Micellar Behavior of Well-Defined Polystyrene-Based Block Copolymers with Triethoxysilyl Reactive Groups and Their Hydrolysis-Condensation

International audienceBlock copolymers of acryloxy propyl triethoxysilane and styrene were prepared through nitroxide-mediated polymerization using alkoxyamine initiators based on N-tert-butyl-1-diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl nitroxide. The copolymers were characterized by H-1 NMR, size exclusion chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. Their micellar behavior in dioxane/methanol solutions was examined through static light scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM indicated the successful formation of spherical micelles which were subsequently frozen by the sol-gel process. Hydrolysis-condensation of the reactive ethoxysilyl side groups was followed by FTIR, H-1 NMR, and Si-29 NMR. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci PartA: Polym Chem 48:784-793, 201