1H-NMR characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) and polydimethylsiloxane copolymer

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) copolymers. The copolymers were synthesized by reacting hydroxyl group (-OH) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polydimetylsiloxane (PDMS) with isocyanate group (R-N=C=O) of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI). The reaction was carried out at room temperature. The copolymers were synthesized in three different compositions which differ in molar ratios of PEG to PDMS. The ratios (PEG:PDMS) used were 2:6. 3:5 and 4:4. The formation of the copolymers was characterized by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) for structural determination. The presence of proton signal at 4.80 ppm which belongs to the proton of urethane group indicates the formation of urethane links. The formation of urethane links showed that two homopolymers were linked together by HMDI to form longer copolymer chains. It is worth to note that the sequence of PEG and PDMS along the copolymer chain is random.