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Aspects of the synthesis of poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) block copolymer

Conference ·
OSTI ID:143994
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MI (United States)

Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) block copolymers were synthesized by the addition of a solution of styrene to living polyisobutylene chains produced from a dicumyl chloride/TiCl{sub 4}/pyridine initiating system. The effect of the time of the styrene addition was investigated with respect to product polymer composition. Styrene addition at an isobutylene reaction time far exceeding the time necessary for complete isobutylene consumption was found to result in a very rapid polymerization of styrene, some of which was blocked properly and some of which was not. Conversely, premature addition of styrene (at intermediate isobutylene conversion) resulted in retardation of the polymerization and possible creation of a transitional random copolymer block. The appropriate time for styrene addition seems to be at an isobutylene conversion which corresponds to the point of departure from linearity of a plot of {minus}ln1{minus}(DP{sub n}[I]{sub o}/[M]{sub o}) vs time. Linearity of this plot ensures the absence of chain transfer and termination, and for the isobutylene polymerization system under investigation, the point of departure from linearity has been determined to be an approximately 90% conversion.

OSTI ID:
143994
Report Number(s):
CONF-930304--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English