Synthesis of a well‐defined epoxy copolymer by atom transfer radical polymerization

Abstract

A well-defined block epoxy copolymer with narrow MWD was obtained by the controlled/“living” radical copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The polymerization was carried out with homogeneous CuCl2/Cu/EPN–Br/Phen catalytic system of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) performed in 4-methyl-2-pentanone at 90 °C. After hydrolysis of the block copolymer, a TEM micrograph with regular surface morphology, which indicated a well-defined amphiphilic molecular structure, was observed.