Nitroxide mediated miniemulsion polymerization of methacryloisobutylPOSS: Homopolymers and copolymers with alkyl methacrylates

Nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) of methacryloisobutyl POSS (POSSMA) was conducted in a dispersed aqueous miniemulsion at 90 degrees C, resulting in stable latexes with particle sizes = 225-260 nm at solids loading = 22%. POSSMA homopolymers withM over bar nup to 35.9 kg mol(-1)(D< 1.53) was prepared using Dispolreg 007 alkoxyamine without any controlling comonomers, as is traditionally required for NMP of methacrylates. Copolymers with different ratios of POSSMA and bio-based C13 methacrylic esters were also synthesized (monomer conversion [X] up to 96.5% and 1.42 < 1.68) to prepare polymer resins with a wide range of glass transition temperatures (T-g) or melting points (T-m) (-30 degrees C < 96 degrees C). The resulting homopolymers and copolymers exhibited semi-crystalline properties, with crystallite size of 20.3-44.4 angstrom.