Summary
A series of linear triblock-copolymers of the ABA type in which the central B-block is poly(tetrahydrofuran) (polyTHF) and the A-segments are poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (polyMeOX) were synthesized by a one-pot sequential monomer addition copolymerization, utilizing the living nature of the cationic ring-opening polymerization of both monomers.
Films of the copolymers, casted from chloroform solutions, exhibit excellent mechanical properties in comparison with the homopolymers with comparable molecular weights, which was ascribed to the phase separation occurring between the two copolymer segments. Materials, in which the polyTHF B-segment have a molecular weight 13000 g/mol or higher and each polyMeOX A-block a molecular weight 1500 g/mol, kept elastomeric properties up to 130°C notwithstanding the fact that this temperature is considerably higher than the melting point of polyTHF and the glass transition temperature of polyMeOX. It was found that these triblock-copolymer materials show a shape memory effect. These observations are attributed to the high degree of phase separation between the two blocks and the strong polar interactions between the polyMeOX segments.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Riess G, Hurtrez G, Bahudur P (1985) Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering (Kroschwitz JI, Ed.), Wiley Interscience, New York, Volume 2, p. 324
Penczek S, Kubisa P, Matyjaszewski K (1980) Adv Polym Sci 37: 1
Kobayashi S (1990) Prog Polym Sci 15: 751
Kobayashi S, Uyama H, Ihara E, Saegusa T (1990) Macromolecules, 23: 1586
Smith S, Schultz WJ, Newmark RA (1977) J Macromol Sci A-7: 1399
D’Haese F, Goethals EJ (1988) Br Polym J 20: 103
Pruckmayer G, Dreyfuss P, Dreyfuss MP (1996) Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (Kroschwitz JI, Howy-Grant M, Eds), Wiley Interscience, New York, Volume 19, p. 743
Bassari TG, Levy A, Litt M (1967) J Polym Sci B-5: 871
Donatelli AA, Sperling LH, Thomas DA (1976) Macromolecules 9: 671
Polymer Handbook, 3rd edition (Brandrup J, and Immergut EH, Eds), J. Wiley & Sons, New York (1989) chapter VI and VII
Van Caeter P, Goethals EJ, unpublished results
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van Caeter, P., Goethals, E.J., Gancheva, V. et al. Synthesis and bulk properties of poly(tetrahydrofuran)-poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) ABA triblock copolymers. Polymer Bulletin 39, 589–596 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002890050190
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002890050190