Synthesis of amphiphilic (ABC)n multiarm star triblock terpolymers

Abstract

The multiarm star-shaped ABC triblock terpolymers of the (ABC)n type and their linear counterparts were synthesized by group transfer polymerization (GTP). The linear and star ABC triblock and statistical terpolymers as well as their homopolymer, diblock and triblock terpolymer precursors were characterized by gas permeation chromatography (GPC) in terms of their molecular weight distributions (MWD). The synthesis was performed using sequential GTP of three monomers and the cross-linker. The synthetic procedure for the preparation of the ABC star terpolymer with structure DMAEMA10-b-HEGMA10-b-MMA10-star was presented. The star terpolymers were soluble in water, exhibiting cloud points from 55 to 77°C.