PMMA Star-Like Polymers via One-Pot Conventional Free-Radical Copolymerization*

Tor Kit Goh; Anton Blencowe; Jing Fung Tan; Kristopher D. Coventry; Feng Qian; Tatchkul Tachasirinugune; Greg G. Qiao

doi:10.1071/CH09358

RESEARCH FRONT

PMMA Star-Like Polymers via One-Pot Conventional Free-Radical Copolymerization*

Tor Kit Goh ^A , Anton Blencowe ^A , Jing Fung Tan ^A , Kristopher D. Coventry ^A , Feng Qian ^A , Tatchkul Tachasirinugune ^A and Greg G. Qiao ^A ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Polymer Science Group, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

^B Corresponding author. Email: gregghq@unimelb.edu.au

Australian Journal of Chemistry 62(8) 891-898 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH09358
Submitted: 23 June 2009 Accepted: 22 July 2009 Published: 13 August 2009

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-based star-like polymers (SLPs) were synthesized by a one-pot conventional free-radical copolymerization. Two aryl ester-based cross-linkers, bisphenol A dimethacrylate and 1,4-bis(methacryloxy)benzene, were found to induce SLP formation by reactivity control when copolymerized with methyl methacrylate. The formulation domain diagrams for these systems were established and high monomer concentrations (up to 70 wt-%) were achievable without the occurrence of macrogelation. Kinetic experiments confirmed that the SLP formation occurs via a pseudo two-step mechanism. Parallel plate rheological analysis of the SLP solutions demonstrated that these polymers had low viscosities, typically several orders of magnitude lower than the analogous linear polymer solution.

^* T.K.G. was the recipient of the Treloar Prize for best poster presentation at the 30th Australasian Polymer Symposium in Melbourne (2008) and was invited to submit this article.

Acknowledgements

T.K.G., A.B., J.F.T., and G. G. Q. acknowledge the ARC–DuPont linkage grant (LP0348853) for research funding. The authors also thank Peter Scales and Jonathan Foong from the Particulates and Fluids Processing Centre (PFPC) for use of the ARES rheometer.

References

PMMA Star-Like Polymers via One-Pot Conventional Free-Radical Copolymerization*

Abstract

Acknowledgements

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