Synthesis and large scale fractionation of non-linear polymers: brushes and hyperbranched polymers

Polymer brushes with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) backbone and polystyrene side chains were synthesized by radical polymerization of ω-methacryloyl-polystyrene macromonomers. Hyperbranched PMMA was obtained by means of self-condensing group transfer copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with an initiator-monomer containing a polymerizable methacryloyl moiety and an initiating silylketeneacetal function. Both non-linear products were fractionated using the method of continuous polymer fractionation, consisting in a particular type of continuous countercurrent extraction. The combination of methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) with acetone (AC) (precipitant) turned out to be suitable for the f…