INS1-0187
Synthesis of PS-PO-PS triblock copolymers: from a flask to commercial process
Topic
S1. Polymer Synthesis
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
10:20 - 10:45
Room 101
Session Chairs
In-Hwan LEE
Presenter(s)
Bun Yeoul Lee (Ajou University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
PS-block-poly(ethylene-co-1-butene)-block-PS (SEBS) is an attractive material, traditionally produced through the costly hydrogenation of PS-block-polybutadiene-block-PS. An innovative one-pot method for synthesizing SEBS-like triblock copolymers has been developed in our laboratory. In this method, a dialkylzinc compound containing styrene moieties ((CH2=CHC6H4CH2CH2CH2)2Zn) was synthesized, which is then used to grow poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene) chains via CCTP, resulting in di-end functional PO chains that are functionalized with styrene and Zn moieties. Subsequently, PS chains are attached to both ends of these PO chains through anionic styrene polymerization, initiated by Me3SiCH2Li·(pmdeta) initiator. Details on the concept, implementation, and scale-up process for commercialization will be presented.
