Synthesis and characterization of hydrogenated poly[alkylmethacrylate(-b-styrene)-b-butadiene-b-(styrene-b-) alkylmethacrylate] triblock and pentablock copolymers

Triblock and pentablock copolymers of the X(Y)B(Y)X type have been synthesized by the sequential living anionic polymerization of butadiene (B), styrene (Y) and alkylmethacrylate (X), respectively. The diadduct of t-BuLi onto m-diisopropenylbenzene (m-DIB) has been used as a difunctional initiator. Methylmethacrylate (MMA), t-butylmethacrylate (tBMA) and isobornylmethacrylate (IBMA) have been used as precursors of the outerblocks X. The polybutadiene (PBD) midblock that contains ca 42-45% 1,2-units has been selectively hydrogenated into a saturated poly(ethylene-co-1-butene) (PEB) block. The homogeneous hydrogenation catalysis has no deleterious effect on the copolymer integrity. These completely soluble thermoplastic elastomers have been characterized by FT i.r., n.m.r., d.s.c. and d.m.a. The PEB midblock has a low Tg (-50°C) and a small propensity to crystallize. The effect of hydrogenation on the morphology and mechanical properties depends on the outer block. Upon hydrogenation of the PBD midblock in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyisobornylmethacrylate (PIBMA) containing triblock copolymers, the ultimate tensile strength is increased (except for a hard block content > 50%) due to a sharper phase separation, whereas the elongation at break is decreased. The extent of phase separation is reduced in polyt-butylmethacrylate(PtBMA) containing triblock copolymers upon hydrogenation and the ultimate tensile strength is slightly decreased. Stereocomplexation of the syndiotactic PMMA outerblocks is observed to occur upon blending with isotactic PMMA