Refining RAFT catalyzed polymerization mechanisms with polymer-RAFT end-group analysis by SEC-UV

PMSE 286

Thomas D. Hahn, tom.hahn@nstarch.com, John S. Thomaides, john.s.thomaides@nstarch.com, Allan Huey, John Morales, and Xiaoxia Meng. National Starch and Chemical Company, 10 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Size exclusion chromatography coupled with refractive-index (RI) and ultraviolet (UV) detection is used to directly characterize a major side reaction in the RAFT controlled polymerization of poly (dimethyl acrylamide). The analysis takes advantage of the RAFT end group being the only UV-active component at 300 nm. By transforming the UV chromatogram by the molar mass, it was possible to compare it with the RI curves. Deviations between the transformed UV curve and the RI curve gave direct evidence for multiple polymer architectures. Analysis of the deviations led to determination that a significant fraction of the linear chains react by chain transfer to polymer, leading to formation of dead chains and branched chains with multiple living ends.
 

Joint PMSE/POLY Poster Session
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Tuesday, 12 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 Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering

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