Methacrylate‐based block ionomers I: Synthesis of block ionomers derived from t‐butyl methacrylate and alkyl methacrylates

Diblock and triblock copolymers of t‐butyl methacrylate (tBMA) with 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) and n‐hexyl methacrylate were prepared via alkyl lithium initiation and sequential addition techniques in THF at −78°C. The tBMA blocks were quantiatively and selectively hydrolyzed to afford poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) blocks which were then neutralized with alkali metal bases to form block ionomers. The unhydrolyzed copolymers had a phase mixed morphology as evidenced by thermal analysis while the hydrolyzed and neutralized polymers were multiphase materials. The carboxylic acid and ioncontaning triblock copolymers formed gels in nonpolar solvents which could be disrupted by the addition of polar additives. Certain carboxylic acid and ioncontaining EHMA/tBMA diblock copolymers also showed this behavior. The triblock ionomers did not show thermoplastic flow prior to degradation, except at the lowest ionic content studied (2%).