Polymer Engineering Faculty Research

Title

Synthesis of poly (trioctylammonium p-styrenesulfonate) homopolymers and block copolymers by RAFT polymerization

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-10-2009

Abstract

A method to prepare sulfonated polystyrene-containing block copolymers has been investigated by neutralizing styrene sulfonic acid with trioctylamine to produce the hydrophobic monomer trioctylammonium p-styrenesulfonate (SS–TOA). This monomer was polymerized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to produce PSS–TOA homopolymers. A PSS–TOA homopolymer was then used as a macro-RAFT agent for the polymerization of styrene to prepare poly(trioctylammonium p-styrenesulfonate)-block-poly(styrene) (PSS-TOA-b-PS). These block copolymers could be ion-exchanged to produce either the hydrophilic sodium salt form of PSS or a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt. This approach will be useful for preparing PSS-containing block copolymers with a range of hydrophobic blocks for applications such as ion-exchange membranes.

Publication Title

Polymer

Volume

50

Issue

26

First Page

6212

Last Page

6217

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