Photoactive Thermoplastic Elastomers of Azobenzene-Containing Triblock Copolymers Prepared through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
摘要:
Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to prepare a new series of ABA triblock copolymers that are photoactive thermoplastic elastomers. The samples synthesized have the same rubbery midblock of poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) but differ in the degree of polymerization of the end blocks of a methacrylate-based azobenzene-containing side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (Azo-SCLCP). The coupling between elasticity, liquid crystallinity and photoactivity imparts interesting features to this type of thermoplastic elastomers. When the solution-cast film is stretched at T > T-g of the Azo-SCLCP whose microdomains act as physical cross-links, in contrast to conventional thermoplastic elastomers (such as styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer) that lose the elasticity, liquid crystalline microdomains can support part of the elastic extension of PnBA chains and, in the same time, deform to result in a long-range orientation of azobenzene mesogens. The liquid crystal orientation is retained in the relaxed film at T < T-g, which creates a thermoplastic elastomer whose glassy microdomains contain oriented azobenzene mesogens. Moreover, the reversible trans-cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene chromophore can be used to modulate the mechanically induced orientation.
Living radical polymerization of halogen-containing and acrylic monomers and the formation of block copolymers therefrom
申请人:Percec Virgil
公开号:US20080039601A1
公开(公告)日:2008-02-14
Acrylic polymers are made by the living radical polymerization of acrylic monomers utilizing organo halide initiators with either metal-free or metal catalysts. Moreover, block copolymers of vinyl halide monomers and acrylic monomers are described by generally polymerizing either the vinyl halide monomers or acrylic monomers utilizing an organo halide initiator in the presence of either a metal catalyst or a metal-free catalyst and subsequently polymerizing thereon the remaining type of monomer.