Block copolymers of styrene containing oligomeric esters of terephthalic acids

A new generation of block copolymers were synthesized starting with depolymerized PET by glycolysis with some oligomeric diols. α,ω-Dihydroxy poly(dimethyl siloxane)s, hexylene glycol, poly(ethylene oxide)glycols, and ethylene glycol were used as diols. The dihydroxy-terminated depolymerization products containing a terephthalyl group and oligomeric diols were used to prepare a diradicalic macroinitiator (MI). These MIs were used to polymerize the styrene monomer. The new block copolymers obtained were characterized by physical and chemical methods and mechanical and thermal analyses.