Synthesis of ABA Type Block Copolymers of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) and Poly(Dodecyl Vinyl Ether) and Its Using as Surfactant in Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract

A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based macroinitiator (MI) with terminal chloride atom at both ends was prepared by the reaction of PEG-400 with chloroacetyl chloride and used for the cationic polymerization of dodecyl vinyl ether (DVE) yielding ABA type block copolymer. The block copolymer was then used as the surfactant for the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate and styrene in the presence of potassium persulfate as an initiator. The effects of new polymeric emulsifier on the physicochemical properties of obtained latexes were investigated depending on surfactant percentage in homopolymerizations.