SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF STYRENE-BUTADIENE-OXYETHYLENE MULTIBLOCK POLYMERS

Multiblock copolymers of styrene, butadiene, and ethylene oxide were s ynthesized by coupling together telechelic dihydroxyl polystyrene, tel echelic dihydroxyl polybutadiene, and poly(ethylene glycol), using 2,4 -toluene diisocyanate as coupling agent. The copolymers were purified by extractions and characterized by infrared (IR), H-1 nuclear magneti c resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), transmission e lectron microscopy (TEM), membrane osmometry, and dynamic viscoelastom etry. The multiblock copolymers are amphiphilic, exhibiting very good emulsifying properties. They possess a good phase transfer catalytic a bility in Williamson reaction, and their LiClO4 complexes exhibit a co nductivity above 1 x 10(-4) S/cm at 35 degrees C. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.