Preparation and performance study of the self-brittle composite detergent with controllable morphology for radioactive decontamination of surface layer of various materials by RAFT one-pot synthesis

Reversible deactivated radical polymerization (RDRP) has obvious advantages in the synthesis of block copolymers with well-defined structure and composition, but it has some defects in practical applications. An amphiphilic block copolymer (PMAA-co-PTFEMA)-b-PMMA-b-(PMAA-co-PTFEMA) with the self-brittle function was prepared by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) one-pot method using S, S-dibenzyl trithiocarbonate (DBTTC) as the chain transfer agent, methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the first monomer, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the second monomer, and trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) as the modified component. Then it was grafted onto the surface of the modified nano-silica with KH570-modified nano-silica after high-speed shearing, and a self-brittle composite detergent that can be used for radioactive decontamination of surface layers of various materials was prepared by controlling the morphology of the nano-silica. By observing the detergent with different monomer ratios, it can be seen that the control of the self-brittlement morphology of the detergent can be achieved by adjusting the ratio of MMA/MAA, which lays the foundation for future practical applications. [Display omitted] •A self-brittle triblock copolymer was synthesized by RAFT one-pot synthesis.•The morphology of the detergent is controllable;•Monomers in the copolymer can control the size of the deterg.nt brittle flakes.•The shape of the brittle flakes after the detergent drying is regular.•Detergent is effective and has a wide range of application sites.