Polyoxazoline containing copolymers useful as emulsifiers for polymer blends

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Abstract
The preparation of new block and graft copolymers containing poly (2‐alkyloxazoline)s using macroinitiator methods have been investigated. Hydroxy terminated poly(2‐alkyloxazoline) oligomers can be synthesized using alkyl iodide initiators and potassium hydroxide as the terminating reagent. Polymerizations of ϵ‐caprolactone using monofunctional poly(2‐alkyloxazoline)s as macroinitiators and Sn(oct)2 as the catalyst yield diblock copolymers of poly(2‐alkyloxazoline‐b‐ϵ‐caprolactone) with controlled molecular weights. Graft copolymers have also been prepared by first generating a poly(alkyl vinyl ether) backbone. Copolymerization of a low molar percentage of 2‐chloroethyl vinyl ether with alkyl vinyl ethers was performed using a heterogeneous cationic catalyst to yield high molecular weight random copolymers with pendent ethyl chloride groups interspersed along the chain. This pendent chlorine group, together with NaI, was used as the initiation system for 2‐alkyloxazoline grafts. Characterization of the resultant copolymers by gel permeation chromatography, intrinsic viscosity, DSC, solution and solid state 1H and 13C NMR is discussed. These materials are being evaluated as emulsifiers for polymer blends containing aliphatic polyamides as one component.