Dispersity

Molar mass distribution

Organic chemistry

Polymer chemistry

Acrylic acid

Radical polymerization

Chain transfer

Copolymer

Chemistry

Materials science

Acrylate

Polymerization

Reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization

Polymer

Raft

Polymer International

Poly( tert ‐butyl acrylate) (P t BA) is a versatile hydrophobic macromolecule usually preferred in the development of new materials for a host of applications. P t BA homopolymers with well‐defined structure and controlled molecular weight in a wide range were successfully synthesized via radiation‐induced reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in the presence of a trithiocarbonate type RAFT agent. The polymerization of t BA was performed under 60 Co γ‐irradiation in the presence of 2‐(dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)‐2‐methylpropionic acid (DDMAT) as the RAFT agent in toluene at room temperature with three [ t BA]/[DDMAT] ratios (400, 600 and 1000) and different irradiation times. Radiation‐induced polymerization of t BA displayed controlled free radical polymerization characteristics: a narrow molecular weight distribution ( M w / M n ~ 1.1), pseudo first order kinetics and controlled molecular weights. The system followed the RAFT polymerization mechanism even at very low amounts of RAFT agent ([ t BA]/[DDMAT] = 1000), and molecular weights up to 113 900 with narrow dispersity ( Ð =1.06) were obtained. P t BA was further hydrolysed into different amphiphilic P t BA ‐co‐ poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) copolymers by low (27.5%) and high (77.3%) degrees of hydrolysis. The pH sensitivity of the two copolymers was investigated by dynamic light scattering at pH 2 and pH 9 (above and below the p K a value of PAA) and their hydrodynamic diameters and zeta potential values were determined. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Preparation of poly(<i>tert</i>‐butyl acrylate)‐poly(acrylic acid) amphiphilic copolymers via radiation‐induced <scp>reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer</scp> mediated polymerization of <i>tert</i>‐butyl acrylate

Preparation of poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐poly(acrylic acid) amphiphilic copolymers via radiation‐induced reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer mediated polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate