SYNTHESIS OF METHACRYLIC MULTIARM STAR COPOLYMERS BY ARM-FIRST GROUP-TRANSFER POLYMERIZATION

Methacrylic star polymers were synthesized by the ''arm-first'' method of star polymer formation by the addition of difunctional monomer, et hylene glycol dimethacrylate, to living linear poly(methyl methacrylat e) as prepared by group transfer polymerisation (GTP). The effects of living polymer concentration and ratio of difunctional monomer to livi ng polymer are discussed, and show how macromolecular design and contr ol may be imposed on the number of arms and molecular weight of the st ar polymer. Diluting the difunctional crosslinking monomer with monome r has been examined with the view to establishing funtionalisation of the star core.