Bronk, John M.2014-03-142014-03-141996-03-03etd-10032007-171915http://hdl.handle.net/10919/39572The synthesis of epoxide containing block and alternating copolymers has been investigated in this research. Poly(ethylene oxide-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEO) copolymers have been synthesized with poly(ethylene oxide) macroinitiators ranging from O.75K-40K. Monohydroxy functionalized PEO oligomers have been synthesized with potassium tert-butoxide as an initiator in tetrahydrofuran, and in the bulk. The PEO oligomers were reacted with 4-(chloromethyl) benzoyl chloride to yield a 4-(chloromethyl) benzoate functionalized PEO oligomer quantitatively. This oligomer was further reacted in the melt with sodium iodide to result in 4-(iodomethyl) benzoate functionalized PEO oligomers. The iodo adduct (macroinitiator) initiated the polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, the second block of the diblock copolymer. The formation of the poly ( ethylene oxide-2-ethyl- 2-oxazoline) copolymer resulted in materials ranging from 20 - 80 weight percent poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOX). These materials were water soluble with PEOX as a strong hydrogen bonding block in the copolymer. The diblock copolymers may have potential uses in particle stabilization, and coating applications.xviii, 220 leavesBTDapplication/pdfenIn Copyrightcoating applicationsparticle stabilizationLD5655.V856 1996.B766Dissertationhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10032007-171915/