Preparation and identification of di-block copolymer composed of crystalline poly(ethylene oxide) and noncrystalline poly(vinyl acetate) with well-defined structure

A block copolymer of ethylene oxide (EO) and vinyl acetate (VAc) was prepared by sequential anionic and photo-induced charge transfer polymerization (CTP) using UV sensible p-aminophenoxy end groups on PEO (PEO_a). The structure and composition of this block copolymer (PEO-b-PVAc) were identified in detail. The relationship between polymerization rate (R_p) and the concentrations of benzophenone (BP) and monomer, and the effect of the concentration and molecular weight of PEO_a on the polymerization of VAc, are discussed; the relationship R_p ∝ PEO_a-11000]^0.33 VAc]^0.28 BP]^0.47 using benzene as a solvent was derived. The dependence of the thermal properties of PEO-b-PVAc on the length of the PVAc block is described. It turned out that the PEO and PVAc blocks are compatible.