Novel analytical method for the crosslinking process: Infrared thermographic analysis of the thermally latent cationic polymerization of a spiroorthoester and a bifunctional oxetane for the construction of a low‐shrinkage curing system

Thermal behaviors were monitored by infrared thermographic analysis in the copolymerization of a spiroorthoester and a bifunctional oxetane with thermally latent initiators [benzyl tetrahydrothiophenium hexafluoroantimonate (BTHT) and benzyl 4‐hydroxyphenyl methyl sulfonium hexafluoroantimonate (BPMS)]. The copolymerization with BPMS increased the temperature during the copolymerization more than that with BTHT, whereas the exothermicities were lowered with the increase in the initial feed ratio of the spiroorthocarbonate monomer. The high exothermicity in the copolymerization with BPMS is ascribable to the faster propagation of the oxetane monomer with a high heat of polymerization, and this is supported by model reactions and computational calculation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2820–2826, 2007     

Effect of oligo(spiroorthocarbonate)s on the volume shrinkage of epoxides during crosslinking by sulfonium salt‐initiated cationic polymerization of epoxides

Oligo(spiroorthocarbonate)s 1 , which were synthesized by the polycondensation of pentaerythritol derivatives with tetraethylorthocarbonate, were employed as comonomers in the cationic polymerization of epoxide initiated by sulfonium salt. In the copolymerization, the spiroorthocarbonate moiety of 1 underwent double ring‐opening reaction, leading to the efficient diminution of the volume shrinkage upon the copolymerization. Thermal properties of the resulting networked polymers were evaluated by TGA. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1564–1568     

Cationic Photocrosslinkable Polydimethylsiloxane. III. Synthesis and Photocrosslinking of Polydimethylsiloxane Bearing Oxetane Groups

Abstract

From 3-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl oxetane, we synthesized three oxetane monomers with allylic, diethoxysilane or triethoxysilane functions. These monomers allowed us to prepare different polydimethylsiloxanes bearing oxetane groups by two routes. One is hydrosilylation of allylic monomer on hydrogeno polydimethylsiloxane, with different percentages of Si-H bonds. The second route is a condensation of α,ω-dihydroxy polydimethylsiloxane with di and tri ethoxysilane monomers. By using a photocalorimeter, we studied the kinetic of cationic photopolymerization of a polydimethylsiloxane bearing 7.4% oxetane functions. Influence of temperature in the range 35 to 125°C showed a maximum conversion for 80°C due to an increase in transfer and termination reactions.     

Reactivity of oxetane monomers in photoinitiated cationic polymerization

Studies of the onium salt photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of various 3,3‐disubstituted oxetane monomers have been conducted with real‐time infrared spectroscopy and optical pyrometry. The polymerizations of these monomers are typified by an extended induction period that has been attributed to the presence of a long‐lived tertiary oxonium ion intermediate formed by the reaction of the initially formed secondary oxonium ion with the cyclic ether monomer. Because the extended induction period in the photopolymerization of these monomers renders oxetane monomers of limited value for many applications, methods have been sought for its minimization or elimination. Three general methods have been found effective in markedly shortening the induction period: (1) carrying out the photopolymerizations at higher temperatures, (2) copolymerizing with more reactive epoxide monomers, and (3) using free‐radical photoinitiators as synergists. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3205–3220, 2005     

Oxetane‐terminated telechelic epoxy‐functional polyesters as cationically polymerizable thermoset resins: Tuning the reactivity with structural design

A series of epoxy‐functional telechelic oligomers containing oxetane end groups have been synthesized. The precursor monomer, extracted from outer Birch bark, was first polymerized through enzyme‐catalyzed esterification to form oligomers having epoxy and/or oxetane groups in the structures. The oligoesters were subsequently crosslinked through cationic polymerization either by epoxy or oxetane homopolymerization or copolymerization when both functionalities were present. A study of the polymerizations of the resins was performed “in situ” using real‐time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealing a preferred copolymerization when compared with the homopolymerization. By tailoring the different structures, it was possible to control the final mechanical properties of the networks. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2258–2266     

Synthesis and modeling of new phosphorus‐containing acrylates

New methacrylate monomers containing phosphonic acid or both phosphonic and carboxylic acids were synthesized through the reaction of t‐butyl α‐bromomethyl acrylate with triethyl phosphite followed by the selective hydrolysis of the phosphonate or t‐butyl ester groups with trimethylsilyl bromide and trifluoroacetic acid. The copolymerization of these monomers with 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate was investigated with photodifferential scanning calorimetry at 40 °C with 2,2′‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenyl acetophenone as a photoinitiator. Quantum mechanical tools were also used to understand the mechanistic behavior of the polymerization reactions of these synthesized monomers. The propagation and chain‐transfer reactions were considered and rationalized. A strong effect of the monomer structure on the rate of polymerization was observed. The polymerization reactivities of the monomers increased with decreasing steric hindrance and/or increasing hydrogen‐bonding capacity because of the hydrolysis of the phosphonate and the t‐butyl ester groups. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2574–2583, 2005     

Free radical ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic allylic sulfides: Liquid monomers with low polymerization volume shrinkage

The free radical polymerization of four methylated cyclic allylic sulfides was examined with reference to their polymerization volume shrinkage and the effect of ring size on reactivity. The compounds examined were 2‐methyl‐5‐methylene‐1,3‐dithiane ( 5 ) (solid), 2‐methyl‐6‐methylene‐1,4‐dithiepane ( 6 ) (liquid), 6‐methyl‐3‐methylene‐1,5‐dithiacyclooctane ( 7 ) (liquid), and 6,8‐dimethyl‐3‐methylene‐1,5‐dithiacyclooctane ( 8 ) (liquid). The monomers were stable materials not requiring any special handling or storage conditions. They were polymerized in bulk using thermal azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN, VAZO88) and photochemical initiators (Ciba DAROCUR 1173) and in benzene solutions (AIBN, 70 °C). The six‐membered ring monomer 5 was unreactive whereas seven‐membered ring monomer 6 polymerized to high conversion in bulk. In addition, 6 did not polymerize in benzene solution at 70 °C at [ 6 ] = 1.25M. Eight‐membered ring monomers 7 and 8 polymerized in bulk to complete conversion with thermal and photochemical initiators to give lightly crosslinked materials. Near complete conversion to soluble polymers could be obtained in solution polymerizations in benzene. Soluble polymers were also obtained in photochemical initiated bulk polymerizations by lowering initiator concentrations or length of irradiation. The methyl substituent had no effect on which allylic carbon–sulfur bond fragmented in the ring‐opening step. The polymerization volume shrinkages of monomers 7 and 8 were 1.5 and 2.4% respectively and together with monomer 4 (1.5–2.0% shrinkage) are the best available liquid free radical ring‐opening monomers that can be polymerized in bulk at room temperature. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 202–215, 2001     

Solvent-free polycondensation of 1,3-bis(hydroxyphenylmethyl)benzene. II. The dramatic difference in the polymerization behavior between meso and racemic isomers

The meso and racemic forms of 1,3-bis(hydroxyphenylmethyl)benzene underwent solvent-free polycondensation with the aid of an acid catalyst giving polyether. Very interestingly, the diastereoisomerism caused a considerable difference in the polymerization behavior. The meso isomer (mp = 96–98 °C) was polymerized even at 65 °C, whereas the racemic one (mp = 158–160 °C) required heating at 100 °C to undergo polymerization. However, the latter produced a much higher molecular weight than the former (30,000 vs 4000). The contamination of the meso isomer with the racemic one very sensitively reduced the polymerization temperature: the 98.5% meso monomer underwent polymerization at 50 °C. In contrast to solvent-free polymerization, two diastereomeric monomers showed almost identical behavior in solution polymerization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3564–3571, 2003     

Effects of solvent as an electron-pair acceptor on propagation reactions during radical polymerization and copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers

We carried out radical homopolymerization and copolymerization in various kinds of solvents at 60°C by using diisopropyl fumarate (DiPF) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as electron-accepting polar monomers and styrene (St) and vinyl benzoate (VB) as electron-donating monomers. The highest polymerization rate was observed in the polar and electron-pair accepting solvents, such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol for the homopolymerization and copolymerization of these monomers. It has been revealed that the polymerization rate is correlated to the electron-pair–accepting property of the solvent used, rather than the polarity in the linear free energy relationship. We have demonstrated the validity of the acceptor number as the index for interpreting the interaction of the solvent with the monomer and the propagating chain end. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined for the St–DiPF, VB–DiPF, and St–MMA copolymerizations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2803–2814, 1999     

Synthesis of an aprotic polar polymer with tetrahydrofuran moiety: Copolymer composition control in radical copolymerization with styrene using suspension system

A method to control the copolymer composition in suspension polymerizations of monomers with different polarity was studied: the copolymerization of a styrene‐type monomer having THF moiety ( 1 ) with styrene (feed ratio 1 : 1) was carried out at 85 °C using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) in a suspension system consisting of water and monochlorobenzene. The copolymerization was greatly affected by a mixture ratio of suspension system, and when the H₂O : PhCl ratio was 7 : 1 (v/v), 1 and St were consumed almost at the same rate, which suggested the formation of a random copolymer with uniform composition. The copolymer was proven to have an identical structure as expected, and a composition ratio of 1 : 1 by ¹H NMR analysis and elemental analysis. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 453–458, 2001     

Nitroxide‐mediated free‐radical copolymerization of styrene with butyl acrylate

Controlled free‐radical copolymerization of styrene (S) and butyl acrylate (BA) was achieved by using a second‐generation nitroxide, N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐[1‐diethylphosphono‐(2,2‐dimethylpropyl)] nitroxide (DEPN), and 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 120 °C. The time‐conversion first‐order plot was linear, and the number‐average molecular weight increased in direct proportion to the ratio of monomer conversion to the initial concentration, providing copolymers with low polydispersity. The monomer reactivity ratios obtained were r_S = 0.74 and r_BA = 0.29, respectively. To analyze the convenience of applying the Mayo–Lewis terminal model, the cumulative copolymer composition against conversion and the individual conversion of each monomer as a function of copolymerization time were studied. The theoretical values of the propagating radical concentration ratio were also examined to investigate the copolymerization rate behavior. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4168–4176, 2004     

Synthesis and cationic ring‐opening polymerization of oxetane monomer containing five‐membered cyclic carbonate moiety via highly chemoselective addition of CO2

The bicyclic amidinium iodide effectively catalyzed the reaction of carbon dioxide and the epoxy‐containing oxetane under ordinary pressure and mild conditions with high chemoselectivity to give the corresponding oxetane monomer containing five‐membered cyclic carbonate quantitatively. The cationic ring‐opening polymerization of the obtained monomer by boron trifluoride diethyl ether proceeded to give linear polyoxetane bearing five‐membered cyclic carbonate pendant group in high yield. The molecular weight of the polyoxetane was higher than that of polyepoxide obtained by the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of epoxide monomer containing five‐membered cyclic carbonate. The cyclic carbonate functional crosslinked polyoxetanes were also synthesized by the cationic ring‐opening copolymerization of cyclic carbonate having oxetane and commercially available bisoxetane monomers. Analyses of the resulting polyoxetanes were performed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2606–2615     

Cationic copolymerization behavior of cyclic ether monomers with norbornene‐containing cyclic carbonate or spiro–orthoether structure

Cationic ring‐opening copolymerizations of various cyclic ether compounds with volume expanding monomers bearing norbornene backbones [norbornene‐spiro orthocarbonate (N‐SOC) and norbornene‐cyclic carbonate (N‐CC)] were carried out in the presence of a thermally latent initiator 1 . The 10% weight loss decomposition temperatures (T_d10) and the volume changes on the copolymerizations were measured for these resultant products. In the comparison between copolymerizations of bifunctional epoxide 2 with N‐SOC and with N‐CC, it was found that N‐CC served as a more useful volume controllable comonomer than N‐SOC. The copolymerizations with N‐CC yielded the products with a decrease in the volume change (volume shrinkage) and with an increase in the monomer feed ratio of N‐CC; T_d10 was relatively similar to the homopolymer of epoxide 2 and was observed except when the proportion of N‐CC was more than 20% in the monomer feed ratio of N‐CC. In contrast, similar copolymerizations with N‐SOC did not exhibit such tendencies, probably because of the low efficiency of the copolymerization derived from the low miscibility of N‐SOC for the epoxide. The other copolymerization systems of other bi‐ and monocyclic ether compounds ( 3 – 6 and phenyl glycidyl ether) with N‐CC also indicated an almost similar tendency toward that of the copolymerization with epoxide 2 . © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5113–5120, 2004     

Living cationic polymerization of amide‐functional vinyl ethers: Specific properties of SnCl4‐based initiating system

Living cationic copolymerization of amide‐functional vinyl ethers with isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) was achieved using SnCl₄ in the presence of ethyl acetate at 0 °C: the number–average molecular weight of the obtained polymers increased in direct proportion to the monomer conversion with relatively low polydispersity, and the amide‐functional monomer units were introduced almost quantitatively. To optimize the reaction conditions, cationic polymerization of IBVE in the presence of amide compounds, as a model reaction, was also examined using various Lewis acids in dichloromethane. The combination of SnCl₄ and ethyl acetate induced living cationic polymerization of IBVE at 0 °C when an amide compound, whose nitrogen is adjacent to a phenyl group, was used. The versatile performance of SnCl₄ especially for achieving living cationic polymerization of various polar functional monomers was demonstrated in this study as well as in our previous studies. Thus, the specific properties of the SnCl₄ initiating system are discussed by comparing with the Et_xAlCl_3?x systems from viewpoints of hard and soft acids and bases principle and computational chemistry. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6129–6141, 2008     

Emulsion copolymerization of vinylidene chloride and methyl methacrylate. I. Effects of operating variables on the kinetic behavior

The effects of operating variables on the kinetic behavior of the emulsion copolymerization of vinylidene chloride (VDC) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were examined at 50 °C with sodium lauryl sulfate as an emulsifier and potassium persulfate as an initiator, respectively. The number of polymer particles produced increased in proportion to the 1.0 power of the initial emulsifier concentration and to the 0.3 power of the initial initiator concentration and decreased with an increasing content of MMA in the initial monomer charge. The rate of copolymerization was proportional to the 0.4 power of the initial emulsifier concentration and to the 0.5 power of the initial initiator concentration and increased with an increasing content of MMA in the initial monomer charge. The molecular weight of copolymer produced decreased drastically with an increasing content of VDC in the initial monomer charge. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1275–1284, 2002     

Synthesis of multihydroxyl branched polyethers by cationic copolymerization of 3,3‐bis(hydroxymethyl)oxetane and 3‐ethyl‐3‐(hydroxymethyl)oxetane

The cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 3,3‐bis(hydroxymethyl)oxetane (BHMO) and the copolymerization of BHMO with 3‐ethyl‐3‐(hydroxymethyl)oxetane (EOX) were studied. Medium molecular weight polymers (number‐average molecular weight ≈ 2 × 10³) were obtained in bulk polymerization. Poly[3,3‐bis(hydroxymethyl)oxetane], as highly insoluble, was only characterized by gel permeation chromatography and NMR methods in the esterified form. Copolymers of BHMO and EOX that were slightly soluble in organic solvents were characterized in more detail. In a copolymerization from a 1:1 mixture, the comonomers were consumed at equal rates. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight analysis confirmed that a random 1:1 copolymer was formed. ¹³C NMR analysis indicated that in contrast to previously described homopolymers of EOX in which the degree of branching was limited, the homopolymers of BHMO were highly branched. This pattern was preserved in the copolymers; EOX units were predominantly linear, whereas BHMO units were predominantly branched. The copolymerization of BHMO with EOX provides, therefore, a route to multihydroxyl branched‐polyethers with various degrees of branching containing ? OH groups exclusively as ≡C? CH₂? OH units. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1991–2002, 2002     

Synthesis,characterization, and stability of carbodiimide groups in carbodiimide‐functionalized latex dispersions and films

Cyclohexylcarbodiimidoethyl methacrylate (CCEMA) and t‐butylcarbodiimidoethyl methacrylate (t‐BCEMA) were prepared in a two‐step synthesis. These monomers were then used to prepare carbodiimide‐functionalized PBMA and PEHMA latex particles, employing two‐stage emulsion polymerization, with the carbodiimide–methacrylate monomers being introduced only in the second stage under monomer‐starved conditions. During emulsion polymerization, the carbodiimide moiety ( NCN ) was found to be unstable at pH 4, but stable when the pH of the dispersion was increased to 8, using NaHCO₃ as the buffer. Survival of  NCN group against hydrolysis during the polymerization, and during storage in the dispersion, was enhanced by using EHMA as the comonomer (more hydrophobic) and the t‐butyl carbodiimide derivative. The t‐butyl group provides more steric hindrance to the hydrolysis reaction. A decrease in the reaction temperature from 80°C to 60°C was also found to increase the extent of  NCN group incorporation during emulsion polymerization. Under ideal conditions, more than 98% of the  NCN groups in the monomer feed are successfully incorporated into the latex. When these latex particles are mixed with a  COOH containing latex and allowed to dry, polymer diffusion leading to crosslinking occurs. Films annealed at 60°C reach a gel content of 60% in 10 h. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 855–869, 2000     

Reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene in miniemulsion

In the reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of two monomers, even with the simple terminal model, there are two kinds of macroradical and two kinds of polymeric RAFT agent with different R groups. Because the structure of the R group could exert a significant influence on the RAFT process, RAFT copolymerization may behave differently from RAFT homopolymerization. The RAFT copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) in miniemulsion was investigated. The performance of the RAFT copolymerization of MMA/St in miniemulsion was found to be dependent on the feed monomer compositions. When St is dominant in the feed monomer composition, RAFT copolymerization is well controlled in the whole range of monomer conversion. However, when MMA is dominant, RAFT copolymerization may be, in some cases, out of control in the late stage of copolymerization, and characterized by a fast increase in the polydispersity index (PDI). The RAFT process was found to have little influence on composition evolution during copolymerization. The synthesis of the well‐defined gradient copolymers and poly[St‐b‐(St‐co‐MMA)] block copolymer by RAFT miniemulsion copolymerization was also demonstrated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6248–6258, 2004     

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization of limonene 1,2‐oxide and α‐pinene oxide

Limonene 1,2‐oxide (LMO) and α‐pinene oxide (α‐PO) are two high reactivity biorenewable monomers that undergo facile photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations using both diaryliodonium salt and triarylsufonium salt photoinitiators. Comparative studies showed that α‐PO is more reactive than LMO, and this is because it undergoes a simultaneous double ring‐opening reaction involving both the epoxide group and the cyclobutane ring. It was also observed that α‐PO also undergoes more undesirable side reactions than LMO. The greatest utility of these two monomers is projected to be as reactive diluents in crosslinking photocopolymerizations with multifunctional epoxide and oxetane monomers. Prototype copolymerization studies with several difunctional monomers showed that LMO and α‐PO were effective in increasing the reaction rates and shortening the induction periods of photopolymerizations of these monomers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

The “comonomer effect” in ethylene/α‐olefin copolymerization using homogeneous and silica‐supported Cp2ZrCl2/MAO catalyst systems: Some insights from the kinetics of polymerization,active center studies,and polymerization temperature

Homogeneous and silica‐supported Cp₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems have been used for the copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐butene, 1‐hexene, 4‐methylpentene‐1 (4‐MP‐1), and 1‐octene in order to compare the “comonomer effect” obtained with a homogeneous metallocene‐based catalyst system with that obtained using a heterogenized form of the same metallocene‐based catalyst system. The results obtained indicated that at 70 °C there was general rate depression with the homogeneous catalyst system whereas rate enhancement occurred in all copolymerizations carried out with the silica‐supported catalyst system. Rate enhancement was observed for both the homogeneous and the silica‐supported catalyst systems when ethylene/4‐MP‐1 copolymerization was carried out at 50 °C. Active center studies during ethylene/4‐MP‐1 copolymerization indicated that the rate depression during copolymerization using the homogeneous catalyst system at 70 °C was due to a reduction in the active center concentration. However, the increase in polymerization rate when the silica‐supported catalyst system was used at the same temperature resulted from an increase in the propagation rate coefficient. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 267–277, 2008