Block copolymer preparation by atom transfer radical polymerization under emulsion conditions using a nanoprecipitation technique

Living-radical polymerization of acrylates were performed under emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions using latexes prepared by a nanoprecipitation technique previously employed and optimized for the polymerization of styrene. A macroinitiator of poly(n-butyl acrylate) prepared under bulk ATRP was dissolved in acetone and precipitated in an aqueous solution of Brij 98 to preform latex particles, which were then swollen with monomer and heated. Various monomers (i.e. n-butyl acrylate, styrene, and tert-butyl acrylate) were used to swell the particles to prepare homo- and block copolymers from the poly(n-butyl acrylate) macroinitiator. Under these conditions latexes with a relatively good colloidal stability were obtained. Furthermore, amphiphilic block copolymers were prepared by hydrolysis of the tertbutyl groups and the resulting block copolymers were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The bulk morphologies of the polystyrene-b-poly(n-butyl acrylate) and poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(acrylic acid) copolymers were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.