Synthesis of PP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-PIP and properties of PP/PP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-PIP binary blends

The polypropylene-graft-polyisoprene (PP-g-PIP) copolymers with different side chain length were synthesized by the combination of solid phase graft and anionic polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (¹H-NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Five PP/PP-g-PIP blends with PP-g-PIP as a flexibilizer to toughen PP were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), DSC, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Their morphologies, glass transition temperatures, crystallinity and mechanical properties were investigated. All the results pointed out that the covalent bonding of PP and PIP increased the compatibility and interfacial adhesion, which led to PIP well dispersed in the system and small size PIP particles in the binary blends. In addition, the toughness of PP was improved while its tensile strength slightly decreased.     

Controlled radical polymerization of styrene and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate mediated by trithiocarbonates

The free-radical bulk homopolymerization of styrene and n-butyl acrylate at 80°C mediated by dibenzyl trithiocarbonate, poly(styryl) trithiocarbonate, or poly(n-butyl acrylate) trithiocarbonate as reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents has been studied. It has been shown that the use of low-and high-molecular-mass reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents makes it possible to efficiently control the molecular-mass characteristics of polymers. In the case of styrene, the rate of polymerization slightly depends on the concentration of the addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agent. In contrast, for the polymerization of n-butyl acrylate, the rate significantly decreases with the concentration of the chain-transfer agent. Formation of radical intermediates during the polymerization of styrene and n-butyl acrylate mediated by trithiocarbonates has been studied by ESR spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that the polymeric chain-transfer agents are efficient for the synthesis of block copolymers with the controlled block length.     

Mono-<Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylporphyrin

Summary. Treatment of meso-tetra(tert-butyl)porphyrin with sulfuric acid/n-butanol affords a mixture of porphyrin and mono-tert-butylporphyrin in relatively high yield.     

Mechanistic studies on particle nucleation in the batch emulsion polymerisation of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> n</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate containing multifunctional monomers

This paper reports the mechanistic details concerning the synthesis of crosslinked poly(n-butyl acrylate) dispersions intended to be used as seeds in the preparation of core-shell emulsions. The influence of crosslinking comonomers and the amount and type of surfactants on the kinetics, particle nucleation, particle size and particle size distribution in the batch emulsion polymerisation of n-butyl acrylate (BA) is explored. In the case of EGDA (ethylene glycol diacrylate) crosslinker the particle number decreased with increasing crosslink density, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the case of m-diisopropenylbenzene (m-DIPB) in the presence and absence of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The observed behaviour is mainly attributed to the variation in the aqueous phase kinetics caused by the water solubility of the comonomer, which influences the formation rate of precursor particles during the nucleation stage. Only for the less water soluble crosslinker, DIPB, could the increase of particle number be explained within the Smith–Ewart theory by assuming prolonged nucleation due to reduced swelling of growing particles with monomer as a result of the crosslinking reaction.Abbreviations EGDA ethylene glycol diacrylate - m-DIPB meta-diisopropenylbenzene - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - PBA poly(n-butyl acrylate) - AFFF asymmetric field flow fractionation - MALLS multiangle laser light scattering - CMC critical micelle concentration     

Emulsifier-free polymerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate involving trithiocarbonates based on oligomer acrylic acid

The effect of the chain length of oligomer acrylic acid obtained in the presence of a low-molecularmass trithiocarbonate and the position of trithiocarbonate fragment (within the chain or at the chain end) on the process of emulsion polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and characteristics of the resulting dispersions has been studied for the first time. It has been found that, when using an oligomer with trithiocarbonate group located within the chain in the emulsion polymerization of n-butyl acrylate in a wide range of monomer–water phase compositions, triblock copolymers self-organizing in aqueous medium to give stable particles with the core–shell structure are formed. Oligomers with M _n ～ (5–10) × 10³ are optimal for synthesis of stable dispersions. In this case, block copolymers with the controlled length of hydrophobic block and a rather narrow MWD may be obtained. Thin films formed from these copolymers retain the structure of the initial dispersions on solvent removal. If the trithiocarbonate group in the oligomer is located at the chain end, the main polymerization product is a diblock copolymer. In this case, the formation of polymer–monomer particles occurs during a longer period of time, the control of MWD is weakened, and the dispersions of particles lose the aggregative stability after thin film formation.     

Thermal properties of amphiphilic biodegradable triblock copolymer of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactide and ethylene glycol

Samples of poly(l,l-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(l,l-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) were synthesized from l,l-lactide polymerization using stannous 2-ethylhexanoate, Sn(Oct)₂ as initiator and di-hydroxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (M _n  = 4000 g mol⁻¹) as co-initiator. The chemical linkage between the PEG segment and the PLA segments was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermogravimetry analysis (TG) revealed the copolymers composition and was capable to show the deleterious effect of an excess of Sn(Oct)₂ in the polymer thermal stability, while Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) allowed the observation of the miscibility between the PLLA and PEG segments in the different copolymers.     

Morphology control of poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co-tert</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate] by pressure in supercritical carbon dioxide

The morphology control was attained in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) for poly[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl acrylate (POA)-co-tert-butyl acrylate (TBA)] random copolymers with POA/TBA molar ratios of 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, and 4:6. The copolymers showed a different solubility and morphology in scCO₂ depending on the POA/TBA ratio. There was a tendency that the copolymers with a lower TBA content, such as 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3, showed a higher solubility in scCO₂ and formed a fiber-like structure in the heterogeneous state below their cloud point. On the other hand, the copolymers with the higher TBA contents of 6:4, 5:5, and 4:6 provided micrometer-sized spherical particles. Furthermore, the morphology was controlled by the CO₂ pressure because the fiber-like morphology for the copolymer with the 6:4 ratio changed to spherical by decreasing the CO₂ pressure.     

Ternary copolymers of acrylic acid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide,and butyl acrylate: Synthesis and aggregative behavior in dilute solutions

Narrowly dispersed hydrophilic block and random copolymers of acrylic acid and N-isopropylacrylamide of various compositions and molecular masses are synthesized for the first time by controlled radical polymerization via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer mechanism. The copolymers are used for the synthesis of ternary copolymers with n-butyl acrylate. As shown by dynamic light scattering, the resulting amphiphilic copolymers can form stable dispersions in diluted aqueous solutions. It is found that the effective hydrodynamic radii of dispersion particles may be controlled via variation both in the primary structure of the ternary copolymer, i.e., the amount and sequence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic units, and in the external stimuli, i.e., the temperature and pH of a solution.     

Functionalizing ps microspheres by supercritical deposition of P(S-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA) for diverse interfacial properties exemplified with biocidal ability

Polystyrene（PS） microspheres were functionalized with poly（styrene-b-tert-butyl acrylate）（P（S-b-tBA）） by adsorption from supercritical mixture of CO₂ and hexane.Supercritical deposition formed a shell-core structure that contained a shell of poly（tert-butyl acrylate）（PtBA） blocks and a core of the PS blocks entangling with the PS microspheres. The thickness of the PtBA layer and thereby the areal density of tert-butyl ester groups increased with the deposition pressure until plateau values attained at 20 MPa and higher.The tert-butyl ester groups were hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups for conjugation with tert-butylamine molecules via amide bonds that were further chlorinated into biocidal N-halamine moieties. The functionalization layer and its bonded N-halamine moieties were stable in flowing water and the chlorine could be regenerated upon eventual loss.This functionalization concept is applicable to polymers of any external and internal surfaces to achieve diverse surface properties by varying block copolymer and conjugated moieties.     

Preparation,characterization and morphological study of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-toluidine-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-aminoacetophenone) conductive copolymer

A new series of copolymers of poly(m-toluidine-co-m-aminoacetophenone) were synthesized by the chemical oxidative method in acid medium. The copolymers were characterized by UV–Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the partial crystalline nature of copolymer. The morphological study by SEM analysis indicated that the surface of the copolymer had the granular structure of agglomerated morphology with average particle size of 200 nm. The conductivity of the copolymers ranged from 2 × 10^–4 to 3.3 × 10^–8 S/cm and the conductivity decreased with the increase of comonomer concentration. The resultant copolymers showed an enhanced solubility and an improved processability when compared with pure polyaniline.     

Nanocomposite particles with core-shell morphology IV: an efficient approach to the encapsulation of Cloisite 30B by poly (styrene-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate) and preparation of its nanocomposite latex via miniemulsion polymerization

In this work, miniemulsion polymerization was applied for encapsulation of Cloisite 30B, an organically modified montmorillonite, inside poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate) nanocomposite through an efficient and optimized procedure. The primary miniemulsions were prepared by dispersing Cloisite 30B in the monomers mixture (styrene and butyl acrylate) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and Span 80 as surfactants and hexadecane as costabilizer by using ultrasonication. The stability of both miniemulsion and the obtained latex depends on premixing procedures, time and pulsed cycle of ultrasonication, and more importantly on the applied surfactants. The synthesized products were characterized by dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, induced coupled plasma, and Zeta potential measurement. Its prepared film shows an excellent transparency, which is indicative of full exfoliation of Cloisite 30B platelets by poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate) latex particles through miniemulsion polymerization technique with 73% efficiency. No armored latex particle was observed.     

Organic-inorganic cross-linked structures prepared from reactive <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl methacrylate-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate copolymers

The features of formation of organic-inorganic cross-linked structures prepared by copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate, followed by hydrolysis of the trimethoxysilane groups of the copolymers and condensation of the resulting silanol groups, were studied. The quantitative composition of the functional groups of the cross-linked copolymers was determined. The physicomechnaical and mechanical properties of the copolymers were studied in relation to the copolymer composition and conditions of hydrolytic condensation.     

Polyolefin graft copolymers via living polymerization techniques: Preparation of poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐graft‐polyethylene through the combination of Pd‐mediated living olefin polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

Poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐graft‐branched polyethylene was successfully prepared by the combination of two living polymerization techniques. First, a branched polyethylene macromonomer with a methacrylate‐functionalized end group was prepared by Pd‐mediated living olefin polymerization. The macromonomer was then copolymerized with n‐butyl acrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization. Gel permeation chromatography traces of the graft copolymers showed narrow molecular weight distributions indicative of a controlled reaction. At low macromonomer concentrations corresponding to low viscosities, the reactivity ratios of the macromonomer to n‐butyl acrylate were similar to those for methyl methacrylate to n‐butyl acrylate. However, the increased viscosity of the reaction solution resulting from increased macromonomer concentrations caused a lowering of the apparent reactivity ratio of the macromonomer to n‐butyl acrylate, indicating an incompatibility between nonpolar polyethylene segments and a polar poly(n‐butyl acrylate) backbone. The incompatibility was more pronounced in the solid state, exhibiting cylindrical nanoscale morphology as a result of microphase separation, as observed by atomic force microscopy. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2736–2749, 2002     

Preparation of starch-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-PMMA,starch-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-P(MMA/BMA) and starch-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-P(MMA/MA) nanoparticles and their reinforcing effect on natural rubber by latex blending: a comparative study

Nanoparticles including starch-graft-methylmethacrylate, starch-graft-(methylmethacrylate/methyl acrylate), starch-graft-(methyl methacrylate/butyl methacrylate) were synthesized via emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization and were blended with natural rubber latex at various mass ratios. Chemical structure of graft copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the core-shell structures of the nanoparticles distributed uniformly around the natural rubble particles. The tensile strength of blend films was significantly enhanced by addition of graft copolymers. Besides, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed the blend film had smooth surface.     

Hydrogels of starch-g-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylacrylate) and starch-g-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butylacrylate) copolymers

The synthesis, characterization, and hydrogel properties of starch-g-(tert-butylacrylate) and starch-g-(n-butylacrylate) copolymers were studied. The optimum conditions for the grafting process of tert-butylacrylate into 1.0 g of starch were as follows: [tert-butylacrylate] = 0.04 mol/L, [CAN] = 9.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L, temperature = 20 °C in 100 mL solution, whereas the results using n-butylacrylate monomer were as follows: [n-butylacrylate] = 0.04 mol/L, [CAN] = 4.0 × 10⁻³ mol/L, temperature = 30 °C in 100 mL solution. The grafting evidences of monomers into starch were done through TG and its derivative DTG for thermal changes and mass losses, scanning electron microscope (SEM) for morphological changes, powder X-ray for crystallinity measurements and FTIR for functional group changes. Acid hydrolysis method was used efficiently to allow the calculations of the viscosity average molecular weight (M _v) of the grafted chains on starch and consequently the real percent of grafting efficiency (i.e. %GY). The capability of starch-g-(n-BAC) hydrogel to absorb water were found 10 times more than starch-g-(tert-BAC) hydrogel, which were clarified through the X-ray and SEM results.     

Synthesis,thermo-responsive micellization and caffeine drug release of novel PBMA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PNIPAAm block polymer brushes

Brush-like block copolymers with poly(t-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) as side arms, PBMA-b-PNIPAAm, were designed and synthesized via a simple free radical polymerization route. The chemical structure and molecular weight of these polymer brushes were characterized and determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The micellar formation by these polymer brushes in aqueous solutions were detected by a surface tension technique, and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) ranged from 1.53 to 8.06 mg L⁻¹. The morphology and geometry of polymer micelles were investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The polymer micelles assume the regularly-spherical core-shell structure with well-dispersed individual nanoparticles, and the particle size was in the range from 36 to 93 nm. The PNIPAAm segments exhibited a thermoreversible phase transition, so the resulting block polymer brushes were temperature-sensitive and the low critical solution temperature (LCST) was determined by UV-vis spectrometer at about 28.82–29.40°C. The characteristic parameters of the polymer micelles such as CMC, micellar size and LCST values were affected by their compositional ratios and the length of hydrophilic or hydrophobic chains. The evaluation for caffeine drug release behavior of the block polymer micelles demonstrated that the self-assembled micelles exhibited thermal-triggered properties in controlled drug release.     

Stereocomplexation and mechanical properties of polylactide-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(propylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-polylactide blend films: Effects of polylactide block length and blend ratio

In the present work, poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) was block copolymerized to form polylactide-poly(propylene glycol)-polylactide (PL-PPG-PL) triblock copolymers for preparing flexible stereocomplex PL (scPL) blend films. The scPL blend films were prepared by solution blending of poly(L-lactide)-PPG-poly(L-lactide) (PLL-PPG-PLL) and poly(D-lactide)- PPG-poly(D-lactide) (PDL-PPG-PDL) triblock copolymers before film casting. The influences of PL end-block lengths (2 × 10⁴ and 4 × 10⁴ g/mol) and blend ratios (75/25, 50/50 and 25/75 W/W) on the stereocomplexation and mechanical properties of the blend films were evaluated. From DSC and WAXD results, the 50/50 blend films had complete stereocomplexation. Phase separation between the scPL and PPG phases was not observed from their SEM images. The tensile stress and elongation at break increased with the sterecomplex crystallinities and PL end-block lengths. The PPG middle-blocks enhanced elongation at break of the scPL films. The results showed that the PL-PPG-PL triblock structures did not affect stereocomplexation of the PLL/PDL block blending. In conclusion, the phase compatibility and flexibility of the scPL films were improved by PPG block copolymerization.     

Orientation of LDPE crystals from microscale to nanoscale <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> microlayer or nanolayer coextrusion

The microlayer or nanolayer coextrusion of hundreds or thousands of alternating low density polyethylene (LDPE)/polystyrene (PS) microlayers or nanolayers were used to study the orientation of LDPE crystals in the confined quasi-two-dimensional or two-dimensional space. The clear and continuous layer structures from microscale to nanoscale can be found in SEM images. The morphology evolution of LDPE crystals in the confined microlayer or nanolayer can be varied from 3D spherulites, 2D spherulites, stacked edge-on lamellar, to single edge-on lamellar. Due to the orientation of the LDPE crystals, the tensile strength of the films increases obviously when the layer thickness reduces to nanoscale. The 2D small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) patterns can reflect the average degree of orientation of LDPE in the confined layers. The stacking of LDPE lamellae is suppressed in interlamination and oppositely in parallel to the extrusion direction. The specific orientation function f can be calculated from the patterns. The infrared dichroism further confirms the mutation of the orientation of LDPE crystals from microscale to nanoscale in the confined space.     

Quadruple Hydrogen Bond-Containing A-AB-A Triblock Copolymers: Probing the Influence of Hydrogen Bonding in the Central Block

This work reveals the influence of pendant hydrogen bonding strength and distribution on self-assembly and the resulting thermomechanical properties of A-AB-A triblock copolymers. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization afforded a library of A-AB-A acrylic triblock copolymers, wherein the A unit contained cytosine acrylate (CyA) or post-functionalized ureido cytosine acrylate (UCyA) and the B unit consisted of n-butyl acrylate (nBA). Differential scanning calorimetry revealed two glass transition temperatures, suggesting microphase-separation in the A-AB-A triblock copolymers. Thermomechanical and morphological analysis revealed the effects of hydrogen bonding distribution and strength on the self-assembly and microphase-separated morphology. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed multiple tan delta (δ) transitions that correlated to chain relaxation and hydrogen bonding dissociation, further confirming the microphase-separated structure. In addition, UCyA triblock copolymers possessed an extended modulus plateau versus temperature compared to the CyA analogs due to the stronger association of quadruple hydrogen bonding. CyA triblock copolymers exhibited a cylindrical microphase-separated morphology according to small-angle X-ray scattering. In contrast, UCyA triblock copolymers lacked long-range ordering due to hydrogen bonding induced phase mixing. The incorporation of UCyA into the soft central block resulted in improved tensile strength, extensibility, and toughness compared to the AB random copolymer and A-B-A triblock copolymer comparisons. This study provides insight into the structure-property relationships of A-AB-A supramolecular triblock copolymers that result from tunable association strengths.     

Molecular properties of the copolymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The hydrodynamic and conformational properties of molecules of poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-maleic acid copolymers of different compositions in solutions with various ionic-strength and pH values, as well as of the polyelectrolyte complex based on the copolymer with dodecyl sulfate anions in chloroform, are studied. For poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) molecules in a 1 M NaCl solution, the Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of the chain are estimated as A = 3.9 nm and d = 0.48 nm, respectively. In acidic solutions with pH 3.5, the copolymers demonstrate behavior typical for polyelectrolytes. In an alkaline solution with pH 13, when 1 M NaCl is added to the solution of the copolymer containing 29 mol % maleic acid units, there is an antipolyelectrolyte effect that manifests itself as an increase in the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer and in the hydrodynamic radius of its molecules. It is found that an increase in the fraction of maleic acid units in the copolymer from 12 to 42 mol % brings about a reduction in the equilibrium rigidity of its macromolecules from 4.1 to 2.2 nm. The equilibrium rigidity of polyelectrolyte-complex molecules is higher than that of initial copolymer molecules owing to steric interactions arising between the aliphatic chains of dodecyl sulfate anions. In an electric field, the molecules of the complex are oriented owing to the induced dipole moment resulting from the displacement of dodecyl sulfate anions along the chain contour.