Effect of ionic liquids on the RAFT polymerization of butyl methacrylate

Abstract

Ionic liquids (IL) were used as solvents to study the RAFT polymerization of butyl methacrylate. The ILs offered a significant increase in the rate of polymerization and the RAFT agents contributed to a tailor-made polymer with controlled molar mass and narrow dispersity (Ð). The IL used in the polymer synthesis was successfully recovered and reused, demonstrating the recyclability of the IL solvent. Also, ILs were found to increase the rate of polymerization in binary solvent systems irrespective of its miscibility with the monomer. GPC and NMR analyses were used to determine the molar mass and RAFT end groups in the synthesized polymers. The synthesized poly (butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) with RAFT end group was used as a macro-RAFT to polymerize methyl methacrylate (MMA) to prepare diblock copolymer, PBMA-block-PMMA, successfully in IL as a solvent.