IN SITU OBSERVATION OF MELTING AND CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIORS OF POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE) ULTRA-THIN FILMS BY AFM TECHNIQUE

The melting and crystallization behaviors of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) ultra-thin films with thickness from 15 nm to 8 nm were studied by AFM technique equipped with a hot-stage in real-time. It was found that melting can erase the spherulitic structure for polymer film with high thickness. However, annealing above the melting point can not completely erase the tree-like structure for the thinner polymer film. Generally, the structure formation of thin polymer films of PCL is controlled not only by melting and crystallization but also by dewetting during thermal annealing procedures, and dewetting predominates in the structure formation of ultra-thin films. However, the presence of tree-like morphology at 75 °C may be due to the strong interaction between PCL and mica surface, which may stick the PCL chains onto the mica surface during thermal annealing process. Moreover, the growth of the dendrites was investigated and it was found that crystallization is followed from a dewetted sample, and the branches did not grow with the stems. The crystallization of polymer in the ultra-thin films is a diffusion-controlled process. Both melting and crystallization behaviors of PCL in thin films are influenced by film thickness.     

CRYSTALLIZATION AND MULTI-MELTING BEHAVIOR OF POLY (ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) MODIFIED BY SODIUM SALT OF 5-SULPHO-ISOPHTHALIC ACID

The crystallization kinetics of the copolyester, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) modified by sodium salt of 5-sulpho-isophthalic acid(SIPM), was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimeter. The experimental results and polari-microscopy observation all showed that the introduction of SIPM did not affect the nucleation of crystallization. Within the temperature range between their glass transition temperature T_θand melting point T_m, the crystallization rate of the copolyester sample decreased with increasing content of SIPM. The relative crystallization rate constant Z of SIPM/DMT (dimethyl terephthalate) 4mol % sample was about 1% pure PET's Z value. For isothermal crystallized copolyester samples, DSC heating curves displayed multi-melting behavior. This was interpreted by molecular weight fractionation during crystallization and premelting-recrystallization mechanism. This interpretation showed why the second melting point T_(m2) will change according to Hoffman-Weeks(H-W) equation and the first melting point T_(m1) will increase with increasing SIPM. The principal cause of these phenomena is the high temperature crystallization rate decreases rapidly with increasing SIPM.     

TERMINATION AND TRANSFER OF THE CHAIN RADICALS IN THE POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLONITRILE INITIATED BY VANADIUM(V)-THIOUREA REDOX SYSTEM

The dependence of the molecular weights on the concentration of reactants in the polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by vanadium (V)-thiourea redox system has been investigated. It was found that the molecular weights of the polymer change nonlinearly with increasing concentrations of nitric acid and thiourea. Probably, the composition of the complexes exert a great influence on the chain initiation and termination. The reaction of "complextermination" gives rise to the decrease of the molecular weights markedly while the concentrations of thiourea and vanadium (V)in the range from one to three molar ratios.     

THE EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION ON THE THERMAL PROPERTIES OF SEMI-CRYSTALLINE POLYAMIDES

Irradiation crosslinking of semi-crystalline polyamides was performed by high energy electronswith various dosages. It is known that the melting behavior of the polymers after irradiation is acomplex phenomenon. In company with the wide angle X-ray diffraction and DSC data of irradiatedand unirradiated polyamides it is possible to develop the local order and perfection of the crystallinitiesslightly which resulted from introduction of intermolecular crosslinking in amorphous region, incl-uding in amorphous-crystalline interface and crystalline defect regions due to irradiation. It canbe explained that slight increase of melting temperature (T_m) and heat of fusion (△H_f) with increasingdosage for both of higher crystallinity nylon 4 and nylon 6. For irradiated lower crystallinity nylons,in contrast, the T_m and △H_f decrease obviously with increasing dosage. In this case, radiation cross-linking "freeze in" the pre-existing morphology, and then the prevention for reorganization duringheating is a dominant effect. The T_m from the second melting for all of the samples were depressed,corresponding with Flory theory. Therefore the crosslinks imposed on the molecules restrainedthe molecular mobility, and that not only depresses the crystallinity but also increases the imperfec-tion of crystallites when the radiated polymer melted and then recrystallized. These are also reflectedin the depression of heat and entropy of fusion as well as the appearance of double melting peakson the DSC thermograms.     

KINETIC ANALYSIS OF CO-CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION OF AB2 AND AB MONOMERS

This work deals with the kinetics of co-condensation polymerization of AB2 and AB monomers, giving expressions of the two-dimensional molecular weight distribution function and the number/weight average molecular weights of the resulting copolymers. The two-dimensional molecular weight distribution depends on two indices, n and l, which are the respective numbers of AB2 and AB units in a copolymer species. The evolution of the two-dimensional weight and z distributions during the co-condensation polymerization has been evaluated systematically. Finally, the two-dimensional distribution was transformed into a one-dimensional molecular weight distribution with only one variable (the molecular weight of the products instead of the degree of polymerization). The calculated results show that the highly branched copolymer has a very broad molecular weight distribution when the co-condensation polymerization approaches completion.     

The stereocomplex formation and phase separation of PLLA/PDLA blends with different optical purities and molecular weights

In this study, the poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide)(PLLA/PDLA) blends with different optical purities of PLLA and various molecular weights of PDLA are prepared by solution mixing, and the stereocomplex formation and phase separation behaviors of these blends are investigated. Results reveal that optical purity and molecular weight do not vary the crystal structure of PLA stereocomplex(sc) and homochiral crystallites(hc). As the optical purity increasing in the blends, the melting temperature of sc(Tsc) and the content of sc(ΔHsc) increased, while the melting temperature of hc(Thm) hardly changes, although the content of hc(ΔHhm) decreased gradually. The Tsc and ΔHsc are also enhanced as the molecular weight of PDLA reduces, and the ΔHhm reduces rapidly even though the Thm does not vary apparently. With lower optical purities of PLLA and higher molecular weights of PDLA, three types of crystals form in the blends, i.e., PLA sc, PLLA hc and PDLA hc. As molecular weight decreases and optical purity enhances, the crystal phase decreases to two(sc and PDLA hc), and one(sc) finally. This investigation indicates that the phase separation behavior between PLLA and PDLA in the PLLA/PDLA blends not only depends on molecular weights, but also relies on the optical purities of polymers.     

PREPARATION OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLY（GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE） BY PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION

Low molecular weight poly（glycidyl methacrylate）s （PGMAs） were prepared by photopolymerization in ethyl acetate, with benzophenone （BP） as photoinitiator, and triethylamine （TEA） as hydrogen donor. The existence of semipinacol dormant end groups in PGMA was confirmed by FT-IR and ^1H-NMR, and the content of the semipinacol dormant groups was determined quantitatively by ^1H-NMR measurement. The effects of various thctors, such as reaction time, BP concentration and monomer concentration on the synthesis of the polymers were investigated systematically. The molecular weights of the polymers were also investigated with GPC. It is shown that increasing BP concentration and decreasing irradiation time and monomer concentration led to a significant decrease of the molecular weights.     

IR STUDY ON MONOMOLECULAR PARTICLE AGGLOMERATES OF POLYSTYRENE OBTAINED BY FREEZE-DRYING OF ITS DILUTE SOLUTION

The monomolecular particle agglomerates of polystyrenes were obtained by freeze-drying of its very dilutesolutions of 1.3×10~(-5)-2.0×10~(-5) g/mL in benzene: cylcohexane (100:1) solvents, and they were annealed at roomtemperature for hundred days before use. According to ~(13)C-NMR measurement the polystyrenes should be practically atactic.The number average molecular weights of the samples are 2.80×10~3, 2.00×10~4, and 1.55×10~6, respectively. The freeze-dried aPS with a molecular weight higher than 10~4 show two new IR absorption bands at 1098 and 1261 cm~(-1), which areabsent in the normal aPS and freeze-dried styrene oligomer. It was also found that the low molecular weight samples canonly form powders, whereas the freeze-dried aPS with higher molecular weight form a mixture of powders and fibrils, ofwhich the longer fibrils show a much stronger 1261 cm~(-1) band than the shorter fibrils and the powder. It seems that the1261 cm~(-1) band corresponds to the stacking behavior of monomolecular particles.     

Studies on the Self-condensing Vinyl Polymerization of a Novel Maleimide Inimer

The self-condensing vinyl polymerization(SCVP) of a novel maleimide inimer(initiator-monomer) 1, N-(4-α-bromobutyryloxy phenyl) maleimide with the complex of CuBr/Bipy (2, 2‘-bipyridine) as the catalyst was studied. GPC was used to determine the molecular weight and the results show that the molecular weight increases exponentially with polymerization time during the first hour, and then the rate of increase molecular weight slows down. The molecular weight also increases with increasing dosage of the catalyst. The coincidence of the molecular weights determined by ^1H NMR and GPC proves that the polymer obtained from the SCVP of inimer 1 has a linear structure, whichis further verified by ^13C NMR spectrum. A hyperbranched polymer was obtained by the copolymerization of inimer 1 and styrene.     

Phenylethynyl-terminated Imide Oligomers Modified by Reactive Diluent for Resin Transfer Molding Application

To meet the processing requirements of resin transfer moulding(RTM)technology,reactive diluent containing m-phenylene moiety was synthesized to physically mixed with phenylethynyl terminated cooligoimides with well-designed molecular weights of 1500-2500 g/mol derived from 4,4’-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride(6 FDA),3,4’-oxydianiline(3,4’-ODA)and m-phenylenediamine(m-PDA).This blend shows low minimum melting viscosity(<1 Pa·s)and enlarged processing temperature window(260–361℃).FPI-R-1 stays below 1 Pa·s for2 h at 270℃.The relationship between the molecular weight of the blend and its melting stability was first explored.Blending oligoimides with lower molecular weights exhibit better melting stability.Upon curing at 380℃for 2 h,the thermosetting polyimide resin demonstrates superior heat resistance(T_g=420-426℃).     

THERMALLY STIMULATED SHAPE MEMORY BEHAVIOR OF(ETHYLENE OXIDE-BUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)SEGMENTED COPOLYMER

The thermally stimulated shape memory behavior of ethylene oxide-butylene terephthalate (EOBT) segmentedcopolymers with different soft segment molecular weight and hard segment content was investigated. The deformationrecovery ratio R_f of the EOBT samples increases with the soft segment molecular weight and the hard segment weightcontent, while the average overall deformation recovery speed V_r increases with the hard segment content. The temperatureof maximum deformation recovery speed (T_M) is determined by the melting temperature of the soft segment crystals and thestability of the crystallized hard segment domains.     

Enhanced Crystallization Rate of Biodegradable Poly(ε-caprolactone) by Cyanuric Acid as an Efficient Nucleating Agent

The influence of cyanuric acid(CA) as an efficient nucleating agent on the crystallization behavior and morphology of biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) was extensively studied in this work with several techniques for the first time. The nonisothermal melt crystallization behavior and overall isothermal melt crystallization rate of PCL were significantly enhanced by only a small amount of CA. The addition of CA apparently improved the nonisothermal melt crystallization peak temperature, overall isothermal melt crystallization rate, and nucleation density of PCL spherulites, but did not modify the crystallization mechanism and crystal structure of PCL, indicating that CA was an efficient nucleating agent for the crystallization of PCL. The possible nucleation mechanism of CA on the crystallization of PCL was also discussed on the basis of their crystal structures.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COPOLYMER OF 2,5-BIS[（4-METHOXYPHENYL）OXYCARBONYL]STYRENE AND STYRENE WITH HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT

The random copolymers of styrene and 2,5-bis[(4-methoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)styrene] (MPCS) with different copolymerization ratio were synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization. The copolymer having high molecular weight was experimentally elucidated using a combination of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The liquid crystalline behavior of the copolymer was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry and polarized optical microscopy. It was found that the liquid crystalline behavior was dependent on the content of styrene. Experimental results show that the copolymer could turn into a liquid crystalline phase at about 180℃ when the content of styrene was less than 20%. The mechanical properties of the copolymer were also studied. Preliminary results indicate that the tensile strength decreases while the tensile modulus increases as the content of MPCS is increased.     

Molecular Weight and Aggregation of Erwinia Gum in Aqueous Solutions

Erwinia(E) gum is composed of glucose, fucose, galactose and glucuronic acid. The weight-average molecular weights Mw, number-average molecular weights Mn and intrinsic viscosities[η] of the four fractions and the unfractionated E gum in aqueous solutions at desired temperatures were studied by light scattering, membrane osmometry, size exclusion chromatography(SEC) and viscometry. The experimental results prove that E gum formed aggregates in the aqueous solution at 25 ℃ and the aggregates were broken gradually with increasing temperature. The dissociation of the aggregates of E gum in the aqueous solution started at 36 ℃, and was completed at around 90 ℃. The [η] values of E gum and its fractions are much higher than those of the conventional polymers with the similar molecular weights, and decrease with increasing NaCl concentration.     

Block Copolymer Networks Composed of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Polyethylene with Triple Shape Memory Properties

In this contribution, we reported a novel synthesis of block copolymer networks composed of poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) and polyethylene(PE) via the co-hydrolysis and condensation of α,ω-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics. First, α,ω-dihydroxylterminated PCL and PE telechelics were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene followed by hydrogenation of polycyclooctene. Both α,ω-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics were obtained via in situ reaction of α,ω-dihydroxyl-terminated PCL and PE telechelics with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane. The formation of networks was evidenced by the solubility and rheological tests. It was found that the block copolymer networks were microphase-separated. The PCL and PE blocks still preserved the crystallinity. Owing to the formation of crosslinked networks, the materials displayed shape memory properties. More importantly, the combination of PCL with PE resulted that the block copolymer networks had the triple shape memory properties, which can be triggered with the melting and crystallization of PCL and PE blocks. The results reported in this work demonstrated that triple shape memory polymers could be prepared via the formation of block copolymer networks.     

DISPERSITY OF THE COPOLYMER OF STYRENE AND 2, 2, 6, 6-TETRAMETHYL-4-PIPERIDINYL-METHACRYLATE (PDS) IN POLYPROPYLENE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON PHOTOSTABILIZING ACTION OF PDS

The morphology of films of PDS/PP blends with various contents of PDS and with PDS of dif-ferent molecular weights was examined by scanning electron microscopy and the photostability ofthese films was studied by infrared spectrometry. Experimental results show that PDS is dispersedin PP matris as spherical globules being in size of the order of 10~(-1)μm when content of PDS is in therange of 0.1 % to 1%. The phase separation of PDS from PP results in decrease in photostabilizingaction of PDS to some extent. It is found that films of PP blended with PDS of different molecularweights show similar morphology and photostabilizing action if the content of PDS is kept constant.     

EFFECT OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF PEO ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF PDMAEMA/PEO HYDROGELS

A new kind of binary hydrogels composed of poly(dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with varying weight average molecular weights ((M)w = 5 × 104, 1 × 105 and 2.5 × 106) were prepared by y-irradiation technology. The properties of PDMAEMA/PEO hydrogels obtained were evaluated in terms of gel fraction, gel strength, thermal characterization and swelling behavior. The gel strength and swelling degree of the hydrogels could be improved obviously after adding PEO into the PDMAEMA system, while the degree of improvement decreased with increasing (M)w of PEO. The temperature sensitivity of PDMAEMA/PEO was retained only in the sample with PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104, and the pH sensitivity was retained in samples with PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104 and 1 × 105. When DMAEMA/PEO mixtures containing PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104 were irradiated, the main reaction could be the cross-linking of DMAEMA, and the linear PEO molecular chains could penetrate into the cross-linked network of PDMAEMA. With increasing Mw of PEO, some side reactions were induced, such as grafting of DMAEMA onto PEO molecules, the scission or cross-linking of PEO.     

PREPARATION OF POLY （LACTIC ACID） THROUGH THIONYL CHLORIDE ACTIVATED POLYCONDENSATION

A two-step process was used to synthesize the high molecular weight poly (lactic acid) using thionyl chloride as an activator for the polycondensation of prepolymer of lactic acid.The products were characterized by GPC,DSC and 1H-NMR.Poly(L-lactic acid)(PLLA) with molecular weight Mw:32875 was obtained when thionyl chloride was used.while low molecular weight PLLA MW:7350 was yielded without thionyl chloride.Effects of the concentration of thionyl chloride,polymerization time and bases on the molecular weight of poly(lactic acid) were investigated.In DSC scans the glass transition temperatures(Tg)of the resulting polymers varied from 25.3 to 57.6℃.and the Tg of poly(L-lactic acid)was higher than that of poly (D,L0lactic acid)(PDLLA).The melting points of poly(L-lactic acid)and poly (D,L-lactic acid) could not be found unless the polymers were obtained by thionyl chloride activator.     

MELTING AND CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR OFAN AROMATIC POLY (AZOMETHINE ETHER) WITH NON-LINEARLY SHAPED MOLECULAR CONFORMATIONS

The melting and crystallization behavior have been investigated for an aromatic poly(azomethine ether) with non-linearly shaped molecular conformations. This polymer wasfound to undergo multiple melting processes and its phase transition behavior wasinfluenced sensitively by the thermal history of sample. A significant difference between thepolymer chain aggregation abilities of samples cooled from the different states wasobserved. The possible molecular morphology and aggregation models for describing thestructures of this polymer were proposed and discussed. The crystallization behavior of thesamples cooled from the partially isotropic state and the influence of cooling rate on it havealso been examined with DSC.     

TRANSAMIDATION IN THE in situ BLENDING OF POLYAMIDE 1212 WITH POLYAMIDE 6 THROUGH ANIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF CAPROLACTAM

20 wt% polyamide 12(PA1212)pellets were dissolved in molten caprolactam.The caprolactam was then catalyzed at 180℃and polymerized by means of anionic ring-opening polymerization to produce in situ blends of the resultant polyamide 6(PA6)and PA1212.Mechanical blends with same ingredient were prepared through melt blending on a twin-screw extruder.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observation revealed that contrary to the mechanical blends with small spherulites embedded in the matrix,no phase-separation existed in the in situ blends.The results of thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)showed that single melting peak and crystallization peak existed for the in situ blends,while two melting and crystallization peaks appeared for the mechanical blends.The in situ blend film and the mixed blend film,both cast from a dilute formic acid solution with a concentration of 0.5 g/L,remained similar crystallization and melting behavior as above.It is proved by solution ~(13)C-NMR analysis that transamidation took place during the in situ blending,and it is suggested that the combination of temperature increasing and the basic surrounding derived from NaOH during polymerization resulted in the occurrence of transamidation.Furthermore,it is proposed that the interchange reaction between PA1212 and PA6 also resulted from the degradative reaction during the anionic polymerization.