Synthesis and characterization of star-comb polybutadiene and poly(ethylene-co-butene)

A novel star-comb polybutadiene (SC–PB) was synthesized with n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) as initiator, epoxidized star liquid polybutadiene (ESPB) as coupling agent, cyclohexane as solvent by living anionic polymerization and grafting-onto technology. The SC–PB was subsequently hydrogenated by homogeneous catalysis (catalytic hydrogenation using nickel naphthenate/triisobutyl aluminum), to transform the SC–PB into the corresponding star-comb poly(ethylene-co-butene) (SC–PEB). The SC–PB was characterized by SEC-TALLS, 1H NMR, DSC and WAXD techniques. The hydrogenation degree and crystallinity degree of SC–PEB were also determined.