Abstract:
This thesis explores some feasibility in preparing block copolymers based on isopreneand acrylonitrile through an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and/or through the useof an iniferter. It was found that acrylonitrile cannot be polymerized through the ATRPmechanism, owing to an inappropriate initiator and/or unsuitable reactiorl conditions. After that,polymerization of acrylonitrile by using benzyl NN-diethyldithiocarbarnate (BDC) wasinvestigated. It was found that percentage yield of polyacrylonitrile increased with BDCconcentration, reaction time, and the monomer concentration. Furthermore, it was found that theproduct yield obtained from the polymerization with NN-dimethylformamide (DMF) was higherthan that obtained from the reaction with toluene. In the case of isoprene polymerization,percentage yield and polydispersity of the product increased with BDC concentration. Molecularweight of polyisoprene decreased with the BDC concentration. When the synthesizedpolyacrylonitrile was used as a macro-iniferter to react with isoprene, the monomer conversionrarely increased, On the other hand, when the synthesized polyisoprene was used as a macro-iniferter, acrylonitrile conversion increased up to 14.60%. Results from several analyticaltechniques including FT-IR, FT-Raman, DSC, TGA, and ' 3 ~ - ~ ~ ~ were in a good agreementwith chemical structure and thermal behavior of both polyisoprene and polyacrylonitrile.1 However, H-NMR and GPC analyses of the product were not achieved due to the fact that theproduct was insoluble in CDC13 and THF. As a result, compositi~n of the block copolymers cannot be evaluated.