Arborescent polymers: highly branched homo- and copolymers with unusual properties

摘要

High molecular weight dendritic polymers were synthesized using anionic polyerization and grafting. Aborescent polystyrenes with branching functionalities varying from 5E4-5E8, wieight average molecular weights of 14-22 000 and low polydispersity indices (PDI less than 1.2) were obtained. Unusual physical properties, consistent with a rigid sphere morphology, resulted from the very compact structure of these materials. The grafting technique was extended to the preparation of amphiphilic copolyers incorporating an aborescent polystyrene core with end inked poly(ethlyene oxide) segments by a grafting from scheme. Copolymers with a high polyisoprene content were also obtained by a grafting onto scheme.