Water-soluble graft copolymers from macromonomer method

Water-soluble graft copolymers of well-defined structure having hydrophobic polymethacrylate branches with different ester groups were prepared by the macromonomer method. Methacrylate macromonomers of controlled molecular weights having a methacryloyloxyl end group were synthesized by radical polymerization of the corresponding monomer in the presence of thioglycolic acid followed by the reaction of glycidyl methacrylate with the terminal carboxyl group. These macromonomers were copolymerized with methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate to prepare tailor-made graft copolymers composed of a hydrophlic backbone and different kinds of hydrophobic branches, which were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, and GPC. The viscosities of the aqueous solutions of the sodium salts of these graft copolymers were measured. It was found that the viscosity of the dilute solution of the graft copolymer was remarkably high compared with the corresponding random copolymer irrespective of the ester group in branch segments. Solubilizing behavior of Orange-OT in aqueous solutions of the graft copolymers and the random copolymer were also investigated to study the nature of the hydrophobic domain of the graft copolymers.     

Controlled grafting of acetylated starch by atom transfer radical polymerization of MMA

Graft copolymers of acetylated starch oligomer (AS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). AS was converted to an ATRP macroinitiator by converting a part of the hydroxyl groups of AS to 2-bromoisobutyryl groups. Macroinitiators with varying degrees of substitution for the 2-bromoisobutyryl group were prepared. The polymerizations were conducted using CuBr/BiPy catalyst system, either in bulk or in 1:1 v/v THF solution. They proceeded with first-order kinetics and the molecular weights of the polymers increased linearly with conversion. Graft copolymers with different graft densities and graft lengths were prepared in a controlled manner. The hydrophobicity of these copolymers was studied by contact angle measurements.     

Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene-based Polymer Hybrids via Controlled Radical Polymerization

Isotactic polypropylene-based graft copolymers linking poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(n-butyl acrylate) and polystyrene were successfully synthesized by a controlled radical polymerization with isotactic polypropylene (iPP) macroinitiator. The hydroxylated iPP, prepared by propylene/10-undecen-1-ol copolymerization with a metallocene/methyl-aluminoxane/triisobutylaluminum catalyst system, was treated with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide to produce a Br-group containing iPP (PP-g-Br). The resulting PP-g-Br could initiate controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate and styrene by using a copper catalyst system, leading to a variety of iPP-based graft copolymers with a different content of the corresponding polar segment. These graft copolymers demonstrated unique mechanical properties dependent upon the kind and content of the grafted polar segment.     

On the macro- and microphase separation of compatibilizers in immiscible polymer blends

Macro- and microphase separation of compatibilizing graft copolymers in melt-mixed polystyrene/polyamide-6 blends was studied by transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis. Three different graft copolymers with main chains of polystyrene and side chains of poly(ethylene oxide) were used as additives at various concentrations. The polyamide-6 domain sizes decreased with increasing amounts of compatibilizing graft copolymers in the blends up to a saturation concentration, after which no further reduction was noted. Macrophase separation of the graft copolymers into discrete macrodomains 20–200 nm in size occurred at concentrations equal to or slightly lower than the saturation concentration. The macrodomains of the graft copolymers were microphase separated, and the sizes and shapes of the microdomains were found to largely depend on the graft copolymer structure and composition. As a consequence of microphase separation, poly(ethylene oxide) crystallinity was noted in blends with sufficiently high macrophase contents. Observations of a graft copolymer interphase between the polystyrene matrix and the polyamide-6 domains confirmed that the graft copolymer was present at the blend interfaces in some of the compatibilized blends. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermodynamics of solvation and association in solutions of fluorosiloxane rubber and polychloroprene in organic liquids

The enthalpy of dissolution and concentration dependences of the enthalpy of dilution of solutions of fluorosiloxane rubber and polychloroprene in different organic liquids are determined by means of isothermal microcalorimetry. It is established that the processes of polychloroprene dissolution are accompanied by exothermic effects, while those of fluorosiloxane rubber are accompanied by endothermic effects. The calorimetric data are analyzed using the UNIQUAC model to calculate the model parameters associated with the local concentrations of components in the solution that characterize solvation and association. It is shown that the local distribution of the solvent molecules in the polychloroprene solution differed only slightly from the average over the volume, while the process of solvent association predominated in the solution of fluorosiloxane rubber.     

基于聚乙烯的无规和嵌段接枝共聚物的制备

采用乙烯配位聚合和巯基-烯点击化学相结合的方法制备了羟基封端的线性聚乙烯,末端羟基含量接近100%;利用酰氯与羟基的高效反应,将羟基封端的聚乙烯转化为降冰片烯封端的聚乙烯大单体(PE-NB).使用Grubbs II代催化剂,将大分子单体与降冰片烯(NB)单体进行开环易位共聚,通过调整单体的投料比和加料方式制备了分子量和组成可控的聚降冰片烯-g-聚乙烯(PNB-g-PE)接枝共聚物.其中,无规共聚时,大单体的转化率接近100%,所得无规接枝共聚物的重均分子量为1.79×10~4~3.14×10~4,分子量分布指数为2.09~2.60,聚乙烯链段的质量分数为4.6%~16.8%;而嵌段共聚时,由于空间位阻原因,大单体的转化率约为80%.热分析研究发现,由于空间位阻,接枝共聚物的结晶度较聚乙烯前驱体略有下降,且接枝度越大,结晶能力下降得越多.     

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-graft-polycaprolactone copolymers

The graft copolymers of chitosan with polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared through a protection-graft-deprotection route using phthaloylchitosan as intermediate. PCL macromonomers terminated with isocyanate groups reacted with hydroxyl groups of phthaloyl-protected chitosan regioselectively, and then phthaloyl groups were deprotected to give the free amino groups. The graft reaction was carried out in homogeneous system and yielded copolymers with high grafting content due to solubilization. FTIR, NMR and XRD were detected to characterize the resultant chitosan-graft-PCL copolymers.     

Modification of EVOH copolymers with ϵ‐caprolactone: synthesis and compatibilization effects in PE/PVC blends

Polyethylene‐polycaprolactone graft copolymers with different chemical structures (i.e. different number and length of PCL grafts and molecular weight of PE backbone) were synthesized from various EVOH copolymers and ϵ‐caprolactone, using Aluminum isopropoxide as catalyst, and were tested for their compatibilizing capability in PE/PVC blends. PE and PCL segments in the graft copolymers were found completely immiscible, while PCL segments of the graft copolymers were found completely miscible with PVC. When graft copolymers were added to PE/PVC blends they proved to be good agents for the dispersion of PVC phase in the PE matrix. SEM showed also improved adhesion between the dispersed PVC phase and PE matrix. Moderate improvements in mechanical properties were also observed in preliminary tensile tests.     

Chitosan-graft-poly(ϵ-caprolactone)s: An optimized chemical approach leading to a controllable structure and enhanced properties

A novel synthetic approach was developed for the controllable modification of chitosan (CS) with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL). 6-O-Triphenylmethyl-chitosan (TMCS) was synthesized as a highly soluble intermediate in organic solvents to facilitate an efficient grafting reaction of PCL onto CS in a homogeneous reaction medium. Subsequently, the syntheses of CS-g-PCL copolymers with different degrees of substitution (ds) and various chain lengths of PCL (number-average molecular weight = 1200–11,000) were carried out by a coupling reaction between the carboxylic terminal groups of PCL chains and the amino groups of TMCS. The successful grafting reaction was confirmed by GPC measurements, which indicated that the products were graft copolymers rather than physical blends. The ds, defined as the number of PCL chains per saccharide unit, of the graft copolymers could be adjusted simply by changes in the molar feed ratios of PCL to CS, and graft copolymers with different ds values ranging from 0.28 to 0.49 were synthesized, as calculated by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. DSC and X-ray measurements showed that the melting temperature and enthalpy of the PCL grafts of these graft copolymers could be adjusted by the ds and the chains length of PCL, respectively. Meanwhile, the CS-g-PCL copolymers exhibited better solubility in various solvents, such as in chloroform for some of the resultant graft copolymers, than the original CS. Finally, nanoparticles of 100–200 nm, having hydrophobic PCL domains and cationic hydrophilic surfaces, were obtained through the self-assembly of the copolymers in selective solvents. These types of graft copolymers have great potential in various applications, such as targeted drug and gene delivery as well as tissue engineering. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2556–2568, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of a poly(GMA)‐graft‐poly(Z‐L‐lysine) graft copolymer with a rod‐like structure

This study applied the macromonomers and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to synthesize a series of the graft copolymers, poly(GMA)‐graft‐poly(Z‐L ‐lysine), and investigated the conformation of the graft copolymer. The graft copolymers were synthesized with different GMA monomer ratios (28 to 89%) and different degrees of polymerization (DP) (8 to 15) of the poly(Z‐L ‐lysine) side chain to analyze secondary structure relationships. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and both wide angle and small angle X‐ray scattering spectroscopy (WAXS, SAXS) were used to investigate the relationship between the microstructure and conformation of the graft copolymers and the different monomer ratios and side chain DP. In AFM images, n8‐G89 (the graft copolymer containing 89% GMA units and the macromonomer DP is 8) showed tiny and uniform rod‐like structures, and n14‐G43 (the graft copolymer containing 43% GMA units and the macromonomer DP is 14) showed uniform rod‐like structures. FTIR spectra of the graft copolymers showed that the variations of α‐helix and β‐sheet secondary structures in the graft copolymers relate to the monomer ratios of the graft copolymers. However, the X‐ray scattering patterns indicated that the graft copolymer conformations were mainly dependent on the poly(Z‐L ‐lysine) side chain length, and these results were completely in accordance with the AFM images. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4655–4669, 2009     

Synthesis and property comparisons of random and alternating hybrid fluorocarbon–fluorosilicone copolymers

The synthesis of a number of random and alternating copolymers of a fluorosiloxane and a hybrid fluorocarbon-fluorosiloxane are described, along with property comparisons. The random copolymers were prepared by silanol–chlorosilane condensation, while the alternating copolymer preparation involved the use of the novel silanol—silyl-N-methylacetamido condensation reaction, which was used to produce a high polymer, M?_n = 260,000. The physical properties of the two classes of polymers which were compared include: glass transition temperatures, reversion resistance, and thermal and oxidative weight loss. From these comparisons, it was possible to gauge the relative effects of backbone architecture, as well as monomer ratios, upon copolymer properties. Comparison of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of both the random and alternating LS/FCS copolymer systems with the parent LS and FCS homopolymers indicates that the copolymer generally show little variation among themselves, but better thermal characteristics than either of the parents.     

Synthesis of poly(styrene-graft-ethylene oxide) by ethoxylation of amide group containing styrene copolymers

Graft copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) side chains on a polystyrene backbone have been synthesized. Styrene copolymers synthesized by free radical mechanism and containing between 5 and 15 mol % acrylamide or methacrylamide were used as backbones. The amide groups in the copolymers were ionized by using potassium tert-butoxide or potassium naphthalene, and grafting was achieved by utilizing the amide anions as initiator sites for the polymerization of ethylene oxide in 2-ethoxyethyl ether at 65°C. The graft copolymers were characterized with respect to molecular weight and composition using elemental analysis, NMR, gel permeation chromatography, IR, and viscosity measurements. The size of the side chains were between 600 and 2000 g/mol. GPC results from a hydrolyzed graft copolymer sample suggest a narrow size distribution for the poly(ethylene oxide) grafts. Solution properties of the graft copolymers were investigated in different toluene/methanol mixtures. The intrinsic viscosities of the graft copolymers were found to depend primarily on the poly(ethylene oxide) content rather than the graft density or the poly(ethylene oxide) chain length. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Aggregate morphologies of amphiphilic graft copolymers in dilute solution studied by self-consistent field theory

Microstructures assembled by amphiphilic graft copolymers in a selective solvent (poor for the backbone chain and good for graft chains or poor for graft chains and good for the backbone chain) were investigated on the basis of a real-space algorithm of self-consistent field theory in two-dimensions. Circle-like micelles, line-like micelles, large compound micelles, and vesicles are obtained by tailoring the architectural parameters and interaction parameter between the graft blocks and solvents. The aggregate morphology stability regions of graft copolymers as functions of the position of first graft point and the number of branches are constructed. It is found that the architectural parameters play a remarkable role in the complex microstructure formation. The interaction between the graft blocks and solvents is also shown to exert an effect on the morphology stability regions. The distributions of the free end and inner blocks of the backbone are found to be different in various aggregate structures. For the circle-like micelles assembled by graft copolymers with a hydrophobic backbone and vesicles assembled by graft copolymers with a hydrophilic backbone, the free end and inner blocks segregate and localize in different parts of the aggregates depending on their length. However, with respect to the large compound micelles and vesicles assembled by graft copolymers with a hydrophobic backbone, the free end and inner blocks uniformly mix in the clusters.     

Morphologies and domain sizes of microphase-separated structures of block and graft copolymers of different types

Well-defined block and graft copolymers of different types with different compositions and molecular weights, such as styrene(S)-2-vinylpyridine(P) diblock copolymers, SP star-shaped block copolymers, PSP triblock copolymers, styrene(S)-isoprene(I) multiblock copolymers of the (SI)_n type, ISP triblock copolymers, SPP graft copolymers and their deuterated samples were prepared. Variations of the morphologies with compositions, molecular weight dependences of the lamellar domain sizes and conformations and distributions of block chains in the lamellar domains were studied in the strong segregation limit. Besides typical morphologies such as spherical, cylindrical and lamellar structures, ordered bi- and tri-continuous structures were found between cylindrical and lamellar structures for SP diblock copolymers, PSP and ISP triblock copolymers, respectively. The composition ranges of morphologies are different for the block and graft copolymers of different types. The molecular weight dependences of lamellar domain sizes are about the same, but their magnitudes are not always the same for the block and graft copolymers of different types. These results are well explained by the theories of Helfand-Wasserman and Semenov. Block chains in lamellae are extended along the direction perpendicular to lamellae, but they are contracted along the parallel direction. The former result is well explained by the theories, but the latter is not. Chains adjacent to the junction points between different block chains are localized near the domain interface, but chains at the free-ends of block chains are widely distributed in the domain with the maximum at the center of domain.     

Characterization and Evaluation of Thermal,Morphological, and Physicochemical Properties of Chemically Modified Lignocellulosic Biomass

A novel redox system, ascorbic acid-hydrogen peroxide, was employed to initiate graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate binary monomer mixtures onto Abelmoschus esculentus fibers at a temperature of 45°C for 90 min in an aqueous medium. Factors affecting grafting such as feed molarity and comonomer composition were investigated. Contrary to the lower affinity of methyl methacrylate for grafting on Abelmoschus fibers, a synergistic effect of ethyl acrylate on methyl methacrylate was observed when graft copolymers were prepared using different feed compositions (f_MMA). The percentage of grafting increased from 40.2% to 89.74% at 0.4 mole fraction of f_MMA. The graft copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, and SEM techniques.     

温度/pH敏感性P(MAA-g-DEAM)共聚物水溶液的相行为

利用大分子单体技术通过自由基共聚法合成了由甲基丙烯酸(MAA)和N, N-二乙基丙烯酰胺(DEAM)组成的几种不同组成的P(MAA-g-DEAM)接枝共聚物.通过UV-Vis 透光率的测定和荧光探针技术, 对共聚物水溶液的相行为进行了研究. 研究表明, 此接枝共聚物具有相互独立的温度和pH 敏感性；几种组成不同的P(MAA-g-DEAM)接枝共聚物具有基本相同的低临界溶解温度(LCST)；它们的临界相变pH与接枝共聚物的组成有关, 温敏性PDEAM 枝链的接枝率越高, 其临界相变pH 越高. pH > 5.5 时, 接枝共聚物的主链是一种较为松散的线团构象；pH < 5.5 时, 接枝共聚物的主链是一种较为压缩的线团构象. 这种接枝共聚物高分子聚集体在新的纳米复合材料的合成方面有可能获得应用.     

活性正离子聚合及原位制备聚醋酸乙烯酯-g-聚四氢呋喃共聚物/纳米银复合材料

通过将烯丙基溴/高氯酸银引发体系引发四氢呋喃活性正离子开环聚合与"grafting onto"合成方法相结合,原位制备了不同接枝密度和接枝链长度的新型聚醋酸乙烯酯-g-聚四氢呋喃接枝共聚物(PVAc-g-PTHF)及其与纳米银(Ag)的复合材料.采用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、核磁共振波谱(1H-NMR)和多角度激光光散射-黏度-凝胶渗透色谱仪(MALLS-VIS-GPC)分别表征了该接枝共聚物的化学结构、共聚组成、分子量、分子量分布、接枝支链数目及支化度,采用原子力显微镜(AFM)、示差扫描量热分析(DSC)、偏光显微镜(POM)研究了接枝共聚物中接枝支链数目及支链长度对其微观形态、单端受限链段结晶行为的影响,并探讨了该纳米复合材料的抗菌性能.结果表明:所制备的不同支链数目和支链长度的PVAc-g-PTHF/Ag纳米复合材料,均表现出良好的抗菌性能;接枝共聚物PVAc-g-PTHF的重均分子量可达4.52×10~5,分子分子量较窄(M_w/M_n~1.8),支化因子可达0.19.接枝共聚物PVAc-g-PTHF可形成明显的相分离结构,其微观形态与接枝支链数目有关;相比相同分子量的双端不受限的PTHF链,PVAc-g-PTHF接枝共聚物中单端受限PTHF支链的结晶速率明显降低;在确定接枝支链数目的情况下,随着支链中PTHF链段长度增加,其结晶逐渐增强,结晶熔融温度及熔融焓均稍有增加.     

聚苯乙烯/聚二甲基硅氧烷嵌段与接枝共聚物表面聚集态的研究

利用ATR单点全反射技术以及XPS(X光电子能谱 )测试方法对聚苯乙烯 聚二甲基硅氧烷嵌段 (PS b PDMS)和接枝共聚物 (PS g PDMS)进行了研究 ,发现聚合物膜表面存在着有机硅富集层 ,PS b PDMS有机硅表面富集程度要高于PS g PDMS ,而且不同溶解度参数的成膜溶剂和不同极性的成膜介质对有机硅富集程度有一定的影响 .     

Grafting of 4-Vinyl Pyridine onto Nylon-6 Initiated by Redox System

The graft copolymerization of 4‐vinyl pyridine (4VP) onto nylon‐6 (PA6) was studied by using potassium diperiodatonickelate(IV) (DPN)‐PA6 redox system in alkaline medium. The structures of graft copolymers were confirmed by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction. The properties of graft copolymers were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A mechanism was proposed to explain the generation of radicals and the initiation. The effects of reaction variables, such as the initiator concentration, the ratio of 4VP to PA6, pH as well as reaction temperature and time were investigated. Graft copolymers with high grafting efficiency (>95%) were obtained, which indicated that DPN‐PA6 redox system is an efficient initiator for this graft copolymerization. The quaternized PA6‐g‐P4VP (QPAVP) was proved to be an excellent adsorbent to heavy metal ions.     

接枝共聚法制备聚乙二醇(PEG)/聚乙烯醇(PVA)高分子固-固相变材料性能研究

用接枝共聚法将具有相变特征的聚乙二醇(PEG)接枝到具有较高熔点的聚乙烯醇(PVA)主链上,得到了系列性能稳定的PEG/PVA高分子固-固相转变材料,用DSC,WAXD和POM对其相变行为及形态结构进行了研究.结果表明,该材料呈现出可逆的固-固相转变特性;其结晶峰值温度和相变焓比纯PEG低,接枝率对相变温度和归一化相变焓影响不大;接枝率只影响结晶与熔融行为,不影响结晶结构.