Macromonomers for UV-curable lubricant coatings, ring formation in the preparation of monodisperse oligoesters and synthesis of comb-like copolymers

A variety of acrylated macromonomers, some containing fluorocarbons, were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated in formulations for UV-cross-linked lubricant coatings. Formulas containing these macromonomers can be UV cross-linked to produce adherent films in a range from soft to hard. Evaluations were performed on either thick (1.4-2.6 mil) films or on relatively thin spin coated films on magnetic disks of estimated thickness from 300 to 1,000 Angstroms. The excellent performance of two-coat system was tentatively attributed to operation of a "thin layer sponge" effect in which a lightly cross-linked, fluorine-containing matrix absorbs a liquid, fluorine-containing lubricant and releases it under pressure.;A versatile procedure was developed for synthesis of acrylic comblike copolymers in three steps: (1) Hydroxyl-terminated oligomers were synthesized from methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and glycidyl (meth)acrylate by free-radical-initiated addition polymerization using a functional chain-transfer agent, 2-mercaptoethanol, and very low initiator levels. (2) The oligomers were converted to macromonomers by reaction with isocyanatoethyl methacrylate. (3) The macromonomers were polymerized by free-radical initiation. A variety of structures can be made such as comblike copolymers with homopolymer tines or comblike copolymers with copolymer tines. Functional groups can be introduced by copolymerizing glycidyl (meth)acrylate into macromonomer. Assignment of comb-like structures is not vigorously proven but is strongly supported by the synthetic route and by DSC, FT-IR, and chromatographic data.;A route for synthesis of monodisperse, telechelic oligoesters from cyclic anhydrides and symmetrical diols was explored. It involves (A) monoprotection of the diol with t-BuMe...