Cleavable Dimethacrylate-end-linked Amphiphilic Polymer Co-networks Prepared Using Degradable, Hemiacetal Ester Group-containing Bifunctional Initiators
Date
2020Publisher
Royal Society of ChemistryPlace of publication
CabridgeSource
Amphiphilic Polymer Co-networks: Synthesis, Properties, Modelling and ApplicationsPages
77-94Google Scholar check
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This chapter presents the synthesis, characterisation and degradation of amphiphilic polymer co-networks (APCNs) based on dimethacrylate-end-linked linear amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers prepared using labile bifunctional initiators. Three co-network families are described, each synthesised using a different ‘living’/controlled polymerisation technique, group transfer polymerisation, atom transfer radical polymerisation and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation and employing the appropriate labile bifunctional initiator. The kinetics of degradation, the nature of the degradation products and the evolution of the swelling degrees are reported. A small-angle neutron scattering study is also presented, revealing two (changing) correlation peaks: one due to the scattering centres within the degrading APCNs, and the other due to the scattering by the polymeric degradation products which are amphiphilic star block copolymers.