Thermally Degradable Poly(n-butyl acrylate) Model Networks Prepared by PhotoATRP and Radical Trap-Assisted Atom Transfer Radical Coupling

Model poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBA) networks were prepared by photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (photoATRP), followed by curing of polymer stars via atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) with a nitrosobenzene radical trap. The resulting nitroxyl radical installed thermally labile alkoxyamine functional groups at the junctions of the network. The alkoxyamine crosslinks of the network were degraded back to star-like products upon exposure to temperatures above 135 degrees C. Characterization of the degraded products via gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed the inversion of polymer topology after thermal treatment.

Automated summary

In this study, photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (photoATRP) and atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) were used to prepare a thermally labile polymer network. The results showed that the polymer network can undergo inversion at high temperatures.