Table 1. Summary of targeted copolymer compositions, BzMA conversions (% BzMA) as judged by 1H NMR spectroscopy, GPC and DLS data (particle diameter and polydispersity index, PDI) obtained for a series of PBeMA37–PBzMAx diblock copolymers prepared by RAFT dispersion polymerization of BzMA in mineral oil. Synthesis conditions: 90 °C, [PBeMA37 macro-CTA]/[T21s] molar ratio = 5.0, 20% w/w solids. Relevant data for the PBeMA37 macro-CTA are also shown for reference.
| Target composition | % BzMA | THF GPC (vs. PMMA) |
DLS at 50 °C |
||
| M n/g mol–1 | M w/Mn | Particle diameter/nm | Polydispersity index | ||
| PBeMA37 | — | 12 400 | 1.18 | — | — |
| PBeMA37–PBzMA50 | >99 | 16 200 | 1.15 | 21 | 0.08 |
| PBeMA37–PBzMA100 | >99 | 22 700 | 1.15 | 32 | 0.01 |
| PBeMA37–PBzMA150 | >99 | 28 100 | 1.18 | 37 | 0.02 |
| PBeMA37–PBzMA200 | >99 | 33 800 | 1.24 | 55 | 0.01 |
| PBeMA37–PBzMA300 | >99 | 43 900 | 1.38 | 67 | 0.01 |