SYNTHESIS OF GRAFT-COPOLYMERS OF POLY(CAPROLACTONE) AND POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) AND THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS TO SYNTHESIZE SOFT-SEGMENT GRAFTED POLYURETHANES

Poly(caprolactone)/poly(methyl methacrylate) graft polyols, P(CL-g-MMA)s, have been synthesized. The synthetic method involved the ring opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone, in solution, by initiation with a diol functional macromonomer based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The molecular weight of these materials was determined by end group analysis. The resultant polyols have been used to produce polyurethanes, with PMMA side chains located in the soft-segments, P(U-g-MMA)s. GPC, H-1 and C-13-NMR and FTIR were used to characterize these materials.