Synthesis of water-soluble syndiotacticity-rich low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) by solution copolymerization of vinyl pivalate/vinyl acetate in tetrahydrofuran and saponification

Won Seok Lyoo, Jeong Hyun Yeum, Han Do Ghim, Joon Seok Lee, Byung Chul Ji, Nam Sik Yoon, Jae Boo Ha, Jinwon Lee

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5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Syndiotacticity-rich low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was synthesized by solution copolymerization of vinyl pivalate (VPi) and vinyl acetate (VAc) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at low temperature using 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (ADMVN) as an initiator and successive saponification of copoly(VPi/VAc). Effects of initiator and monomer concentrations and polymerization temperature on the polymerization behavior and molecular structure of PVA prepared were investigated. The polymerization rate of VPi and VAc in THF was proportional to the 0.96 power of ADMVN concentration, indicating the heterogeneous nature of THF polymerization. Low-temperature solution copolymerization of VPi and VAc in THF by adopting ADMVN proved to be successful in obtaining water-soluble PVA with number-average degree of polymerization of 180-360, syndiotactic diad content of 56-58%, and ultimate conversion of VPi and VAc into copoly-(VPi/VAc) of over 80%, respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-232
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Applied Polymer Science
Volume90
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Oct 2003

Keywords

  • Copoly(VPi/VAc)
  • Initiators
  • Solution copolymerization
  • Syndiotactic
  • Water-soluble polymers

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