Synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight and low dispersity polystyrene homopolymers by RAFT polymerization

High molecular weight polystyrene homopolymers with low dispersity were synthesized by a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization method using 0.03 and 0.3 wt% of cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB) vs. styrene (St) and the azobis(isobutyronitrile) initiator, at the polymerization temperature of 60 or 70 °C. The optimal high molecular weight polystyrene this synthetic scheme shows M = 46.5×104, M = 33.3×104, and a dispersity of 1.40. The polystyrene chain contains a dithiobenzoate C=S moiety and thus can be used as a macro-chain-transfer agent for the polymerization of other monomers and for the synthesis of diversified block copolymers under mild conditions. The changes of the polystyrene molecular weight and dispersity were studied by the influences of the initial concentration ratio of CDB to styrene ([CDB]0/[St]0), the polymerization temperature, and the polymerization time. The PS molecular weight is inversely proportional to the [CDB]0/[St]0 ratio. Decreasing CDB from 0.3 to 0.03 wt%, a high MW PS was obtained, while the dispersity was observed to increase from 1.10 to 1.40. The PS molecular weight increases with the increase of the reaction time, while the dispersity of PS varies little from 1.12 to 1.23. The molecular weight and dispersity increase with the increase of the polymerization temperature. As the temperature arises from 60°C to 70°C, the conversion increases considerably from 25.8% to 39.9%, and the dispersity increases slightly from 1.15 to 1.17. As the temperature reaches 80°C, the conversion increases considerably to 64.7%, and the dispersity increases to 1.53. The polymer molecular weight of the polystyrene prepared by the RAFT method is suitable for the applications of engineering materials.