The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Model polymers, which exhibit well-defined structures and clear structure-property relationships, serve as platform materials for providing design principles of polymer and enabling precise tuning of physical properties. Model vinyl-addition poly(5-alkyl-2-norbornene)s (VA-P(alkylNB)s) were synthesized under a well-established catalytic environment. This catalytic environment consists of a weakly coordinating solvent to ensure homogeneous solvation of the catalytic species and an additive to remove impurities. This environment enabled the synthesis of well-defined VA-P(alkylNB)s with precise control of M_n and narrow Ð. Each VA-P(alkylNB) exhibited specific physical properties, including optical transparency, thermal properties, tensile properties, and dielectric properties. These physical properties were correlated with the polymer architecture and chain distribution. Compared to ill-defined VA-P(alkylNB)s, all model VA-P(alkylNB)s exhibited superior physical properties.