Microstructural analysis and characterization of poly(butyl acrylate) grafted silicone rubber synthesized via reverse ATRP.

Grafting is an important synthetic tool to prepare graft polymers with desirable properties that are difficult to attain from individual homopolymers. This study presents the synthesis of poly(butyl acrylate) grafted silicon rubber (MQ-g-PBA) through reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) with the aim of evaluating their microstructure and properties. Microstructure analysis is carried out by the 1D and 2D 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR analyses. FT-IR, GPC, UV–Vis, SEM, and TGA analyses are used to characterize the graft copolymer. The analysis of these techniques confirms the synthesis of graft copolymer. TGA analysis confirms that grafted MQ (MQ-g-PBA) has better thermal stability than pure MQ. Antibacterial properties of the grafted copolymer are evaluated by using a gram-positive (MTCC-441-Bacillussubtilis) and a gram-negative (MTCC-739-Escherichia coli) bacteria. The pristine silicone rubber (MQ) and its grafted version (MQ-g-PBA) are found to be effective against the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (MTCC-739). However, the MQ-g-PBA shows better inhibition than the MQ. As confirmed by the swelling test, the grafted MQ has a better oil resistance property than pure MQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]