Amphiphilic block copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polystyrene and their surface properties

Well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(vinyl alcohol)-b-polystyrene (PVA-b-PS) were successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene using trichloromethyl (-CCl3) end grouped polyvinyl acetate as macroinitiators which were prepared via telomerization of vinyl acetate with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) as a telogen, followed by complete hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate block. The block copolymers were characterized by GPC, FT-IR and H-1 NMR. PVA-b-PS has amphiphilic properties, which was confirmed with the study on the surface activity in N,N'-dimethylformamide and toluene. And the Pearlescent pigment which was modified by PVA-b-PS shows improved dispersing stability.