Synthesis and characterization of hydrophilic polymer brushes by aqueous RAFT polymerization 1. Growth of PDMA brushes from CTA incorporated surfaces

POLY 172

Krishnan Ranganathan, Jayachandran N Kizhakkedathu, and Donald E Brooks, don.brooks@ubc.ca. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chemistry and Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Life Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
Abstract: We report the synthesis of hydrophilic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) brushes from latex surfaces anchored with chain transfer agent (CTA by aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Dithiobenzoate (CTA) was covalently attached to the surface of polystyrene latex by a neucleophilic substitution reaction of a-bromine of 2-bromo propionate (ATRP initiator) anchored to the latex surface with sodium dithiobenzoate. The surface concentration of CTA was measured by UV-vis spectroscopy. N,N-Dimethylacrylamide was polymerized under RAFT conditions in the presence of water soluble 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride a cationic azo initiator at different conditions. Analysis of grafted polymers after cleaving it from the surface shows that high molecular weight PDMA was grafted onto the surface. Control of the molecular weight was achieved by the addition of soluble free CTA in the polymerization medium. Our results indicate that, surface interactions of charged water soluble initiators, monomer concentration and the presence of water soluble free CTA influence the surface initiation and subsequent polymer brush growth. Low D/Rg values (D = distance between grafted sites, Rg - radius of gyration) of the grafted polymer chains show that they are in the brush regime and is supported by the large hydrodynamic thickness of the PDMA layer.
 

General Papers: Synthesis and Characterization
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006