Thermal Properties of Oligo(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) Containing Comb and Graft Copolymers and their Aqueous Solutions

Abstract Summary: The cationic ring opening polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) was applied for the synthesis of methacrylate end‐functionalized well‐defined macromonomers that could be polymerized in a controlled manner using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The obtained comb polymers revealed lower critical solution temperature behavior in aqueous solution. The cloud points of these solutions could be tuned in a range from 35 °C to 85 °C by the incorporation of hydrophobic methyl methacrylate comonomer in varying amounts into the graft copolymers whereas copolymerization with methacrylic acid rendered temperature and pH sensitive copolymers. Thermo‐gravimetric analysis showed a two‐step decomposition of the graft copolymers and differential scanning calorimetry revealed glass transition temperatures that are significantly lowered in comparison to linear PEtOx.