Radiochemical studies of free-radical vinyl polymerizations. VI. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of organotin PVC stabilizers

¹⁴C-Azoisobutyronitrile was used to initiate polymerizations of methyl methacrylate in the presence of the organotin compounds: tetrabutyltin, dibutyltin diacetate, dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin di(ethyl mercaptide), dibutyltin di(dodecyl mercaptide), and dibutyltin dichloride. Only dibutyltin dichloride affected rates of polymerization significantly, and this was ascribed to an increase in the velocity constant k_p for the propogation reaction. No evidence was obtained for radical displacement reactions of the polymer radicals with bonds between tin and carbon, oxygen, sulfur, or chlorine. Transfer activity exhibited by the mercaptides was ascribed to traces of thiol impurity, possibly formed during storage. The relevance of these results to the mechanism of stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride) is briefly discussed.     

Photo-Oxidative Degradation of Poly(vinyl Chloride) Based Nanocomposites Under Ultraviolet Irradiation

The poly(vinyl chloride) based nanocomposites with 3.0% weight content of the photo-active zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles or the photo-inert calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles was prepared by the solution mixing method, respectively. Their photo-oxidative degradation under ultraviolet irradiation (365 nm) at room temperature were compared with the pure poly(vinyl chloride) via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The results showed that the photo-inert calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles hampered the photo-degradation of poly(vinyl chloride), whereas the photoactive zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles accelerated the photodegradation of poly(vinyl chloride). Furthermore, the ZnO nanoparticles also favored the crosslinking reaction of the dehydrochlorinated poly(vinyl chloride).     

Leaching of organotin compounds from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) material

The release of mono-and di-butyltin species (MBT and DBT) in water after leaching of five different poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) materials was investigated under mild conditions over a period of one month in batch reactor systems. Results showed that inorganic tin, MBT and DBT compound were released from the material tested under experimental static leaching conditions. The total amount of inorganic tin and organotin compounds observed upon leaching varied considerably from one PVC material to another.     

IR laser ablation of poly(vinyl chloride): Formation of monomer and deposition of nanofibres of chlorinated polyhydrocarbon

IR laser-induced ablation of poly(vinyl chloride) was examined under different irradiation conditions and its volatile and solid products were characterized by mass, infrared, UV and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. It is demonstrated that the major component among the volatile products is monomeric vinyl chloride and that the process causes deposition of Cl-containing polymeric films. The proportion between the volatile and solid products as well as the nature of the deposited films at different laser fluences have been examined. We show that the deposited films incorporate less Cl atoms than poly(vinyl chloride) and that they initially contain conjugated CC bonds and incorporate nano-sized fibre and necklace features. The process represents the first example of thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) into monomer and makes it possible to fabricate crosslinked Cl-containing intractable polymer films.     

Photostabilization of polypropylene. II. Stabilizers and hydroperoxides

The effects of various polyolefin photostabilizers on the thermal and photodecomposition of model and polymeric hydroperoxides have been investigated, both in the liquid and solid phases. Several extremely effective ultraviolet stabilizers belonging to the metal chelate class can cause the rapid thermal decomposition of model and polymeric hydroperoxides. Although stabilizers did not reduce the quantum yield for polypropylene hydroperoxide photolysis, several additives can scavenge hydroxyl and macroalkoxy radical products which result from hydroperoxide photolytic cleavage. Ultraviolet stabilizers which were found to trap radicals were able to prevent the photodegradation of polypropylene which already contained a significant concentration of hydroperoxide groups. Highly effective polypropylene ultraviolet stabilizers probably operate by a range of mechanisms including hydroperoxide decomposition, radical scavenging and singlet oxygen quenching.     

Antimicrobial agents as photostabilizers for rigid poly(vinyl chloride)

Some amide derivatives of ethylene glycol‐bis(2‐aminoethylether)‐N,N,N^′,N^′‐tetraacetic acid (EGTA) have been prepared via their coupling with different aniline derivatives: amino, methyl, chloro, and hydroxy aniline. The EGTA amide derivatives were characterized, and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated. These antimicrobial agents have been investigated as photostabilizers for rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), suspension PVC, with a K value of 70. Their stabilizing efficiencies were evaluated by determining the percentage of weight loss, the intrinsic viscosities, as well as the amount of formed gel of the photodegraded PVC. The extent of discoloration and the change in the mechanical properties of the photodegraded polymer were also evaluated. The applied materials reduced the loss in weight that resulted from HCl evolution during photodegradation. Both viscosity and gel content measurements showed also a decrease in their values during the degradation process. The decrease in the percentage of gel formation upon applying the investigated photostabilizers reflects the lowering in extent of cross‐linking of the polymer, which implies preserving the mechanical properties of PVC. The extent of discoloration was also improved in the presence of the investigated compounds. The results have proved a greater stabilizing efficiencies of the antimicrobial EGTA amide derivatives than that of the phenyl salicylate ultraviolet (UV) absorber, which is commonly used as an industrial stabilizer. A radical mechanism was proposed to account for the stabilizing action of the investigated products. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE COMPATIBILITY OF BLENDS OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) OR CHLORINATED POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) WITH POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)

IR spectral shifts of carbonyl vibrational absorption for ethyl acetate, which acts analogically as the structural unit of poly(methyl methacrylate), in cyclohexane, chloroform, chlorinated paraffins, poly(vinyl chloride) and chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) were measured. The results suggest that there are specific interactions between the carbonyl groups and the chlorinated hydrocarbons which could be responsible for the apparent compatibility of poly(vinyl chloride)—poly(methyl methacrylate) and chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride)—poly(methyl methacrylate) blends. Additionally, the effects of the preparation mode of blend films on phase separation and observed compatibility are discussed.     

Electrospray ionization-multistage tandem mass spectrometry of complex multitin organometallic compounds

The series of 14 complex organotin(IV) compounds containing many tin atoms and noncovalent bonds in the structure was characterized by electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)). The mass spectra were measured in both polarity modes to obtain complementary structural information. The characteristic pattern of ten natural tin isotopes allowed the determination of the number of tin atoms in the molecular adducts and fragment ions by comparing theoretical and experimental isotopic distributions. Positive ion ESI spectra show unusual adduct formation depending on the type of organic solvent used for the direct infusion analysis owing to the ion-molecule reactions in the ion source. On the basis of the detailed spectral interpretation of organotin(IV) compounds, the fragmentation patterns of multitin organometallic compounds have been proposed. Noncovalent bonds in polymeric complexes are fragmented first, which is then followed by characteristic neutral losses in monomeric units.     

On the reaction of tin dichloride and of metallic tin with hydrochloric acid in the presence of alkenes. The question of trichlorostannane(IV) or chlorostannate(II) intermediates.

Studies of the reaction of tin dichloride and of metallic tin with hydrochloric acid gas in diethyl ether are described. On the basis of spectroscopic and analytical data it is concluded that the product is not to be regarded as a tin-hydrogen bonded analog of chloroform, viz. trichlorostannane(IV), and the formation of an equilibrium mixture of hydrogen trichlorostannate(II) and dihydrogen tetrachlorostannate(II) is tentatively suggested. The complexes slowly decompose as a result of diethyl ether cleavage, yielding ethanol and ethyl chloride, together with traces of ethyltin trichloride.The mechanism of addition of the complexes to methyl acrylate is discussed in terms of a 1,4-addition involving initial protonation of oxygen. Reaction of the resulting β-carbomethoxyethyltin trichloride with tin or with zinc gives rise to mixtures of bis(β-carbomethoxyethyl)tin dichloride and tris(β-carbomethoxyethyl)tin chloride Similar reactions were observed for the first time with methyltin trichloride, the reaction with zinc being extremely fast at room temperature.     

混合二烃基二氯化锡与2-羟基-1-萘醛缩苯胺类席夫碱配合物的合成与表征

由混合二烃基二氯化锡 (RR′Sn Cl2 )与 2 -羟基 - 1 -萘醛缩苯胺类席夫碱反应 ,合成了 1 8种新的有机锡配合物。经元素分析 ,IR、1 H NMR、1 3 C NMR和 TG- DSC测定 ,确认配合物为有机锡与席夫碱的 1 2 1加成物 ,配体以酚羟基氧原子和锡原子配位。     

Surface Properties of Poly(vinyl alcohol) with Iron(III)chloride Before and After UV-Irradiation

Summary: Surface properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with low content of FeCl₃ (1, 5 wt.%) were studied by measurements of contact angles and atomic force microscopy. The results of contact angles and the surface free energy calculations revealed that the hydrophilicity of the surface of PVA films depended on the content of iron (III) chloride in these polymeric films. Introduced salt also affected photochemical reactions in poly(vinyl alcohol). Photooxidation of PVA was more effective in the presence of FeCl₃ because of formation of reactive chlorine atoms, which were capable of initiating new reactions. Also the morphology and roughness parameters of PVA film changed when iron (III) chloride was added.     

Breakage of λ-DNA by inorganic tin and organotin compounds as environmental pollutants

In proportion to the environmental pollution problems caused by organotin compounds, the genotoxicities of tin compounds in the environments have become of interest so as to estimate their safety in recent years. In this work, isolated λ-DNA (double-strand DNA) was incubated with inorganic tin(II) and tin(IV) and five organotin compounds [n-butyltin trichloride, di(n-butyltin) dichloride, methyltin trichloride, dimethyltin dichloride and trimethyltin chloride] in reaction systems both with and without hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content. The tin compounds tested in this study did not induce DNA breakage in the absence of hydrogen peroxide. Divalent inorganic tin (SnCl₂) and tetravalent inorganic tin (SnCl₄) caused DNA breakage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (10 mM), and the DNA damage activity of inorganic tin was much more potent in divalent inorganic tin (SnCl₂) than in tetravalent inorganic tin (SnCl₄). Divalent inorganic tin (SnCl₂) induced DNA breakage in a concentration-dependent fashion at concentrations greater than 0.1 mM of SnCl₂ in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (10 mM). DNA breakage was not caused by n-butyltin compounds and methyltin compounds either in the presence or in the absence of hydrogen peroxide.     

Compatibility of binary systems of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl acetate)

The influence of the thermal treatment on the stability in time of the dispersion degree of films containing binary polymer mixtures, poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl acetate)/poly(methyl methacrylate), was studied by thermogravimetry and optical microscopy with phase contrast. The dispersion degree depends particularly on the composition of the polymer mixture and can be improved by thermal treatment at temperatures above the glass temperatures of both homopolymers. It seems that this thermal treatment yields exclusively metastable structures with a general tendency to phase separation in a short time after thermal treatment, the heterogeneity mixtures (as film) being more pronounced.     

混合二烃基二氯化锡与2-羟基-1-萘醛缩苯胺类席夫碱配合物的合成与表征

由混合二烃基二氯化锡(RR′SnCl₂)与2-羟基-1-萘醛缩苯胺类席夫碱反应,合成了18种新的有机锡配合物。经元素分析,IR、¹H NMR、¹³CNMR和TG-DSC测定,确认配合物为有机锡与席夫碱的121加成物,配体以酚羟基氧原子和锡原子配位。     

Photodegradation of polycaprolactone/poly(vinyl chloride) blend

The photodegradation of a 1:1 w/w blend of polycaprolactone and poly(vinyl chloride) has been studied by following carbon dioxide emission during UV exposure. Similar measurements were performed for polycaprolactone and poly(vinyl chloride) homopolymers which were prepared and irradiated in the same way. It was found that the blend gave lower CO₂ emission than either of the two homopolymers, indicating that the interaction of the two components in the blend provided a beneficial reduction of photodegradation. It is therefore deduced that the detailed morphological characteristics of the blend have a controlling influence over the photo-oxidation.     

Fourier-transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy evaluated for near-surface characterization of polymeric materials

Fourier-transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy was applied to the near-surface study of various polymeric materials including aluminum/polyethylene composite films, poly(vinyl chloride) composites, and various chemically-modified textile materials. Examples are given for surface identification of polymers, distribution of chemical additives in textile materials, and characterization of polymer surface degradation. This approach has various advantages over conventional infrared sampling techniques for the study of polymeric materials.     

New polyacrylate-based lead(II) ion-selective electrodes

A novel polyacrylate-based matrix for potentiometric ion-selective electrodes has been developed. Isododecyl acrylate, acrylonitrile and hexanedioldiacrylate co-monomers along with the thermo-initiator 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone were used as polymeric matrix components. A lead(II)-selective electrode (Pb-ISE) was constructed using the above matrix. The electrode showed comparable analytical performance in the micromolar range to Pb-ISEs with conventional poly(vinyl chloride)-based membranes containing neutral ionophore and with solid-state membranes containing a mixture of lead sulphide and silver sulphide. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies revealed much lower ion mobility in the polyacrylate membrane than in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes. This result additionally indicates the possibility of obtaining a lower detection limit for ISEs using the new acrylate matrix.     

Synthesis,Spectral, and 3D Molecular Modeling of Tin(II) and Organotin(IV) Complexes of Biologically Active Schiff Bases Having Nitrogen and Sulfur Donor Ligands

Reaction of tin(II) chloride and dimethyltin dichloride with Schiff bases derived from S-benzyldithiocarbazate leads to the formation of a new series of tin(II) and organotin(IV) complexes of general formula SnCl ₂ .L and Me ₂ SnCl ₂ .L (where L = Schiff bases are derived from the condensation of S-benzyldithiocarbazate with heterocyclic aldehydes). An attempt has been made to prove the structures of the resulting complexes on the basis of elemental analysis, conductance measurements, molecular weight determinations, infrared, and multinuclear magnetic resonance ( ¹ H, ¹³ C, and ¹¹⁹ Sn NMR) spectral studies. A few representative ligands and their tin complexes have also been screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and found to be quite active in this respect.     

Studies of the photooxidation mechanism of polymers. III. Role of tetrahydrofuran in the photooxidative degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)

The influence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) on photooxidative degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) in films cast from THF solution was studied. THF is partially retained in the polymer matrix in amounts of 6–8% after casting and drying the film. The last 2–3% is very difficult to remove. By use of thermogravimetric analysis, density measurements, and gas permeability measurements, it was shown that THF residues can be removed by preheating the PVC samples to 80°C. THF forms a charge-transfer complex with oxygen which is easily photolyzed. During this reaction hydroperoxide radicals are formed. Molecular weight distribution curves by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) show that THF in the presence of air promotes the photodegradation of PVC. Attention has been given to the correct interpretation of the infrared absorption spectra of PVC films containing THF residues and ultraviolet-irradiated in air.     

Surfactant-sensitive polymeric membrane electrodes

The development and testing is described of surfactant-sensitive electrodes in which the active element is a plasticised polymeric membrane containing a dissolved complex of a cationic and anionic surfactant. Electrodes made with poly(vinyl chloride) membranes plasticised with 40–60% tricresyl phosphate and containing cetyl trimethylammonium dodecyl sulphate are reasonably satisfactory for determining sodium dodecyl sulphate activities below and above the critical micelle concentration. A new class of membrane electrodes has been introduced in which ion-exchange groups are chemically bound to the ends of the poly(vinyl chloride) chains either through the use of an amine as chain transfer agent during polymerisation or by using the SO₃^? radical-anion as polymerisation initiator. The resulting electrodes are specific to anionic or to cationic surfactants but selectivity between different surfactants of the same charge sign is not high. The electrode lifetimes in micellar solutions are much higher than those of previously described electrodes because the electroactive material cannot be lost by solubilisation.