Synthesis of Surface-Functionalized Poly(styrene-co-butadiene) Nanoparticles via Controlled/Living Radical Mini-emulsion Copolymerization Stabilized by Ammonolyzed Poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA) RAFT Agent

A process for reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization in a mini-emulsion system stabilized by ammnolyzed poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)copolymer (SMA) as an amphiphilic macro RAFT agent has been applied to the copolymerization of styrene and butadiene to prepare nanoparticles. First, for the RAFT polymerization of styrene, the results of molecular weights (Mns) and polydispersity index (PDIs) determined by GPC showed that the RAFT mini-emulsion polymerization of styrene exhibited good controlled/living nature with a lower degree of aminolysis (similar to 30%). Second, for the copolymerization of styrene and butadiene, before the gel point the molecular weight growth was followed during the polymerization by GPC and the results revealed that the GPC curve moves to the higher molecular weight indicating the formation of the copolymer. At low conversion, molecular weights (Mns) are in good agreement with theoretical prediction. The microphase separation of the copolymer nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).