Direct two-step synthesis of n-butyl acrylate–acrylic acid block copolymer by RAFT polymerization

Abstract

A series of narrow-MMD polymers with the molecular mass from 33 × 103 to 123 × 103 (polydispersity coefficient 1.08–1.16) were synthesized by bulk polymerization of n-butyl acrylate [2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile), 60°C] in the presence of a low-molecular-mass RAFT agent, dibenzyl trithiocarbonate. Then, polymerization of acrylic acid was performed in aqueous-alcoholic solution (ammonium persulfate, 70°C) in the presence of the obtained polymers, and a series of n-butyl acrylate–acrylic acid block copolymers with the molecular masses from 22 × 103 to 81 × 103 (polydispersity coefficient 1.07–1.13) were prepared. In aqueous-alcoholic solutions of the synthesized copolymers, there are nanoparticles whose size varies from 5 tо 65 nm and increases with an increase in the molecular mass of the copolymer and in the concentration of water in the solvent.