Synthesis and properties of unsaturated polyoxyethylene and its graft copolymers with styrene

Abstract

The unsaturated polyoxyethylene (PEO) was synthesized by copolymerization of ethylene oxide with allyl glycidyl ether in toluene using bimetallic-oxo-alkoxide as a catalyst. The effects of polymerization conditions on conversion and intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer were studied. The unsaturated copolymer was characterized with infrared spectra, 1H NMR, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The relationship between crystallinity of the copolymers and conductivity of their LiClO4 complexes were investigated. The copolymer with ∼ 65 wt % PEO content exhibits a room temperature conductivity of 1 × 10−4 S cm−1 at a molar ratio of EO/Li = 20. The unsaturated PEO was graft-copolymerized with styrene using 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator in toluene, with grafting efficiency ∼ 50%. The purified graft copolymer was characterized with infrared spectra, 1H NMR, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and was shown to have good emulsifying properties and a phase-transfer catalytic property. LiClO4 complex of the graft copolymer with 70 wt % PEO content exhibits a room temperature conductivity approaching 1 × 10−4 S cm−1 at molar ratio of EO/Li = 20/1. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 2417–2425, 1998