Preparation of block copolymers from occluded vinyl acetate macroradicals

Abstract Stable vinyl acetate macroradicals were produced by polymerization in a nonviscous poor solvent, a viscous good solvent and a viscous poor solvent. These macroradicals were then allowed to react with a second vinyl monomer to produce block copolymers. The formation of block copolymers was monitored for rate and yield data. The block copolymers produced were poly(vinyl acetate‐ b ‐methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl acetate‐ b ‐acrylic acid), poly(vinyl acetate‐ b ‐vinylpyrrolidone), poly(vinyl acetate‐ b ‐acrylonitrile), poly(vinyl acetate‐ b ‐styrene), and poly(vinyl acetate‐ b ‐methyl acrylate). The block copolymers were characterized by yield, precipitation in selected solvents, pyrolysis gas chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry.