Molecular weight control in polycondensation of hydroxyl diesters with hexamethylenediamine by polymer matrices

Polycondensation reactions of hydroxyl diesters such as dimethyl tartrate (DMT) and diethyl mucate (DEM) with hexamethylenediamine (HMD) were carried out in the presence of poly(vinyl pyridine) (P-VPy) and its copolymers with styrene of different compositions as matrix polymers in order to investigate the difference in interaction forces with monomers or the resulting polyamides owing to hydrogen bonding. It was found that matrix effects of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P-4VPy) on the rate enhancement and solution viscosity of the resulting polyamide became more pronounced with decreasing solvent polarity. This result suggests that the matrix effects of P-4VPy on polycondensation are due to hydrogen bonding interactions between hydroxyl diesters and P-4VPy. The addition of P-4VPy increased the molecular weight of the resulting polyamide to a higher extent than poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P-2VPy), and the molecular weight of the resulting polyamide could be controlled according to the molecular weight of P-4VPy. Copolymer composition of 4-vinyl pyridine–styrene (4VPy/St) copolymers as matrix polymers also affected the molecular weight of the polyamide, which increased with increasing P-4VPy unit contents in the copolymers.     

Probing interfacial interactions and dynamics of polymers enclosed in boron nitride nanotubes

Understanding interfacial interactions in polymer systems is crucial for their applicability for instance in adhesives and coatings. Enclosing polymers in a cylindrical volume provides a system for studying interactions dictated by a continuous interfacial layer and a bulk-like volume in the middle of the cylinders. Here, we describe a simple method for enclosing polymers into boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and establishing the effect of the interfacial interactions on the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polymers by infrared spectroscopy. The volume of the inner channel is large in comparison to the volume of the loaded polymer coils, allowing the polymer to expand along the inner channel, resulting in the effect of interfacial interactions on polymer dynamics dominating over confinement effects. As examples, we loaded poly(4-vinyl pyridine), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), and poly(disperse red 1 acrylate) in BNNTs. The strongest interaction between the studied polymer and BNNTs was observed for poly(4-vinyl pyridine), which also caused a significant increase of T_g. In addition to characterizing the effect of interfacial interactions on the thermal transitions of the polymers, this method, which is generalizable to most soluble polymer materials, can be used for studying photoinduced transitions in photoactive polymers thanks to the transparency of the BNNTs at visible wavelengths.     

Etude de la poly(vinyl-2 pyridine) dans des melanges de solvants: relation entre la solvatation preferentielle du polymere et sa masse moleculaire

This paper contains values of the preferential solvation coefficient λ for poly(2-vinyl pyridine) in solvent mixtures of various compositions (ethanol-benzene, ethanol-cyclohexane, chloroform-benzene, benzene-cyclohexane and THF-cyclohexane). Results have been obtained for linear polymers (molecular weight ranging from 3500 to 200,000) and for a branched polymer. They show that, when there is a possibility of hydrogen bond formation between solvent and polymer, λ does not depend on the molecular weight of the polymer. On the contrary, when there are only weak interactions, λ is a function of molecular weight and obeys the relation already verified for non-polar polymers.     

Grafting of polymers with controlled molecular weight onto ultrafine silica surface

To graft polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution, the grafting of polymers onto ultrafine silica surface by the termination of living polymer cation with amino groups introduced onto the surface was investigated. The introduction of amino or N-phenylamino groups onto the silica surface was achieved by the treatment of silica with γ-aminopropyltriethxysilane or N-phenyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. It was found that these amino groups on silica are readily reacted with living poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) (polyIBVE), which was generated with CF₃COOH/ZnCl₂ initiating system, and polyIBVE with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution is grafted onto the surface. By the termination of living poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline), which was generated with methyl p-toluenesulfonate initiator, with amino groups on silica, polyMeOZO was also grafted onto the surface. The percentage of grafting of polymer onto the silica surface decreased with increasing molecular weight of the living polymer, because the steric hindrance of silica surface increases with increasing molecular weight of living polymer. Polymer-grafted silica gave a stable dispersion in a good solvent for grafted chains. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Reversible flocculation of silica across the phase boundary of poly(vinyl caprolactam) in aqueous solution

The colloid stability of silica dispersions in water in the presence of poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PVCAP) has been studied below and above the lower consolute temperature (LCT) of its solutions. The dispersion sediments slowly without PVCAP in the temperature range studied (26-40 degrees C) or with PVCAP below the LCT ( approximately 30 degrees C). In contrast, with PVCAP above the LCT, rapid flocculation occurs at acid pH, with re-dispersal on cooling. Reversible flocculation is also obtained above the LCT by cycling the pH from alkaline to acid and back. The flocculation observed above the LCT may also be regarded as heterocoagulation between the silica particles and the aggregates of the polymer.     

Kinetic studies on the sulfate radical-initiated polymerization of vinyl acetate and 4-vinyl pyridine in the presence of silica nanoparticles

The photolysis of silica suspensions of pH approximately 8 containing peroxodisulfate ions leads to the generation of two "surface transients" with a distinct spectrum and reactivity. Time-resolved and continuous irradiation experiments of similar dispersions also containing variable concentrations of vinyl acetate (VA) or 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) allowed the evaluation of the contribution of silica/water interfacial reactions to the kinetics and structural pattern of polymers synthesized using sulfate radicals as initiators. The rate constants measured for the reactions of the surface transients with 4-VP are 1 order of magnitude higher than those of VA, despite the fact that both species show similar reactivity in homogeneous solution toward sulfate radicals. It is suggested that both the sorption capacity and the different specific interactions with the silica surface of 4-VP and VA contribute to the observed reaction rates. Micrometer-sized latex particles of 4-VP and VP showed higher stability and more homogeneous size distributions when obtained in the presence of silica nanoparticles. Under the experimental conditions required for obtaining polymer particles, both the contribution of the described interfacial reactions and the effect of silica adsorbed monomer on the initiation steps of the polymerization may be neglected. The importance of in situ adsorption of the oligomer/polymer chains to silica NP during the polymerization propagation steps in determining the particle morphology is discussed.     

Influence of adsorbed polymers on the removal of mineral particles from a planar surface

 Experimental results on the role of adsorbed polymers on the particle adhesion are presented. Both Brownian (silica particles) and non-Brownian (glass beads) particles were used. The particles were deposited onto the internal surface of a glass parallelepiped cell, and then submitted to increasing laminar flow rates. The pH and the ionic strength of the electrolytes were fixed. The adhesive force was related to the hydrodynamic force required to dislodge 50% of the initially attached beads. We found that high molecular weight PEO had little effect on the adhesion of small silica beads due to the low affinity of the polymer for silica or glass surfaces. On the contrary, PEO greatly enhanced the adhesion of bigger glass beads forced to deposit on the capillary surface because of gravity. The increase was all the more pronounced as the molecular weight of the polymer was high. The effect of high molecular weight cationic copolymers on the adhesion of silica particles was drastic. The maximal force (1500 pN) applied by the device could not enable any particle detachment even using polymers of low cationicity rate (5%), showing the efficiency of electrostatic attractions. When copolymers were adsorbed on both surfaces (particles and plane), the adhesive force exhibited a maximum at intermediate coverage of particles. This optimum was related to the optimum flocculation concentration classically observed in flocculation of suspensions by polymers. Received: 16 February 1996 Accepted: 10 September 1996     

Synthesis of Quaternized poly(4-Vinyl Pyridine) and the Study of its Ion Exchange Property

Lightly cross-linked poly(4-vinyl pyridine) has been synthesized from 4-vinyl pyridine and a small amount of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in aqueous medium through micelle technique. The polymer is then quaternized with 1,4-dibromobutane to develop an anion exchange resin with high selectivity and ion exchange capacity at a wide range of pH and temperature. The material exhibits high ion exchange capacity and reverse anion selectivity order compared to commercially available anion exchanger. A method has been designed to separate chromate and sulfate using the synthesized material.     

Stimuli-responsive surfaces using polyampholyte polymer brushes prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization

The synthesis of AB diblock copolymer polyampholyte polymer brushes of the type Si/SiO2//poly(acrylic acid-b-vinyl pyridine) prepared using atom transfer radical polymerization is reported. Both 2- and 4-vinyl pyridine have been used. The diblock polyampholyte polymer brushes demonstrate stimuli-responsive behavior with respect to pH, showing both polyelectrolyte and polyampholyte effects. Furthermore, we have quaternized the 4-vinyl pyridine segments to form a mixed weak/strong, or annealed/quenched, polyelectrolyte system. The quaternized polymer brush exhibits different pH-responsive behavior, with decreasing film thickness being observed with increasing pH.     

Light-Induced Reactions within Poly(4-vinyl pyridine)/Pyridine Gels: The 1,6-Polyazaacetylene Oligomers Formation

Cyclic 6-membered aromatic compounds such as benzene and azabenzenes (pyridine, pyridazine, and pyrazine) are known to be light-sensitive, affording, in particular, the Dewar benzene type of intermediates. Pyridine is known to provide the only Dewar pyridine intermediate that undergoes reversible ring-opening. We found that irradiation of photosensitive gels prepared from poly(4-vinyl pyridine) and pyridine at 254 or 312 nm leads to pyridine ring-opening and subsequent formation of 5-amino-2,4-pentadienals. We show that this light-induced process is only partially reversible, and that the photogenerated aminoaldehyde and aminoaldehyde-pending groups undergo self-condensation to produce cross-linked, conjugated oligomers that absorb light in the visible spectrum up to the near-infrared range. Such a sequence of chemical reactions results in the formation of gel with two distinct morphologies: spheres and fiber-like matrices. To gain deeper insight into this process, we prepared poly(4-vinyl pyridine) with low molecular weight (about 2000 g/mol) and monitored the respective changes in absorption, fluorescence, ¹H-NMR spectra, and electrical conductivity. The conductivity of the polymer gel upon irradiation changes from ionic to electronic, indicative of a conjugated molecular wire behavior. Quantum mechanical calculations confirmed the feasibility of the proposed polycondensation process. This new polyacetylene analog has potential in thermal energy-harvesting and sensor applications.     

Cationic flocculants carrying hydrophobic functionalities: applications for solid/liquid separation

The flocculation behaviors of three series of polycations with narrow molecular weight distributions carrying hydrophobic substituents on their backbones [poly(N-vinylbenzyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride), poly(N-vinylbenzyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-butylammonium chloride), and poly(N-vinylbenzylpyridinium chloride)] were investigated in dispersions of monodisperse polystyrene latexes and kaolin. Apparently, the charge density of the polycations decreases with increasing substituent hydrophobicity and increasing molecular weight of the polyelectrolytes. The necessary amount of flocculant for phase separation in dispersions with high substrate surface charge densities increases with increasing hydrophobicity of the polyelectrolyte. Nevertheless, the introduction of hydrophobic functionalities is beneficial, resulting in a substantial broadening of the range between the minimum and maximum amounts of flocculant necessary for efficient flocculation (flocculation window). An increase in ionic strength supports this effect. When the substrate has a low charge density, the hydrophobic interactions play a much more significant role in the flocculation process. Here, the minimum efficient doses remained the same for all three polyelectrolytes investigated, but the width of the flocculation window increased as the polycation hydrophobicity and the molecular weight increased. The necessary amount of flocculant increased with an increase in particle size at constant solid content of the dispersion, as well as with a decreasing number of particles at a constant particle size.     

Etude de la nature des especes ioniques intervenant au cours de la polymerisation anionique de la vinyl-4 pyridine

Initiation of anionic polymerization of 4-vinyl-pyridine (4-VP) in tetrahydrofuran solution, using organo-metallic compounds of Na and K, involves the same type of side reactions as the polymerization of 2-vinyl pyridine (2-VP). The living polymers of 2- and 4-VP have similar u.v. spectra. The values of the dissociation constants of ionic species of 2- and 4-VP are similar when the chain [poly(styrene-b vinyl-4 pyridine)] contains one 4-VP unit (K_n ≈ 10^?9). But when the size of 4-VP block increases, the conductivity goes up to the value observed for living polystyrene (K_D ≈ 10^?7). This phenomenon could be due to a solvation of the counter-ion by the poly 4-vinyl pyridine chain, acting as a polydentate complexing agent.     

High Performance Poly(ether-amide)s Derived from 1,1-Bis[4-(4-carboxy methylene phenoxy)-3-methyl phenyl] Cyclopentane and Aromatic Diamines

A series of new methyl substituted poly(ether-amide)s were synthesized by using direct Yamazaki’s phosphorylative polycondensation of novel diacid 1,1-bis[4-(4-carboxymethyl phenoxy)-3-methylphenyl] cyclopentane (BCMMP) with various aromatic diamines. These polymers were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Inherent viscosities of these polymers were in the range 0.25 to 0.42 dL/g indicating moderate molecular weight built-up. These polymers exhibited excellent solubility in various polar aprotic solvents such as NMP, DMSO, DMAc, DMF, pyridine, and were insoluble in THF, DCM and chloroform. X-Ray diffraction pattern of polymers showed that incorporation of methyl substituent on aromatic backbone and cardo cyclopentylidene moiety containing ether linkage and methylene spacer would disturb the chain regularity and packing, leading to amorphous nature. Thermal analysis by TGA showed excellent thermal stability of polymers. The glass transition temperature T_g were in the range 195–210°C. The structure-property correlation among this poly(ether-amide)s was studied, in view of these polymer’s potential applications as high performance polymers.     

Electrophoretic mobility of poly(acrylic acid)-coated alumina particles

The effect of poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) adsorption on the electrokinetic behavior of alumina dispersions under high pH conditions was investigated as a function of polymer concentration and molecular weight as well as the presence, concentration and ion type of background electrolyte. Systems of this type are relevant to nuclear waste treatment, in which PAA is known to be an effective rheology modifier. The presence of all but the lowest molecular weight PAA studied (1800) led to decreases in dynamic electrophoretic mobility at low polymer concentrations, attributable to bridging flocculation, as verified by measurements of particle size distribution. Bridging effects increased with polymer molecular weight, and decreased with polymer concentration. Increases in background electrolyte concentration enhanced dynamic electrophoretic mobility as the polymer layers were compressed and bridging was reduced. Such enhancements were reduced as the cation was changed from K(+) to Na(+) to Cs(+).     

Formation and catalytic activity of spherical composites with surfaces coated with gold nanoparticles

Micelle-supported gold composites with a polystyrene core and a poly(4-vinyl pyridine)/Au shell are synthesized using NaBH(4) to reduce a mixture of micelle and HAuCl(4) in acidic aqueous solution (pH approximately 2). The template micelle with a polystyrene core and a poly(4-vinyl pyridine) shell is formed by self-assembly of block copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine). The gold nanoparticles coated onto the surfaces of the composites possess an average diameter of about 15 nm. The composites are applied to catalyze the reduction of p-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH(4), and the results indicate that the kinetic constant of the reaction increases when the composite concentration and the reaction temperature increase. In addition, research results also indicate that composites with high content of gold show higher catalytic activity and higher catalytic efficiency.     

Synthesis of “living” chains of polyvinylpyridine and their application to the construction of homo- and hybrid polymer with complex architecture

Experimental conditions ensuring the formation of living poly(2- and 4-vinyl pyridine) chains in the vinyl pyridine - allyl derivatives of chromium, molybdenum and tungsten systems are described. Variation of the reagents nature, polarity of the solvent permits to obtain polymers differing in their structural and molecular parameters. Synthesized polymers contain block and graft sequences, as well as macrocyclic fragments. Living chains under consideration were applied for polymerization of different monomers. Hybrid polymers obtained by this way were studied in detail by the same methods as the homopolymers.     

Electrical properties of multilayers from low- and high-molecular-weight polyelectrolytes

The formation of stable multilayer films by using as constituents sodium poly(4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PVP) was studied by electrooptics. A strong increase in basicity of the pyridine rings in the electrical field of the oppositely charged PSS chains was suggested to be the driving force for multilayer film formation. A linear increase in the film thickness was registered after deposition of the first three layers, with no dependence on the polyelectrolyte molecular weight. The electrooptical effect was found to increase with increasing area of each next layer, but depended on the molecular weights of both polymers. Polarization of "condensed" counterions along the chains of the last-adsorbed layer was suggested to explain this dependence. Following the counterion dynamics, we come to the conclusion that the electrical properties of the top layer govern the electrooptical behavior of the PSS/PVP film.     

Novel fabrication of Janus particles from the surfaces of electrospun polymer fibers

A novel synthetic approach for the efficient fabrication of Janus silica particles was demonstrated by embedment of zero-dimensional colloids on one-dimensional polymer fiber surfaces, followed by the surface modification on the exposed silica hemispheres. Electrospinning of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(4-vinyl pyridine) blends produced polymer fibers with high specific surface area and desired surface hydrophilicities. Fiber compositions determined the colloid adsorption density and uniformity. The colloid embedding resulted from the polymer softening was manipulated by the isothermal heat treatment. Subsequent silianization completed the amino functionalities on hemispherical surfaces of embedded silica colloids. Janus particles with uniform asymmetric chemical features were further labeled with gold nanoparticles before their recovery from fiber substrates. Fabrication of Janus particles, including colloid adsorption, temperature-driven embedding, and hemispherical surface modification, were investigated and are discussed.     

NEW MATERIALS DERIVED FROM POLY(4-HYDROXYSTYRENE) AS LITHIUM BATTERY CELL COMPONENTS

A new class of polyethers has been prepared by the Mitsunobu coupling of poly(4-vinyl phenol), P4VP, with low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether. These comb-like polymers, having ca. 20–30% residual phenols, were characterized by IR, DSC, and TGA. Results of thermal analysis on the polymers suggest thermal stability to at least 300°C and a glass transition temperature in the range ?30 to ?40°C. Complexes with LiPF₆ gave conductivities of ca. 1 × 10^?5 S/cm at room temperature. The polymers were blended with plasticized poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to prepare porous films and subsequently infiltrated with lithium salts and ethylene and ethyl methyl carbonate. Ionic conductivities of these hybrid films were measured from ?20°C to 40°C. Conductivities as high as 2.4 × 10^?3 S/cm are observed at room temperature. The electrochemical stability of hybrid materials was studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Kinetics of formation of charge transfer complexes of poly(vinyl pyridines) with iodine, 7,7′8,8′-tetracyanoquinodimethane and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone by electronic spectroscopic studies

The kinetics of formation of charge transfer complexes of poly(4-vinyl pyridine), poly(2-vinyl pyridine), and poly(2-vinyl pyridine-co-styrene) with iodine, 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinodimethane and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone has been studied using electronic absorption spectroscopy. The charge transfer complexes of analogous low molecular weight donors, namely 2- and 4-picolines with the same set of acceptors have also been investigated for comparison. The composition and the equilibrium constants of the charge transfer complexes have been obtained. The equilibrium constant of the polymeric complexes is found to be higher than that of analogous complexes of the low molecular weight donors. A new method for determining the rate constants of the association and dissociation of the equilibrium involving the charge transfer complex formation has been proposed. The rate constants vary with the concentration of the acceptor. It indicates that the charge transfer complexes undergo a further reaction and hence the observed rate constants are not true but apparent rate constants. The charge transfer complexes have also been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.