Well-defined poly(lauryl methacrylate-benzyl methacrylate) (PLMA-PBzMA) diblock copolymer nanoparticles are prepared in n-alkanes via RAFT dispersion polymerization.1 Using a relatively long PLMA macromolecular chain transfer agent (macro-CTA) leads to the formation of well-defined spherical nanoparticles. In contrast, using a relatively short PLMA macro-CTA enables both worm-like and vesicular morphologies to be produced, in addition to the spherical phase. Particular attention is paid to the worm phase, which forms soft free-standing gels at 20�C due to multiple inter-worm interactions.2 Such worm gels exhibit thermo-responsive behavior: heating above 50�C causes a worm-to-sphere transition that leads to de-gelation. This worm-to-sphere thermal transition is irreversible in dilute solution (0.01% w/w), but more or less reversible in concentrated solution (20% w/w). Surface plasticization of the worm cores is invoked to account for the observed change in morphology, since this is sufficient to increase the copolymer curvature and hence induce a worm-to-sphere transition.1) Fielding, L. A.; Derry M. J.; Ladmiral, V.; Rosselgong, J.; Rodrigues, A. M.; Ratcliffe, L. P. D.; Sugihara, S.; Armes, A. P. Chem. Sci., 2013  , 4, 2081-2087.2) Lane, J. A.; Fielding, L. A.; Derry, M. J.; Armes, S. P. Manuscript in preparation, 2014  .

RAFT dispersion polymerization in non-polar solvents: Facile production of block copolymer spheres, vesicles, and thermo-responsive worms in <i>n</i>-alkanes

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

RAFT dispersion polymerization in non-polar solvents: Facile production of block copolymer spheres, vesicles, and thermo-responsive worms in n-alkanes