SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)-G-POLY(DIMETHYLSILOXANE) COPOLYMERS .1. BULK AND SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION

Poly(methylmethacrylate)-g-poly(dimethylsiloxane) copolymers were prepared using the macromonomer technique. Poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS) macromonomers of controlled molar masses, narrow molar mass distributions, and high percent functionalities were synthesized through the utilization of the living anionic ring-opening polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane. The resultant methacryloxy-functionalized macromonomers, having a range of molar masses, were statistically copolymerized with methyl methacrylate to form the title graft copolymers of various chemical compositions. The bulk phase morphology of the well-defined graft copolymers was investigated using DSC, DMTA, DMA (Rheovibron,) TEM, and SAXS. Surface segregation of the low surface energy component, PDMS, was established using angular dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and advancing water contact angle measurements. The thorough characterization of this heterophase polymeric system allowed the elucidation of the relationship between the polymer architecture and the bulk and surface properties of the system.