Synthesis and characterization of nonionic 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone/methacryloxy silicone copolymers: Effects of molecular weight of silicone and crosslinking density

Nonionic 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone/methacryloxy silicone copolymers (VP/VS copolymers) were prepared and characterized as functions of molecular weight of silicone and crosslinking density. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 13C‐NMR, and pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry study showed that those copolymers were successfully synthesized. Also, the gel‐permeation chromatography spectrum exhibited a fairly narrow distribution of the molecular weight of the polymer. It was found that the turbidity in ethanol (EtOH) and the glass‐transition temperature of crosslinked VP/VS copolymers are influenced by the amount of crosslinking agent. However, in the case of branched VP/VS copolymers, a transparent solution was obtained, regardless of the molecular weight of silicone. SEM/EDS study revealed that silicone is more abundant on the coating surface than on the interface of coating/glass. This is probably because Si‐containing chains have lower surface energy than that of vinylpyrrolidinone‐containing chains. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2244–2253, 2002