Radical polymerizations of a silicone-containing acrylic monomer in supercritical carbon dioxide

Radical homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of 3-[tris(trimethylsilyl oxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate (SiMA) in supercritical CO2 were investigated . The homopolymer was obtained in CO2 with a good yield. It was essentially insoluble in pure CO2 at less than 500 bar at 65 degrees C but was soluble in a mixture of CO2 and its monomer (10 w/v %) at 352 bar. The copolymeriz ations of SiMA with methyl methacrylate, 1,1-dihydroperfluorooctyl methacry late, and styrene with various monomer feed ratios were also examined in su percritical CO2 and in bulk, and the reactivity ratios were determined. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.