One-step synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate-b-ε-caprolactone) block copolymer by simultaneous ATRP and ROP

In this study, the simultaneous synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate-b-ε-caprolactone) block copolymer was fulfilled by atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. The synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate-b-ε-caprolactone) block copolymer was carried out by varying the amount of ε-caprolactone monomer, the amount of methyl methacrylate monomer, the amount of 2-(2-chloroethoxy) ethanol initiator, the amount of toluene solvent, and the polymerization time. The effects of these parameters on the reaction conditions were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and static light scattering methods were used for the characterization of the synthesized block copolymer. The surface images of the block copolymer were photographed with a scanning electron microscope instrument. In addition, thermal analysis of the synthesized block copolymer was performed using a thermogravimetric analyzer. These analyses prove the formation of the block copolymer structure.

Graphical abstract

The simultaneous synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate-b-ε-caprolactone) block copolymer was fulfilled by the atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. The effects of the parameters on the polymerization reaction conditions were investigated. Thermal and spectroscopic measurements prove the formation of the block copolymer structure.