An NMR study of the structure and molecular characteristics of polyether block copolymers based on propylene oxide and ethylene oxide

The structure of propylene oxide-ethylene oxide block copolymers prepared with the use of glycerol as an initiator and potassium monoglycerate as a catalyst was studied by NMR spectroscopy. The relative amounts of oxypropylene and oxyethylene monomer units, the functionality-type distribution, the numberaverage molecular mass, and the ratio between primary and secondary terminal hydroxyl groups were deter mined. The applicability of 1H and 13C NMR techniques to characterization of these copolymers is discussed. The obtained NMR data are compared with results obtained by other techniques.