Synthesis of Poly(butyl acrylate) and Poly(isobutyl acrylate) via Reversible Fragmentation Transfer (RAFT)
Open Access
- Author:
- Telfer, Carolyn
- Area of Honors:
- Chemistry
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Harry R Allcock, Thesis Supervisor
Benjamin James Lear, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- polymerization
RAFT
butyl acrylate
isobutyl acrylate
kinetics
living polymerization
molecular weight distribution
GPC - Abstract:
- Butyl acrylate (BA) is industrially important. Hence, developing a synthetic method is crucial. Living polymerization is effective at obtaining low molecular weight distributions and high polydispersity indexes. We explored Reversible Addition Fragmentation Transfer (RAFT), a controlled polymerization mechanism, and its applications for the synthesis of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) and poly(isobutyl acrylate) (PiBA), block and random, controlled copolymers of those two polymers, and finally styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers. Regarding PBA, monomer conversion, molecular weight distribution (MWD), and polydispersity index (PDI) were directly correlated with the variation of concentration of [CMDTTC], our RAFT agent. These same parameters were directly correlated with the variation of concentration of [Vazo 67], our initiator. Kinetics of PBA were proven to be impacted by nitrogen purging and system temperature. Changing solvents yielded little to no effect on the conversion and only some effect on the kinetics. Upon discovering ideal reaction conditions, PiBA was studied and compared to PBA. Kinetic studies showed an insignificant difference between the two polymerizations. Temperature and solvent effects were comparable between both PBA and PiBA. The conversions of poly(BA)-b-poly(iBA) and poly(BA/iBA) were briefly compared with no significant difference between them. The conversion of poly(styrene/maleic anhydride) was briefly explored as another application of RAFT, with no conclusions reached. Poly(dichlorophosphazene) synthesis was briefly explored. Our results concluded that starting materials must undergo extensive purification prior to use.