High performance poly(styrene-b-diene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers from a hydrocarbon-soluble and additive-free dicarbanionic initiator.
A new hydrocarbon-soluble (additive-free) dicarbanionic organolithium initiator, obtained by a simple halogen-lithium exchange reaction (Gilman's reaction) from a diarylhalide containing a side C15 alkyl chain, has been designed and used to initiate the anionic polymerization of butadiene and styrene. The dilithiated species formed afford well-defined poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) triblock copolymers with a high percentage of 1,4-microstructure polybutadiene (91%) and excellent mechanical properties, such as ultimate tensile strength higher than 30 MPa and elongation at a break of 1000%. This represents a breakthrough in the synthesis of SBS polymers, one of the most used thermoplastic elastomers.
Matmour
Rachid
R
Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, ENSCPB, Université Bordeaux 1, 16 Avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac Cedex, France.
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Arvind S
AS
Wadgaonkar
Prakash P
PP
Gnanou
Yves
Y