Block copolymers

Patent Granted A special kind of copolymer is called a "block copolymer". Block copolymers are made up of blocks of different polymerized monomers.[5] For example, PS-b-PMMA is short for polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate [6] ) and is usually made by first polymerizing styrene, and then subsequently polymerizing MMA from the reactive end of the polystyrene chains. This polymer is a "diblock copolymer" because it contains two different chemical blocks. Triblocks, tetrablocks, multiblocks, etc. can also be made. Diblock copolymers are made using living polymerization techniques, such as atom transfer free radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), and living cationic or living anionic polymerizations