PDMS-PEO densely grafted copolymers

Molecular brushes with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) side chains were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions via macromonomer method (grafting through). The well-defined polymers with molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn = 1.22−1.35 and with up to 350 repeating units of macromonomers with methacrylate functionality (PDMSMA, MW = 1000 g/mol, DPPDMS = 10) were formed in the presence of CuCl/Me6TREN catalyst. Similar conditions were used for copolymerization with another macromonomer, i.e. poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEOMA, MW = 1100 g/mol, DPPEO = 23). The comparable reactivities of both methacrylates resulted in heterografted brush copolymers with random composition and with narrow molecular distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.07−1.18). The obtained molecular brushes, consisting of amorphous PDMS fraction and crystallizable PEO segments, after annealing at high temperature had properties characteristic for soft gels (G‘ ≪ 104 Pa).