Kali G., Georgiou T.K., Iván B., Patrickios C.S., Loizou E., Thomann Y., Tiller J.
Hungaryan Academy of Sciences, HU
Keywords: amphiphilic conetwork, atomic force microscopy, degree of swelling, methacrylic acid, model conetwork, nanophase separation, small-angle neutron scattering
Two series of model amphiphilic polymer conetworks were synthesized by group transfer polymerization (GTP). The first one was composed of the hydrophobic methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the hydrophilic methacrylic acid (MAA), and the second one contained 2-butyl-1-octyl methacrylate (BOMA) as the hydrophobic monomer and MAA. Anionic amphiphilic model conetworks and the BOMA monomer were synthesized and investigated for the first time. The network synthesis was performed by sequential monomer/cross-linker additions to form conetwork series in a wide range of composition and architecture. All conetwork precursors and the extractables were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine the molecular weights and compositions, respectively. The polymer conetworks were investigated in terms of their degree of swelling in aqueous media and in THF. The thermal and mechanical properties were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analyses, respectively. These results indicate the differences between the MMA and BOMA conetwork series. The nanophase separated structure was proved by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle neutron spectroscopy (SANS) for the triblock copolymer model conetworks but not for the networks with random monomer distributions.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2007 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 20, 2007
Pages: 60 - 63
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Personal & Home Care, Food & Agriculture
Topics: Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications, Personal & Home Care, Food & Agriculture
ISBN: 1-4200-6183-6