From novel block-like copolymers to reactive nanoparticles: ATRP and "click" chemistry as synthetic tools

In this chapter, we report on the synthesis and characterization of well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers, ‘block-like’ copolymers and star copolymers composed of poly(isobornyl acrylate) (PiBA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) by ATRP. As PiBA polymers exhibit interesting physical characteristics, we report first a detailed study of the homopolymerization of iBA. The precursor monomers 1-ethoxyethyl acrylate as well as tert-butyl acrylate have been used to synthesize the precursor polymers for the PiBA-co-PAA block copolymers. Furthermore, a combination of ATRP and ‘click’ chemistry was used to prepare block and graft copolymers using a modular approach. The PiBA-PAA block and ‘block-like’ copolymers were investigated as pigment stabilizers for aqueous pigment dispersions. In the second part of the research, well-defined PiBA star copolymers were prepared, and reactive nanoparticles were obtained by end group modification of the PiBA star polymers with reactive moieties. Finally, the control of the visco-elastic properties by the incorporation of these nanoparticles in an acrylate polymer matrix was investigated