Multigraft copolymers with a rubbery backbone and glassy side chains represent a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with superior elongation at break and low residual strains as compared to conventional TPEs, so-called “Superelastomers”. This presentation summarizes our efforts on the development of multigraft copolymer superelastomers. One of our focuses includes the synthesis of well-defined multigraft copolymers having an acrylic backbone with polystyrene (PS) side chains. Use of living anionic polymerization to synthesize PS macromonomers enabled a facile free radical copolymerization with acrylate (e.g. n-butyl acrylate), yielding multigraft copolymers with regularly spaced PS side chains. Furthermore, PS block was lightly sulfonated to enhance the mechanical properties. The structure-property relationships of the synthesized superelastomers especially in morphology and TPE properties will be discussed.

Multigraft copolymer superelastomers

251st National Meeting (2016)

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