Reversible Addition–Fragmentation Chain‐Transfer Polymerization of Octadecyl Acrylate

Abstract

Abstract Polymerization of octadecyl acrylate (ODA) was carried out in benzene solution using the 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) as the reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) agent and AIBN as the initiator. The results show the obtained polymer with controlled molecular weight and low PDI value. The relationships between both of the ln([M 0]/[M]) vs. reaction time and molecular weight vs. conversion showed a straight line. The block copolymer of ODA and styrene (PODA‐b‐PSt) obtained using poly(octadecyl acrylate) (PODA) as a macro‐RAFT agent. The polymers were characterized by 1H NMR, DSC, and gel permeation chromatograph (GPC). The effect of molar ratio [CPDB]:[AIBN] and reaction temperature on polymerization was investigated.