Synthesis, characterization and thermal stability of phosphazene terpolymers with 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy and diacetone D-glucofuranosyl pendant groups

Six different phosphazene polymers have been synthesized with varying ratios of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol and diacetone D-glucofuranose to determine how these pendant groups affect the physical, chemical, and thermal characteristics of these terpolymers. Diacetone D-glucofuranose serves as the hydrophobic substituent and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol is the hydrophilic substituent on the phosphazene backbone. Characteristics of the polymers made in this study reflect a blend of the two substituents, ranging from powders to viscous fluids. Thermal analysis was used to quantify the thermal stability and water swellability of the polymers. Additionally, DSC was employed to determine composition based on the Fox equation. Compositions were then verified by integratable proton NMR indicating the validity of the Fox equation for predicting T_g transitions in phosphazene terpolymers. Laser light scattering (LLS) revealed that the weight-average molecular weights were in the 10⁷ gmol^-1 range with mean square radii between 150 and 200 nm.