Block copolymers of styrene containing oligomeric esters of terephthalic acids

A new generation of block copolymers were synthesized starting with depolym erized PET by glycolysis with some oligomeric diols. alpha,omega-Dihydroxy poly(dimethyl siloxane)s, hexylene glycol, poly(ethylene oxide)glycols, and ethylene glycol were used as diols. The dihydroxy-terminated depolymerizat ion products containing a terephthalyl group and oligomeric diols were used to prepare a diradicalic macroinitiator (MI). These MIs were used to polym erize the styrene monomer. The new block copolymers obtained were character ized by physical and chemical methods and mechanical and thermal analyses. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 648-653, 2000.