ABSTRACT
A facile route for preparation of poly(tert-butyl acrylate) covalently wrapped silica nanoparticles (SiO2/PtBA) was demonstrated by the single-electron transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET-LRP). Firstly, the surface of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) was modified with (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane. Subsequently, a SET-LRP initiator was immobilized on the amine functional SiO2 NPs by the Ugi reaction of 2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid, benzaldehyde, and 1-pentyl isocyanide. The SET-LRP of tert-butyl acrylate was carried out by using copper wire and PMDTA as a catalyst system. The grafting of PtBA on the surface of SiO2 NPs was investigated by FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and TEM analysis. Gel permeation chromatography analysis illustrated the molecular weight of PtBA increased with monomer conversion. The hydrolysis of the PtBA part yielded hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) decorated SiO2 NPs, which showed high colloidal stability.
Funding
This work was supported by the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Grant funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.