly(4-tert-butylstyrene)-block-PMEA, (PtBS-PMEA), is achieved through sequential anionic polymerization techniques with dispersities as low as 1.06 and segment molar fractions close to those targeted. Broad principal scattering peaks observed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for symmetric PS-PMEA at relatively high molar mass (39 kg mol-1) suggests an effective interaction parameter (χeff) that is smaller than for PS-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). On the other hand, PtBS-PMEA block polymers form a well-ordered morphology based on SAXS measurements and is attributable to the more hydrophobic PtBS segment. These results confirm the viability of PMEA as a new constituent in the expanding suite of polymers suitable for preparing nanostructured block polymers.},
doi = {10.1002/macp.201700282},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1418059}, journal = {Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics},
issn = {1022-1352},
number = 1,
volume = 219,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}