The average properties of block copolymers formed via the one-prepolymer method and the two-prepolymer method

Lie Ding Shiau*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Full Paper: In this paper, a model is developed for determining the average properties of block copolymers formed via the one-prepolymer and the two-prepolymer methods. A knowledge of the average properties of reacting prepolymers, instead of their whole molecular weight distribution (MWD), is sufficient to calculate the desired average molecular weights of the resultant block copolymers. M̄n, M̄wand polydispersity index (PI) of the block copolymers formed via the one-prepolymer and two-prepolymer are studied in detail for comparison. The simulation results indicate that M̄n,1p<M̄n,2p and M̄w,1p<M̄bw,2p in the range 0≤α< 1, while M̄n,1p = M̄n,2p and M̄w,1p = M̄w,2p when α = 1. In addition, the conversion (α) does not significantly influence PI2p, while PI1p decrease linearly with increasing α. The results also show that PI1p> PI2p in the range 0 ≤ α<1. Finally, PI1p and PI2p approach the same value at α = 1. This indicates that the polydispersity of the block copolymers formed via the two-prepolymer method is usually narrower than that of the block copolymers formed via the one-prepolymer method. A schematic illustration of the block copolymerization of prepolymer A and prepolymer B (the two-prepolymer method).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-186
Number of pages8
JournalMacromolecular Theory and Simulations
Volume10
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 03 2001

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