Direct Synthesis of Thermally Responsive DMA/NIPAM Diblock and DMA/NIPAM/DMA Triblock Copolymers Via Aqueous, Room Temperature RAFT Polymerization

Authors

Anthony J. Convertine, University of Southern Mississippi
Brad S. Lokitz, University of Southern Mississippi
Yuliya Vasileva, University of Southern Mississippi
Leslie J. Myrick, University of Southern Mississippi
Charles W. Scales, University of Southern Mississippi
Andrew B. Lowe, University of Southern Mississippi
Charles L. McCormick, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-7-2006

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

We report aqueous, room temperature RAFT polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and, subsequently, its block copolymerization utilizing a poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) macro-CTA. A series of thermally responsive AB diblock and ABA triblock copolymers have been prepared. These polymers contain hydrophilic N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) A blocks of fixed molecular weight and temperature-responsive NIPAM B blocks of varied chain length. Using a combination of H-1 NMR spectroscopy, T-2 relaxation measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and static light scattering (SLS), we demonstrate that these block copolymers are indeed capable of reversibly forming micelles in response to changes in solution temperature and that the micellar size and transition temperature are dependent on both the NIPAM block length and the polymer architecture (diblock vs triblock).

Publication Title

Macromolecules

Volume

39

Issue

5

First Page

1724

Last Page

1730

Recommended Citation

Convertine, A. J., Lokitz, B. S., Vasileva, Y., Myrick, L. J., Scales, C. W., Lowe, A. B., McCormick, C. L. (2006). Direct Synthesis of Thermally Responsive DMA/NIPAM Diblock and DMA/NIPAM/DMA Triblock Copolymers Via Aqueous, Room Temperature RAFT Polymerization. Macromolecules, 39(5), 1724-1730.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/2468