Atom transfer radical copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate

Abstract

AbstractGlycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The effect of different molar fractions of GMA, ranging from 0.28 to 1.0, on the polymer polydispersity index (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight) as the indicator of a controlled process was investigated at 70°C, with ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate as an initiator and 4,4′‐dinonyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyne (dNbpy)/CuBr as a catalyst system in anisole. The monomer reactivity ratios (r values) were obtained by the application of the conventional linearization Fineman–Ross method (rGMA = 1.24 ± 0.02 and rMMA = 0.85 ± 0.03) and by the Mayo–Lewis method (rGMA = 1.19 ± 0.04 and rMMA = 0.86 ± 0.03). The molecular weights and polydispersities of the copolymers exhibited a linear increase with GMA content. The copolymer compositions were determined by 1H‐NMR and showed a domination of syndiotactic structures. The glass‐transition temperatures (Tg) of the copolymers analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) decreased in the range 105–65°C with increasing GMA units. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012