Synthesis of polystyrene–styrene/butadiene diblock copolymers via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer miniemulsion polymerization

Polystyrene–styrene/butadiene diblock copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization. During the polymerization process, the molecular weight distribution was narrow and the numerical molecular weight of the copolymers increased with increasing conversion of monomers, which was close to the theoretical. FT-IR and 1H NMR results indicated that the microstructure of the polymer was mainly 1,4-trans-butadiene with small amount of 1,2-units, and composition in the copolymers was obtained.