Linear ethylene-vinyl ether copolymers: Synthesis and thermal characterization

Linear ethylene-co-vinyl ether copolymers were synthesized via a metathesis polymerization-hydrogenation reaction sequence producing a family of well-defined ethylene-based materials. Six high molecular weight macromolecules with desired vinyl ether incorporation levels are reported having methoxy or ethoxy pendant functionality on every 11th, 15th, and 21st carbons in the polymer backbone, and structural characterization of isolated materials via NMR and FT-IR indicates excellent control over copolymer microstructure. Thermal characterization via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggests semicrystallinity for every material under dynamic scanning conditions except one highly functionalized material where subsequent annealing treatments isolated a peak melting temperature deviating from melting trends established by other materials in the study. Variations of physical and spectral properties are discussed as a function of pendant group spacing and overall level of ether incorporation.