Fullerene-containing branched polymethacrylates and polymer networks: Synthesis,structure, and properties

Branched poly(methyl methacrylates) containing covalently and noncovalently attached fullerene C₆₀ are synthesized and characterized by IR and UV spectroscopy. The basic physicochemical characteristics of the branched poly(methyl methacrylate) comprising covalently attached fullerene and the non-functionalized branched polymer of the same composition are compared. The effect of fullerene-containing branched poly(methyl methacrylates) on the kinetics of the crosslinking radical polymerization of 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate and on the structural-physical (mechanical, thermomechanical, and diffusion-sorption) properties of the resulting polymers is examined. The role of fullerene attached to the branched poly(methyl methacrylate) as an inhibitor of the crosslinking radical polymerization of dimethacrylate and as a modifier of the structure and properties of the polymers is ascertained.     

Simulation of Potentially Possible Reactions at the Initial Stages of Free-Radical Polymerization of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Fullerene C<Superscript>60</Superscript>

The quantum-chemical simulation of possible reactions occurring at the initial stage of the free-radical polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene C⁶⁰ is performed. The reactions of interaction between initiating and model short-chain growing radicals containing from one to three monomer units with fullerene are considered. It is shown that, at the initial stage of styrene polymerization, the addition of short-chain growing radicals to fullerene predominates (with respect to the reaction of chain propagation). In the case of methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of fullerene C⁶⁰, the induction period is absent because of a higher probability of the initiation and chain propagation reactions (compared with the chain-termination reaction of short growing poly(methyl methacrylate) chains on fullerene C⁶⁰). The formation of bis- and trisadducts of fullerene C⁶⁰ with short-chain styrene and methyl methacrylate growing radicals is analyzed. The quantum-chemical simulation results are confirmed by electron spectroscopy and ESR studies.     

Methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of C60 (C70) and molecular characteristics of fullerene-containing poly(methyl methacrylate)

Kinetics was studied of bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by dicyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate in the presence of tri-n-butylborane and fullerene C₆₀ (or C₇₀) at variable ratio initiator: fullerene. The deceleration of the polymerization in the first stage of the reaction (below 10% conversion) was established by dilatometric method that depended on the fullerene concentration and the mode of its addition to the monomer. It was shown that at similar ratios initiator: fullerene the C₆₀ inhibited the polymerization process considerably stronger than C₇₀. The gel-permeation chromatography revealed the widening of the molecular weight distribution of the poly(methyl methacrylates) containing C₆₀ or C₇₀ compared to its analog synthesized under the same conditions without fullerene. It was established that in the fullerene-containing poly(methyl methacrylates) all the framework nanospecies are linked by covalent bonds and are mostly accumulated in the low-molecular fractions. The effect of the covalently bound fullerene on the molecular characteristics of polymers were investigated by translational isothermal diffusion, high-speed sedimentation, and viscometry     

Copolymerization of Fullerene (C60) and Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) using Triphenylbismuthonium Ylide as a Novel Initiator and Characterization of the Copolymers (C60-MMA)

Copolymerization of fullerene (C₆₀) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out using triphenylbismuthonium ylide (abbreviated as Ylide) as a novel initiator in dioxan at 60°C for 4 h in a dilatometer under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction follows ideal kinetics: R_p∝ [Ylide]^0.5[C₆₀]^?1.0[MMA]^1.0. The rate of polymerization increases with an increase in concentration of initiator and MMA. However, it decreases with increasing concentration of fullerene due to the radical scavenging effect of fullerene. The overall activation energy of copolymerization was estimated to be 57 KJ mol^?1. The fullerene-MMA copolymers (C₆₀-MMA) were characterized by FTIR, UV–Vis, NMR and GPC analyses.     

Interaction of fullerene C60 with allylbenzene and allyl chloride

The reaction between allyl compounds and fullerene C₆₀ has been investigated via dilatometry under the conditions of free-radical polymerization. It has been shown that the rate of a variation in the volume of the reaction mixture plotted versus the concentration of fullerene C₆₀ is described by a curve with a minimum. It has been established that, in the presence of fullerene and the allyl monomer, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate proceeds without any induction period. It has been concluded that allyl radicals interact with fullerene C₆₀.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by Ziegler-Natta type catalyst systems: Fe(acac)3-AlEt2Br and Fe(acac)3-ZnEt2

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out with the following Ziegler-Natta type initiating systems: Fe(AcAc)₃-AlEt₂Br, Fe(AcAc)₃-ZnEt₂ (acac = acetyl acetonate). Both the catalyst systems are active under homogeneous conditions in benzene at 40°C for methyl methacrylate polymerization. The polymerization kinetics suggests that the average rate of polymerization was first order with respect to [monomer] for both the catalyst systems, and the overall activation energies were found to be 14.0 and 12.8 kcal mol ^?1.     

Effect of fullerene on the radical homo- and copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone and (Di)methacrylates

The effect of fullerene on the kinetics of homopolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone and its copolymerization with methyl methacrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate is studied via absorption spectroscopy and isothermal calorimetry. It is shown that the addition of fullerene brings about the inhibition of polymerization. The duration of the induction period becomes shorter when small amounts of methacrylic mono- and bifunctional monomers or a chain-transfer agent are added to N-vinylpyrrolidone. The resulting polymers are characterized by IR and absorption spectroscopy.     

Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> in copolymerization of allyl chloride with methyl methacrylate

The effect of fullerence C₆₀ on the copolymerization of allyl chloride and methyl methacrylate has been studied. With the use of UV spectroscopy, it has been shown that, with an increase in the conversion, the redistribution of optical densities of two π-π* absorption maxima due to fullerene at λ_max = 407 and 330 nm is observed. A difference in the kinetics of copolymer’s formation in the absence and presence of fullerene has been found.     

Reactions of fullerene C60 with methyl methacrylate radicals: A density functional theory study

We have investigated the stepwise addition of four growing methyl methacrylate (MMA) radicals to C₆₀ fullerene, taking into account all possible types of the formed adducts. This reaction set is a reliable approximation for understanding the MMA polymerization process in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene. We have analyzed the structures of the fullerene-MMA adducts and energy parameters of their formation (heat effects and activation enthalpies). We found that up to three MMA growing radicals are favorably attached to C₆₀ as the fullerene-MMA trisadduct is a stable radical of the allyl type. It is inactive for further radical addition, and the elimination of the hydrogen atom from the growing MMA radical becomes preferable. The effects of steric factors and structures of the products of multiple growing MMA radical additions to C₆₀ on the radical polymerization of MMA in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene are considered.     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) via ARGET ATRP and study of the effect of solvents and temperatures on its polymerization kinetics

This investigation reports the synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) via activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) and studies the effect of solvents and temperature on its polymerization kinetics. ARGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in different solvents and at different temperatures using CuBr₂ as catalyst in combination with N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as a ligand. Methyl 2‐chloro propionate was used as ATRP initiator and ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent in the ARGET ATRP of MMA. The conversion was measured gravimetrically. The semilogarithmic plot of monomer conversion versus time was found to be linear, indicating that the polymerization follows first‐order kinetics. The linear polymerization kinetic plot also indicates the controlled nature of the polymerization. N,N‐Dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, and methyl ethyl ketone were used as solvents to study the effect on the polymerization kinetics. The effect of temperature on the kinetics of the polymerization was also studied at various temperatures. It has been observed that polymerization followed first‐order kinetics in every case. The rate of polymerization was found to be highest (k_app = 6.94 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹) at a fixed temperature when DMF was used as solvent. Activation energies for ARGET ATRP of MMA were also calculated using the Arrhenius equation.     

On the initial stage of the free-radical polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

It has been demonstrated experimentally and theoretically that the essentially different inhibiting effects of fullerene C₆₀ on the initial stage of the polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate (including complete hampering of styrene polymerization throughout a long induction period) are of common kinetic nature. The difference arises from the competition between C₆₀ and the monomer not for initiating radicals but for radicals originating from the monomer; that is, the difference stems from the competition between the chain propagation reactions and the termination reactions on fullerene molecules. As a consequence, the further development of the process is determined by the relative reactivities of the radicals toward C₆₀ and towards their parent monomers.     

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of methacrylate, acrylate and styrene monomers in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexfluorophosphate

1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexfluorophosphate ([C_x][PF₆], where x=4, 6-8) is used as solvent for the polymerisation of methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate and styrene by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer process. In the case of styrene, the insolubility of the polymer in ionic liquid stops the polymerization at an early stage. The acrylate and methacrylate polymerizations lead to products with molecular weights close to the theoretical ones and polydispersity indexes lower than 1.3. The polymerizations are shown to be living by chain extension of the products formed in ionic liquid. In the case of the methyl methacrylate, the kinetics of the polymerizations are followed and the molecular weight of the polymer is shown to increase linearly with the conversion, as expected for a living polymerization.     

Controlled/“living” atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the synthesis of triblock copolymers from a poly(oxyethylene) macroinitiator

Atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by a poly(oxyethylene) macroinitiator by the esterification of PEG 1500 with 2-chloro propionyl chloride was synthesized. These polymerization proceeds both in bulk and solution with a quantitative initiation efficiency, leading to A-B-A triblock copolymers. The macroinitiators and their block copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, FT-NMR and GPC analyses. In bulk polymerization, the kinetic study showed that the relationship between ln[M]₀/[M] vs time was linear showing that there is a constant concentration of active species throughout the polymerization and follow the first order kinetics with respect to monomer. Moreover, the experimental molecular weight of the block copolymers increased linearly with the monomer conversion and the polydispersity index remained between 1.3 and 1.5 throughout the polymerization. No formation of homo poly(methyl methacrylate) could also be detected, and all this confirms that the bulk polymerization proceeds in a controlled/“living” manner.     

STUDIES ON ORGANIC PEROXIDE/N, NDI (2-α-METHYL-ACRYLOYLOXY PROPYL)-PARA-TOLUIDINE BINARY SYSTEMS

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by organic peroxide and polymerizable aromatic tertiary amine such as N, N-di (2-α-methylacryloyloxy propyl)-p-toluidine (MP)_2PT binary system has been studied. It was found that the (MP)_2PT promotes MMA polymerization, and the kinetics of MMA polymerization fits the radical polymerization rate equation. Based on the ESR studies and the end-group analysis the initiation mechanism is proposed.     

Study of kinetic regularities and mechanism of methyl methacrylate radical polymerization in the presence of orthophosphoric acid

Photoinitiated homophase polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 25°C in the presence of a complexing agent, orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), was studied. It was found that in addition to the increase in initial polymerization rates and molecular weights of PMMA the system MMA/H₃PO₄ reveals postpolymerization that does not retard with time and is accompanied by an increase on average molecular weight. Macroradicals, lifetimes of which grow considerably in the presence of the complexing agent, are shown to be responsible for the termination-free postpolymerization in this system by the living chain mechanism. The effect of various factors on the kinetics of postillumination polymerization was studied. A drastic decrease in the rate of bimolecular termination of poly(methyl methacrylate) radicals was shown to be related to the change in conformational properties and to the association of propagation chains via complexing with H₃PO₄. The mechanism of polymerization in this system was discussed.     

Radical copolymerization of fullerene (C60) and n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) using triphenylbismuthonium ylide and characterization of C60–BMA copolymers

Radical copolymerization of fullerene (C₆₀) and n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) has been carried out using triphenylbismuthonium ylide as an initiator at 70°C for 4 h in a dilatometer under nitrogen atmosphere. The kinetic expression of the polymerization is R_pα [Ylide]^0.5[C₆₀]^?1.0[BMA]^1.2, which is similar to that expected for ideal kinetics. The rate of polymerization increases with an increase in the concentration of initiator and BMA. However, it decreases with an increase in the concentration of fullerene. Fullerene acts as radical scavengers causing retardation in polymerization. The activation energy of copolymerization was estimated to be 72.2 K J mol^?1. The fullerene‐containing BMA copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–vis, and GPC analyses. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 608–619, 2011     

Radical copolymerization of acrylic monomers. IV. Effect of substituents on the radical polymerization and copolymerization of phenyl acrylates

The kinetics of radical polymerization of phenyl, ortho-chlorophenyl, and para-chlorophenyl acrylates, as well as their copolymerization with methyl methacrylate, have been studied dilatometrically. The results obtained indicate that the overall rate of polymerization is affected by the flexibility of the growing radicals. However, the copolymerization of these monomers with methyl methacrylate gives overall rates rather similar for all three systems, being fundamentally regulated by the formation of reversible π complexes between the donor aromatic rings and the acceptor methacrylic double bonds. Dilatometric methods for the study of the copolymerization reactions have been tested and the corresponding binary bonding frequencies B_ij and conversion factors K_ij have been calculated for the copolymerization of ortho- and para-chlorophenyl acrylates with methyl methacrylate.     

Effect of Microwave Activation on Polymerization Rate and Molecular Weight Development in Emulsion Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

Polymerization rate and molecular weight development experimental results for the emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), in the presence of potassium persulphate (PPS) as initiator, and activated with a 50 W microwave source, are reported. The polymerization kinetics of the microwave activation experiment (MA) was compared against a traditional conductive heating (CH) polymerization reaction. The number average molecular weights, M_n, of the polymer samples obtained with microwave activation were significantly higher than those obtained from conductive heating. These high values of M_n were obtained from the beginning of the polymerization reaction. Polydispersity index (PDI) values in the range of 1.18 to 1.83 were obtained in the microwave irradiated samples. These values are lower than those produced by conventional emulsion polymerization of styrene and other vinyl monomers, and resemble the PDI values obtained in controlled‐radical polymerization processes. Polymer particles of submicron size (60 to 100 nm) were obtained.     

甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合动力学和分子量模型及仿真

考虑甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合过程中体积收缩，反应物和生成物的浓度变化，以及由于凝胶、玻璃化和笼闭等效应对各速率常数和物性参数的影响，从基元反应和物料平衡出发，推导了半间歇，有链转移剂参与情况下的聚合动力学和分子量模型。用模型仿真计算了聚合温度、引发剂、溶剂和链转移剂的种类和浓度等对甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合动力学和聚合过程中分子量变化的影响规律，并与实验和文献数据进行比较。     

Cu~(2+)离子浓度对Cu~(2+)-Na_2SO_3体系引发甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合机理的影响

<正> 氧化还原体系引发乙烯类单体自由基聚合过程中,氧化剂或还原剂浓度的变化可能引起聚合机理的改变,Reddy等研究“铜(Ⅱ)——维生素C-氧”体系引发甲基丙烯酸甲酯的自由基聚合时,发现随着Cu~(2+)离子浓度增加,聚合速度由上升至下降;单体反应级数从3/2增至2.0,我们在空气气氛下,对Cu~(2+)-Na_2SO_3体系引发甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合进行了研究,亦发现Cu~(2+)离子浓度对聚合速度和聚合机理有很大影响,在较低的Cu~(2+)离子浓