Redox initiation system of ceric salt and α,ω-dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane)s for vinyl polymerization

The redox system of ceric salt and α,ω-dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane) is used to polymerize vinyl monomers such as acrylonitrile and styrene to produce block copolymers. The concentration and type of α,ω-dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane) affects the yield and the molecular weight of the copolymers. The copolymers have about 20°C lower glass-transition temperatures and much higher contact angle values than of the corresponding homopolymer of vinyl monomers, although the weight percent of α,ω-dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane) of the copolymers is in the range of 1-2%.