SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF UNSATURATED POLYOXYETHYLENE AND ITS GRAFT-COPOLYMERS WITH STYRENE

The unsaturated polyoxyethylene (PEO) was synthesized by copolymerizat ion of ethylene oxide with allyl glycidyl ether in toluene using bimet allic-oxa-alkoxide as a catalyst. The effects of polymerization condit ions on conversion and intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer were studi ed. The unsaturated copolymer was characterized with infrared spectra, H-1 NMR, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The relationship between c rystallinity of the copolymers and conductivity of their LiClO4, compl exes were investigated. The copolymer with similar to 65 wt % PEO cont ent exhibits a room temperature conductivity of 1 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at a molar ratio of EO/Li = 20. The unsaturated PEO was graft-copolymeri zed with styrene using 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator in t oluene, with grafting efficiency similar to 50%. The purified graft co polymer was characterized with infrared spectra, H-1 NMR, and wide-ang le X-ray diffraction, and was shown to have good emulsifying propertie s and a phase-transfer catalytic property. LiClO4, complex of the graf t copolymer with 70 wt % PEO content exhibits a room temperature condu ctivity approaching 1 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at molar ratio of EO/Li = 20/1 . (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.