FLOWER SHAPED MICROGEL - 3 - SYNTHESIS OF POLY(2-HYDROXYETHYLMETHACRYLATE) CORE POLYSTYRENE SHELL TYPE MICROGELS

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-b-styrene-b-2-hydroxyethyl methacryla te) triblock copolymer was synthesized by hydrolysis of poly(2[(trimet hylsilyl)oxy]ethyl thacrylate-b-styrene-b-2[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate) triblock copolymer polymerised with or-methylstyrene tet ramer disodium as an initiator by an anionic living polymerisation tec hnique. Micelle formation of the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-b-st yrene-b-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) triblock copolymer was investigat ed in dimethylformamide (DMF), toluene, cyclohexane and a toluene/n-he xane mixture by dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. Monodispersed p olymer micelle with a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) core and polys tyrene shell chains was formed with the triblock copolymer in a toluen e and n-hexane mixture when n-hexane was 62 vol%. The poly(2-hydroxyle thyl methacrylate) core was crosslinked with 1,6-hexanediisocyanate. C rosslinked products were spherical and their diameters were measured i n the toluene by the DLS method. Additionally, microgel with free end shell chains was synthesized as the reference of the microgels with lo op shell chains by scission of the loop shell chains at their centre b y exposure to ultraviolet light. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.