TETRAPHENYLETHANE INIFERTERS .3. LIVING RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL-METHACRYLATE USING TOLUENE-DIISOCYANATE-BASED POLYURETHANE INIFERTER

Polyurethane iniferter, synthesized from toluene diisocyanate and 1,1, 2,2-tetraphenyl-1,2-ethanediol, was used to polymerize methyl methacry late. The rate equation and overall activation energy have been determ ined from the kinetic results. The number-average molecular weight of the polymethyl methacrylate increased while increasing both conversion and polymerization time. Bimodal molecular weight distribution was ob served in gel permeation chromatography. Molecular weight build up occ urs when the postpolymerization of polymethyl methacrylate was carried out. It is hence inferred that polyurethane iniferter acts as a therm al iniferter and follows ''living'' radical polymerization. Polymethyl methacrylate prepared with the polyurethane iniferter initiates the p olymerization of styrene to yield polymethyl methacrylate-polystyrene block copolymers by a subsequent supply of thermal energy.