Synthesis of high glass transition temperature copolymers based on poly(vinyl chloride) via single electron transfer—Degenerative chain transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET‐DTLRP) of vinyl chloride in water

α,ω-di(iodo) poly(isobornyl acrylate) macroiniators (α,ω-di(iodo)PIA) with number average molecular weight from Mn,TriSEC = 11,456 to Mn,TriSEC = 94,361 were synthesized by single electron transfer-degenerative chain transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET-DTLRP) of isobornyl acrylate (IA) initiated with iodoform (CHI3) and catalyzed by sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) in water at 35 °C. The plots of number average molecular weight vs conversion and ln{[M]0/[M]} vs time are linear, indicating a controlled polymerization. α,ω-di(iodo) poly(isobornyl acrylate) have been used as a macroinitiator for the SET-DTLRP of vinyl chloride (VCM) leading to high Tg block copolymers PVC-b-PIA-b-PVC. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis of the block copolymers suggests just one phase indicating that copolymer behaves as a single material. This technology provides the possibility of synthesizing materials based on PVC with higher Tg in aqueous medium. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009