Branched polystyrenes from suspension "Strathclyde" polymerization using a vulcanization accelerator as a chain transfer agent

Branched polymers exhibit a unique three-dimensional (3D) molecular architecture and distinctive physical/chemical properties, and thus have been applied in a wide variety of fields. Aqueous suspension polymerization provides a cost-effective method for polymer synthesis not only because water is an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer chemistry 2019-02, Vol.1 (7), p.885-89
Main Authors: Yong, Haiyang, Miao, Yongpeng, A, Sigen, Quan, Dong, Ivankovic, Alojz, Singh, Krutika, Zhang, Jing, Zhou, Dezhong, Wang, Wenxin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chain branching
Chain mobility
Chain transfer
Chemical properties
Chemical synthesis
Divinylbenzene
Ethylene glycol
Organic chemistry
Polymer chemistry
Polymerization
Rheological properties
Rheology
Rubber
Suspension polymerization
Vulcanization
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Branched polymers exhibit a unique three-dimensional (3D) molecular architecture and distinctive physical/chemical properties, and thus have been applied in a wide variety of fields. Aqueous suspension polymerization provides a cost-effective method for polymer synthesis not only because water is an excellent heat-transfer medium, but also because it circumvents the complicated and time-consuming polymer purification process. Herein, using tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMDS), a common rubber vulcanization accelerator, as a chain transfer agent (CTA), a series of branched polystyrenes (BPS) were synthesized by suspension polymerization through the "Strathclyde" approach with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), ethylene glycol diacetate (EGDA), and divinylbenzene (DVB) as branching units, respectively. Melt rheology and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization further show that the BPS have a low melt viscosity and better chain segment mobility, making them appealing rheological modifier candidates. Branched polymers exhibit a unique three-dimensional (3D) molecular architecture and distinctive physical/chemical properties, and thus have been applied in a wide variety of fields.
ISSN:1759-9954
1759-9962
DOI:10.1039/c8py01639a