Multiphase Materials with Lignin. XIV. Star-Like Copolymers with Styrene

Star-like copolymers of a lignin derivative, hydroxypropyl lignin (L), with polystyrene (PS) have been synthesized using the L-component as the soft segment and PS blocks of 10,200 molecular weight as the hard segment according to a procedure previously described. The usefulness of LPS star-like copolymers to assist in the dispersion of L-component in PS, and in the formation of multiphase polyblends, was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. Other structure-property effects were obscure by the inability to isolate a PS segment-free LPS preparation either because a part of the PS segment failed to gain appropriate functionality, or because it failed to become incorporated by covalent attachment to the L-component.