Multifunctionality through Copolymerization

Bio- and Multifunctional Polymer Architectures Preparation, Analytical Methods, and Applications, First Edition. Brigitte Voit, Rainer Haag, Dietmar Appelhans, and Petra B. Wetzel. 

The efficiency and randomness of the incorporation of a second monomer depend on the copolymerization parameters (see Section 3.1) and the type of chain growth method applied. For each monomer pair these factors have to be evaluated and considered for defining stmcture and functionality. In addition, basic polymer properties like solubility and thermal properties defined by the major monomer are strongly influenced by a second monomer of different functionality thus, in any random copolymerization process, it is usually not possible to introduce a second functionality without compromising the properties of the parent homopolymer, and this is enhanced with increasing the comonomer ratio. 

FIGURE 5.1 Multifunctional random copol5mier of four monomers methyl methacrylate (MMA), semifluorinated methacrylate (sfMA-H2F8), acetylacetonato methacrylate (AAMA), and benzophenone methacrylate (BPMA) [2]. 

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Multifunctionality can be introduced not only through copolymerization but also by polymer analogous reactions in a postpolymerization modification step, often in combination with the introduction of additional comonomers during the polymerization process. Well-known technical examples are copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate with different amounts of vinyl acetate (see Section 3.1.3), which all derive from homopoly(vinyl acetate) and are the result of acetate hydrolysis to a different extent. The content of remaining vinyl acetate groups defines the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the copolymer and thus the amphiphilic and stabilizing character of the material. 

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