SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LIQUID CRYSTALLINE MULTI-BLOCK COPOLYMERS,POLY[1,6-BIS(4-OXYBENZOYL-OXY)HEXANE TEREPHTHALATE]-b-BISPHENOL A POLYCARBONATE

A series of liquid crystalline multi-block copolymers poly [1,6-bis(4-oxybenzoyl-oxy)hexaneterephthalate]-b-bisphenol A polycarbonate (PHTH-6-b-PC) with different segment lengths were synthesizedin tetrachloroethane by solution polycondensation in which hydroxyl terminated PC and acyl chlorideterminated PHTH-6 were used. It is found that block copolymers with high molecular weight and well-defined structures were obtained. All the block copolymers exhibit a nematic liquid crystalline texture.     

含聚碳酸酯、4-羟基苯甲酸、己二醇和1,4-苯二甲酸结构的嵌段共聚物的合成与表征

以端酰氯基团的热致液晶共聚酯ＨＴＨ ６和端酚羟基的聚碳酸酯（ＰＣ）齐聚物为原料，通过溶液缩聚法制备了含ＰＣ和ＨＴＨ ６的嵌段共聚物，并用ＩＲ、ＰＯＭ、ＤＳＣ、ＷＡＸＤ等手段对共聚物结构、热行为和结晶行为进了表征．ＤＳＣ和ＰＯＭ结果证明这些嵌段共聚物都属向列型热致性液晶．在２８０℃以下的温度范围内无相分离，而在较高温度（＞２８０℃）为两相结构．共聚物的结晶结构与ＨＴＨ ６相同，结晶度随ＨＴＨ ６含量增加而增加，结晶速度也受到ＰＣ含量的影响．     

Synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-polyisobutylene ABCBA Pentablock Copolymers by Combining Quasiliving Carbocationic and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerizations and Characterization Thereof

Novel, unique amphiphilic pentablock terpolymers consisting of the highly hydrophobic polyisobutylene (PIB) mid-segment attached to the hydrophilic combshaped poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PPEGMA) polymacromonomer chains, which are coupled to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) outer segments were synthesized by the combination of quasiliving carbocationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, a bifunctional PIB macroinitiator was prepared by quasiliving carbocationic polymerization and subsequent quantitative chain end derivatizations. Quasiliving ATRP of PEGMAs with different molecular weights (M_n = 188, 300 and 475 g/mol) led to triblock copolymers which were further reacted with MMA under ATRP conditions to obtain PMMA-PPEGMA-PIB-PPEGMA-PMMA ABCBA-type pentablock copolymers. It was found that slow initiation takes place between the PIB macroinitiator and PEGMA macromonomers with higher molecular weights via ATRP. ATRP of MMA with the resulting block copolymers composed of PIB and PPEGMA chain segments led to the desired block copolymers with high initiating efficiency. Investigations of the resulting pentablock copolymers by DSC, SAXS and phase mode AFM revealed that nanophase separation occurs in these new macromolecular structures with average domain distances of 11-14 nm, and local lamellar self-assembly takes place in the pentablocks with PPEGMA polymacromonomer segments of PEGMAs with M_n of 118 g/mol and 300 g/mol, while disordered nanophases are observed in the block copolymer with PEGMA having molecular weight of 475 g/mol. These new amphiphilic block copolymers composed of biocompatible chain segments can find applications in a variety of advanced fields.     

Influence of transesterification reactions on the miscibility and thermal properties of poly(butylene/diethylene succinate) copolymers

Poly(butylene/diethylene succinate) block copolymers (PBSPDGS), prepared by reactive blending of the parent homopolymers (PBS and PDGS) in the presence of Ti(OBu)₄, were analyzed by ¹H-NMR, TGA and DSC, in order to investigate the effects of the transesterification reactions on the molecular structure and thermal properties. ¹H-NMR analysis evidenced the formation of copolymers whose degree of randomness increases with the mixing time. The thermal analysis of the melt-quenched samples showed that the melting peak, due to the crystalline phase of PBS, tends to disappear with increasing mixing time and therefore with decreasing the block length in the copolymers. As concern miscibility, a single homogeneous amorphous phase always occurred, independently on block length. Nevertheless, a phase separation, due to the tendency of the PBS blocks to crystallize, was evidenced in the copolymers with long butylene succinate sequences. The results obtained indicated that the block size had a fundamental role in determining the crystallizability and, therefore, phase behavior of the block copolymers.     

Silicone polycarbonates from new aryl-terminated siloxane precursors

Several synthetic routes to silicon polycarbonate copolymers utilizing aryl-terminated siloxanes have been examined. Anhydride capped siloxanes with varying polydimethylsiloxane units were prepared by the acid equilibration of 1,3-bis(4,4′-phthalicanhydride)tetramethyldisiloxane. These siloxanes were then imidized with aminophenol to the corresponding phenol capped siloxane. Reaction of these materials with 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol (BPA) and phosgene (interfacially and non-interfacially) produced silicone polycarbonate copolymers. Similar copolymers were obtained by reaction with bis-chloroformate derivatives of 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol (monomer and oligomers). The different synthetic routes significantly affect the thermal and mechanical properties as well as the composition of the new polymers. Materials synthesized by the bis-chloroformate route exhibit good hydrolytic and melt stabilities. Those made interfacially underwent phase separation in the melt.     

Synthesis and block‐specific complexation of poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(tetrahydrofuran)–poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers

Well‐defined ABA triblock copolymers in which A stands for poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and B for poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) were synthesized by end‐capping bifunctionally living PTHF with different polyethylene glycol–monomethylethers. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis of these copolymers showed two melting points: one around 55 °C due to the PEO blocks, and one around 30 °C due to the PTHF segments, demonstrating that these block copolymers show extensive phase separation. Upon addition of sodium thiocyanate, crystalline complexes with PEO were formed and as a consequence, the melting points of the PEO segments had shifted to approximately 170 °C, whereas the melting points of the PTHF segments decreased slightly. The obtained materials behave as thermoplastic elastomers up to 160–175 °C. The influence of the relative lengths of the PEO and the PTHF segments on the thermal and mechanical properties of the materials have been investigated. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

聚硅氧烷聚脲多嵌段共聚物中氢键的研究

采用多种手段研究了聚硅氧烷与聚脲嵌段共聚物中所存在的各类氢键．特别探讨在聚硅氧烷软段中引入极性氰丙基对体系成氢键能力的影响和两相间相互作用力的情况结果表明，在软段分子中引入极性氰丙基有利于增加聚硅氧烷分子与聚脲链段的相互作用，这一相间作用力使两相间界面层厚度随着硬段分子量的增加而加宽，并发现在聚硅氧烷聚脲嵌段共聚物中硬段的聚集形态随溶液浓度改变变化不大，其中氢键随着温度升高而下降．     

Synthesis of AB and ABA block copolymers as compatibilizers in nylon 6/polycarbonate blends

Nylon 6 (Ny6) and Bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) are immiscible and form biphasic blends. To improve the compatibility of Ny6 and PC several ABA and AB Ny6/PC block copolymers were synthesized, and their compatibilizing behavior on the blends were tested. Block copolymers were prepared by reacting monoamino- or diamino-terminated Ny6 homopolymers with high molecular weight PC at 130°C in anhydrous DMSO. The reaction of diamino- and monoamino-terminated Ny6 with polycarbonate produces block copolymers of the type PC-Ny6-PC (ABA) and PC-Ny6 (AB), respectively, plus a certain amount of unconverted PC degradated to lower molecular weights. To separate the block copolymer from the unconverted PC, a selective fractionation with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and trifluoroethanol (TFE) was carried out. Three different fractions were obtained: THF-soluble fraction, TFE-soluble fraction, and the TFE-insoluble fraction. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of a 75/25 (wt/wt) Ny6/PC blend added with 2% of ABA or AB block copolymers, showed the presence of smaller PC particles more adherent to the polyamide matrix, with respect to the same blend nonadded, which is clearly biphasic. The size of the PC particles decreases from ABA to AB compatibilized blends and the adhesion with the matrix is increases in the same way. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of new block copolymers based on poly(ether sulfone) and polyimides

New poly(ether sulfone)-polyimide block copolymers were synthesized from α,ω-diamineterminated poly(ether sulfone) oligomer, aromatic diamines, and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides by low-temperature solution polymerization and subsequent thermal imidization. The block copolymers were insoluble in organic solvents. The multiblock copolymers obtained by the two-pot method showed microphase separation, while the random block copolymers by the one-pot method had single phase morphology. The mechanical properties of the block copolymers were greatly improved by the introduction of polyimide into the poly(ether sulfone). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

聚芳醚酮与液晶聚酯多嵌段共聚物的合成表征

近年来,以热塑性聚合物为基体,热致液晶聚合物(TLCP)作为增强剂的高分子原位复合材料由于其具有优异的机械性能和优良的成型加工性能,已引起各国工作者的普遍关注和极大兴趣．然而由于自聚集和相分离作用的影响,大部分液晶聚合物与通常的热塑性聚合物基体基本不相容或弱相容,这对于提高原位复合材料的力学性能不利．     

On the photoreactivity of diacetylene containing thermoplastic block copolymers

A group of block copolymers containing diacetylenes as chain extenders in their hard segments was prepared, based on urethanes, esters, ureas, and amides as hard segments and polybutadienes, polyethers, polyesters, and polysiloxanes as soft segments. Almost all block copolymers were photoreactive, but there was a wide range of sensitivities. The photoreactivity of the copolymers was found to depend on the reactivity of the monomer unit, on the width of the diacetylene stacks in the hard segments, and on the degree of phase separation in the solid films. To explore the range of monomer reactivities we prepared 15 crystalline monomers. Urethanes were in general the most reactive, and this was attributed in part to the specific effect of hydrogen bonding which brings about a shortening of the C₁ to C₄ distance between diacetylenes tend to reduce the photoreactivity. The behavior of identical diacetylene units in the monomer crystal, in the homopolymer, and in the block copolymer is discussed in this paper.     

[-PPO-PDMS-PHS-]n三元多嵌段共聚物的形态结构和性能

利用DMA, TEM和SAXS对以聚苯醚(PPO)为硬段、聚对羟基苯乙烯(PHS)为半硬段和聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)为软段的三元多嵌段共聚物[-PPO-PDMS-PHS-]n以三种嵌段相容相为连续相, PPO与PHS的相容相和PDMS相为两种分散相, 其tan δ随温度变化曲线在-100℃至200℃一直是一很高的平台, 并具有优异的力学性能, 较好地解决了含有机硅类嵌段共聚物强度低的弱点, 同时又保留了嵌段共聚物微相分离的特性。     

Poly(chloropropylmethyl-dimethylsiloxane)–polyurethane elastomers: Synthesis and properties of segmented copolymers and related zwitterionomers

A series of polyurethane block copolymers based on hydroxybutyl terminated poly(chloropropylmethyl-dimethylsiloxane) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) soft segments of molecular weights 2100 and 2000, respectively, were synthesized. The hard segments consisted of 4,4′-methylenediphenylene diisocyanate (MDI) that was chain extended with either 1,4-butanediol (BD) or N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). The materials chain extended with MDEA were ionized using 1,3-propane sultone. The weight fraction of the hard segments was in the range 0.30–0.45. The effect of mixed soft segments, chain extenders, and zwitterionization on the extent of phase separation and physical properties was studied by utilizing differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical, stress-strain, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy experiments. All of these short segment block copolymers showed nearly complete phase separation. The zwitterionomer materials exhibited ionic aggregation within the hard domains. Although hard segment crystallinity or ionic aggregation did not affect the morphology, hard domain cohesion was important in determining the tensile and viscoelastic properties of these elastomers.     

聚(苯乙烯-ε-己内酯)嵌段共聚物的研究

本文采用活性阴离子聚合方法合成聚(苯乙烯-ε-己内酯)嵌段共聚物。研究了聚合反应条件,并用GPC、柱上溶解分级及红外光谱进行表征。对产物进行结构分析,产物为聚(苯乙烯-ε-己内酯)嵌段共聚物,具有多相结构,是由无定形聚苯乙烯链段、无定形聚-ε-己内酯链段和结晶型聚-ε-己内酯链段组成的嵌段共聚物。对该嵌段共聚物的性能进行了测试。     

Phase behavior of biodegradable amphiphilic poly(l,l-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l,l-lactide)

This study describes the miscibility phase behavior in two series of biodegradable triblock copolymers, poly(l-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(l-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA), prepared from two di-hydroxy-terminated PEG prepolymers (M_n = 4000 or 600 g mol⁻¹) with different lengths of poly(l-lactide) segments (polymerization degree, DP = 1.2-145.6). The prepared block copolymers presented wide range of molecular weights (800-25,000 g mol⁻¹) and compositions (16-80 wt.% of PEG). The copolymer multiphases coexistance and interaction were evaluated by DSC and TGA. The copolymers presented a dual stage thermal degradation and decreased thermal stability compared to PEG homopolymers. In addition, DSC analyses allowed the observation of multiphase separation; the melting temperature, T_m, of PLLA and PEG phases depended on the relative segment lengths and the only observed glass transition temperature (T_g) in copolymers indicated miscibility in the amorphous phase.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel h‐HTBN/PEG PU copolymers for tissue engineering: degradation,phase behavior,and mechanical properties

The phase behavior of the as‐prepared polyether polyurethane (PU) elastomers was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), polarized optical microscope (POM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This PU copolymers were composed of different compositions of two soft segments, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrolytically modified hydroxyl‐terminated poly(butadiene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (h‐HTBN) oligomers. The microphase separation behavior is confirmed to occur between soft and hard segments as well as soft and soft segments as the h‐HTBN is incorporated into the PU system, depending on soft‐soft and/or soft‐hard microdomain composition, molecular weight (MW) of PEG, and hydrolysis time of HTBN. The driving force for this phase separation is mainly due to the formation of inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. The PU‐70, PU‐50 samples with non‐reciprocal composition seem to exhibit larger microphase separation than any other PU ones. The hydrolysis degradation, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the copolymers were assessed by gravimetry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravity analysis (TGA), and tensile test, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the incorporation of h‐HTBN soft segment into PEG as well as low MW of PEG leads to increased thermal and degradable stability based on the intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction. The PU‐70 and PU‐50 copolymers exhibit better mechanical properties such as high flexibility and high ductility because of their larger microphase separation architecture with the hard domains acting as reinforcing fillers and/or physical crosslinking agents dispersed in the soft segment matrix. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid crystalline side-group block copolymers with triblock structure: Investigations on the influence of the block arrangement on the morphology and the LC-phase behavior

Liquid crystalline triblock copolymers with LC inner block and amorphous outer blocks have been synthesized by “living” anionic polymerization and investigated using DSC, TEM, and small-angle x-ray diffraction. All samples of poly[styrene-block-2-(3-cholesteryloxycarbonyloxy) ethyl methacrylate-block-styrene] (PS-b-PChEMA-b-PS) show liquid crystalline behavior and phase separation between the blocks. Compared to triblock copolymers with PS inner block (PChEMA-b-PS-b-PChEMA) and diblock copolymers (PS-b-PChEMA) the LC block copolymers with PS outer blocks have the same properties. The LC behavior and the morphology do not depend on the block arrangement; they are only influenced by the volume fractions of the blocks. Those samples in which the liquid crystalline subphase is not continuous (spheres) only a nematic phase was found, whereas in all samples with a continuous liquid crystalline subphase, the smectic A phase of the homopolymer was observed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of segmented block copolymers based on mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) segments

The synthesis and characterisation of segmented block copolymers based on mixtures of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic poly(tetramethylene oxide) polyether segments and monodisperse crystallisable bisester tetra-amide segments are reported. The PEO length was varied from 600 to 8000 g/mol and the PTMO length was varied from 650 to 2900 g/mol. The influence of the polyether phase composition on the thermal mechanical and the elastic properties of the resulting copolymers was studied.The use of high melting monodisperse tetra-amide segments resulted in a fast and almost complete crystallisation of the rigid segment. The copolymers had only one polyether glass transition temperature, which suggests that the amorphous polyether segments were homogenously mixed. Thermal analysis of the copolymers showed one polyether melting temperature that was lower than in the case of ideal co-crystallisation between the two polyether segments. However, at PEO or PTMO lengths larger than 2000 g/mol two polyether melting temperatures were observed. The copolymer with the best low temperature properties was based on a mixture of PEO and PTMO segments, both having a molecular weight of 1000 g/mol, at a weight ratio of 30/70.     

Hydrophilic segmented block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) and monodisperse amide segments

Segmented block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) flexible segments and monodisperse crystallizable bisester tetra‐amide segments were made via a polycondensation reaction. The molecular weight of the PEO segments varied from 600 to 4600 g/mol and a bisester tetra‐amide segment (T6T6T) based on dimethyl terephthalate (T) and hexamethylenediamine (6) was used. The resulting copolymers were melt‐processable and transparent. The crystallinity of the copolymers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR). The thermal properties were studied by DSC, temperature modulated synchrotron small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The elastic properties were evaluated by compression set (CS) test. The crystallinity of the T6T6T segments in the copolymers was high (>84%) and the crystallization fast due to the use of monodisperse tetra‐amide segments. DMA experiments showed that the materials had a low T_g, a broad and almost temperature independent rubbery plateau and a sharp flow temperature. With increasing PEO length both the PEO melting temperature and the PEO crystallinity increased. When the PEO segment length was longer than 2000 g/mol the PEO melting temperature was above room temperature and this resulted in a higher modulus and in higher compression set values at room temperature. The properties of PEO‐T6T6T copolymers were compared with similar poly(propylene oxide) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) copolymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4522–4535, 2007     

Macromolecules with specific constitution and supramolecular structures

Segmented triblock and multiblock copolymers consisting of highly flexible polydisperse segments and molecularly uniform segments of well defined architecture capable of either the formation of a mesophase, chainfolded crystallites or double-helical metal complexes have been synthesized; the bulk superstructure as well as the physical and material properties correlated with the primary structure: block copolymers with liquid crystalline segments formed microphase separated systems, and the phase behaviour depended on the constitutional composition. Multiblock copolymers with symmetrically chain-folded polyurethane hard segments and associative groups in the chain fold led to specially shaped lamellar superstructures. Block copolymers with bipyridine containing segments gave tetracoordinated and double-helical copper(I) complexes which segregated resulting in supramolecular polymer systems.