SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GRAFT-COPOLYMERS WITH MOLECULARLY UNIFORM URETHANE-BASED SIDE-CHAINS WITH SPECIAL STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Graft copolymers consisting of poly(oxytetramethylene) primary chain a nd distinctly engineered molecularly uniform oligo(N-alkylurethane) si de chains with two constitutional units were synthesized and investiga ted by thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis. Microphase-separated s ystems with semicrystalline oligourethane hard domains and exhibiting the characteristic properties of thermoplastic elastomers were observe d for graft copolymers either with a spacer between the polyether back bone and the side chain or with specifically interacting graft end gro ups. The properties were correlated with contributions of special side chain interactions and main chain-side chain coupling to the segregat ion and packing of the oligourethane branches.