Synthesis and bulk characterization of new P(CB-b-S) diblock copolymers

Strongly asymmetric chlorinated polybutadiene-b-polystyrene, [P((CB)x-b-(PS)y)] diblock copolymers with increasing x/(x + y) ratios (up to 5.2 mol %) have been synthesized by the selective chlorination of the polybutadiene (PB) block in solution. Chlorination has been performed in anhydrous dichloromethane added with an antioxidant [2,2-methylenebis-(6-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol)], at -50°C, under a continuous Ar flow and in the dark. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the PB chlorination is not complete, but the PS block is left unmodified. Even in the presence of a large chlorine excess (Cl2/butene unit molar ratio of 2.5), the experimental degree of chlorination of homo PB does not exceed 85%. The chlorinated copolymers have been characterized by 1H-NMR, IR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, and elemental analysis. The chlorinated copolymers have also been studied by DSC and SAXS after annealing at 150°C. Although at this temperature the parent homopolymers are immiscible, no microphase separation has been observed for the block copolymers.