Triblock copolymer based on poly(propylene oxide) and poly(1-11- acryloylundecyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bromide)

摘要

The controlled atom transfer radical polymerization of an ionic liquid, 1-(11-acryloylundecyl)-3-methyl imidazolium bromide (ILBr), from both ends of a telechelic poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) macroinitiator, end-functionalized with bromoisobutyryloyl is reported. The resulting highly water-soluble triblock, poly(ILBr-b-PO-b-ILBr) is multistimuli responsive. This new class of triblocks exhibits classical surface activity in lowering surface tension at the air-water interface and in modifying wetting in waterborne coatings. It also immunizes model colloids against coagulation induced by Debye-Hückel (indifferent electrolyte) electrostatic screening. Further, sol-gel thermoreversibility is unexpectedly found as an additional form of stimuli responsiveness. A new class of aqueous thermoreversible triblock copolymers with an LCST intervening a sol-gel transition is presented via controlled ATRP synthesis. The triblock copolymer exhibits classical surface activity, is multistimuli responsive, and immunizes charged colloids against ionic strength driven coagulation.