Synthesis and properties of triblock copolymers containing PDMS via AGET ATRP

The bromo-terminated macroinitiator was prepared by direct addition reaction of difunctional poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) containing methyl methacrylate end groups with hydrobromic acid in acetic acid under mild conditions, and well-defined triblock copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate-b-dimethylsiloxane-b-methyl methacrylate) (MMA-b-DMS-b-MMA) were synthesized via activators generated by election transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP). The gel permeation chromatography data obtained verified the polymerization and showed the well controlling of the reaction. FTIR and 1H NMR measured the structure of the macroinitiator and copolymers. The contact angle measurement indicated that the water contact angles decreased gradually with the increasing of PMMA block content. The self-assembly behaviors of the triblock polymer were studied by transmission electron micrograph, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurement. The results indicated that the polymers could self-assemble into various complex morphologies in different solvents and the morphologies depended on the properties of solvents. The possible molecular packing models for self-assembly behaviors of the ABA triblock polymers were proposed.