Oligomeric Cellulose Based Block Copolymer

Novel water soluble block copolymer based on oligomeric cellulose and PEG was produced by coupling reaction. The oligomeric cellulose was produced by phosphoric acid assisted hydrolysis with PDI of 1.04 and a degree of polymerization of 7 (DP7). The DP7-b-PEG-b-DP7 triblock copolymer showed tunable PEG crystallization behavior by changing the molecular weight ratio between PEG and cellulose. At Mw ratio of 1:2:1, the PEG crystallization is fully suppressed. The morphologies of DP7-b-PEG-b-DP7 triblock copolymer solutions and film are also presented. The synthesis route can be extended to non-PEG based polymers.