Atom transfer radical polymerization of methacrylate monomer with aryl side group

The atom transfer radical homo- and copolymerization of phenoxy carbonyl methyl methacrylate (PCMMA) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was performed in bulk at 1 10 °C in the presence of ethyl 2-bromoacetate, cuprous bromide (CuBr), and 2,2'-bipyridine. Also, free- radical polymerization of PCMMA was carried out in the presence of 2,2'- azobisisobutyronitrile in 1,4-dioxane solvent at 60°C. The homo and copolymers were characterized by IR, lH and 13C NMR. techniques. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from 'H NMR spectra. The situ addition of ethylmethacrylate to a macroinitiator of poly(phenoxy carbonyl methyl methacrylate)[Mn=32700, PD=1.53] afforded an AB-type block copolymer. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were obtained by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The polydispersity for the living copolymer (65%PCMMA units by mole) were 1.66. For copolymerization system, their monomer reactivity ratios were obtained by using both Kelen-Tüdös and Fineman-Ross equations. The Tg measurements were carried out by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) technique. The thermal decomposition temperatures of homo- and copolymers were measured by TGA technique. The initial decomposition temperatures of the resulting copolymers decreased with increasing mole fraction of PCMMA in them which indicates that heat resistance of copolymer have been improved by decreasing MMA units. Keywords : ATRP, Copolymerization, free-radical polymerization, monomer reactivity ratio VI