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Living free-radical polymerization (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) of 6-[4-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate: A route to architectural control of side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers

  • Xiaojuan Hao
  • , Johan P.A. Heuts
  • , Christopher Barner-Kowollik (Corresponding author)
  • , Thomas P. Davis
  • , Evan Evans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers of 6-[4(4′-methoxyphenyl)phenoxy]-hexyl methacrylate with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with 2-(2-cyanopropyl) dithiobenzoate as the RAFT agent. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed that the polymers produced via the RAFT process had a narrower thermal stability range of the liquid-crystalline mesophase than the polymers formed via conventional free-radical polymerization. In addition, a chain length dependence of this stability range was found. The generated RAFT polymers displayed optical textures similar to those of polymers produced via conventional free-radical polymerization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2949-2963
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry
Volume41
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Liquid-cystalline polymers (LCP)
  • Living polymerization
  • Radical polymerization
  • Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer
  • Synthesis

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