Synthesis, properties, and application of surface-active block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) and polyorganosiloxanes in the heterogeneous polymerization of styrene

Abstract

A number of linear and comb-shaped organosilicon surfactants containing poly(ethylene oxide) blocks were synthesized and studied. The structures of the copolymers were varied systematically, and the obtained copolymers were characterized via elemental analysis, GPC, and 1H NMR. A comparative study of the surface activities of amphiphilic organosilicon block copolymers was performed. Their structures were shown to considerably affect the surface activities as well as the styrene polymerization rates and the sizes of microparticles obtained with the use of the studied copolymers as surfactants.