Radiation-induced graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto fluorinated polymers. II. Graft copolymer–metal complexes obtained by radiation grafting onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene) copolymer

A study has been made on the graft copolymers obtained by radiation-induced grafting of acrylic acid onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene) (ET) films. The conversion of the graft copolymer into metal acrylate copolymer complex was carried out by treatment with different metal salts. Such a prepared graft copolymer–metal complex was confirmed by different methods: IR, UV spectrometry, degree of coloration, and x-ray fluorescence. Some selected properties of the graft copolymer–metal complexes such as electrical conductivity, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties were investigated. The influence of metal complexes in the graft copolymers was determined and compared with the grafted films. The possibility of the practical uses for such prepared graft copolymer–metal complexes was discussed and determined. It was assumed that such materials may be of great interest in the field of semiconducting materials in addition to their applicability as cation-exchange membranes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cyclopolymerization. XI. Polyelectrolytes and Polyampholytes from N-Alkyl-N,N-diallylamines and Methacrylamide

The preparation and properties of some poly[RN(CH₂CH[dbnd]CH₂)₂hydrochlorides], where R may be methyl, n-propyl, n-hexyl, benzyl, and allyl, are discussed. Water-soluble polydiallyl-amine hydrochlorides have been prepared in high yields both by γ-irradiation and by chemical initiation. The polymers were characterized by solubility measurements, IR spectra, NMR spectra, and molecular weight determinations. Polydiallyl-amines as their free bases were found to gel both in solution and in the solid state; the factors influencing gelation were investigated. The polymerization of a mixture of methacrylamide and either methyl-or n-propyldiallylamine hydrochloride by chemical initiation and γ-irradiation in water, dioxane, and dimethylformamide was studied, and evidence is presented for and against the formation of a true copolymer. In all polymerizations, substantial quantities of either amine monomer or amine homopolymer were isolated. Although the amount of amine incorporated into the “copolymer” increased with an increased amine: Mam ratio in the monomer feed, the yield of “copolymer” decreased at a greater rate.     

Alternating copolymer of butadiene and propylene. III

Alternating copolymerizations of butadiene with propylene and other olefins were investigated by using VO(acac)₂–Et₃Al–Et₂AlCl system as catalyst. Butadiene–propylene copolymer with high degree of alternation was prepared with a monomer feed ratio (propylene/butadiene) of 4. Alternating copolymers of butadiene and other terminal olefins such as butene-1, pentene-1, dodecene-1, and octadiene-1,7 were also obtained. However, the butadiene–butene-2 copolymerization did not yield an alternating copolymer but a trans-1,4-polybutadiene.     

iPP Based Nanocomposites Filled with Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles: Structure/Properties Relationships

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) based nanocomposites filled with calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO₃) were prepared by melt mixing and structure-properties relationships of the nanomaterials were studied. Elongated CaCO₃ nanopowders coated with two different coating agents, polypropylene-maleic anhydride graft copolymer (iPP-g-MA) and fatty acids (FA), were tested as nanoreinforced phases. The influence of surface treatment of the nanoparticles on the polymer/nanofillers interfacial adhesion and on the final materials properties was investigated. Morphological analysis showed that the selected coating agents induce different iPP/nanofiller adhesion degrees. Young's modulus increases as a function of the nanoparticles content and the coating agent nature. Finally, all the prepared nanocomposites showed a significant improvement of iPP barrier properties either to oxygen or to carbon dioxide.     

A novel route to the synthesis of PP-g-PMMA copolymer via ATRP reaction initiated by Si-Cl bond

The copolymerization of propylene with allyldimethylsilane (ADMS) was carried out with conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst supported on MgCl₂. The effects of the concentration of ADMS in the feed on the polymerization reaction and copolymer properties were investigated. The resulting copolymer PP-co-ADMS was chlorinated to PP-Si-Cl by refluxing the copolymer with SOCl₂ in benzene. The chlorinated copolymer was used to initiate ATRP of MMA with CuCl/PMDETA as catalyst to produce graft copolymer PP-g-PMMA, which was characterized with ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, GPC and DSC. Polymer blend of iPP/PP-g-PMMA/PMMA was prepared and the results shown that PP-g-PMMA was an effective compatilizer.     

Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline copolyester of 4-hydroxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoic acid with 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid

4-Hydroxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoic acid/6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid copolymers (FHBA/HNA copolymer) with different copolymer compositions were prepared and the influence of FHBA residue on the thermal properties and structures of the copolymers were investigated. Introduction of FHBA decreased the crystal/nematic phase transition temperatures(T_CNs) of the FHBA/HNA copolymers. T_CNs of the copolymers were in the temperature range between 200 and 250°C, depending on the copolymer composition. They are approximately 40°C lower than those of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid/HNA copolymers. FHBA/HNA copolymers exhibited low crystallinity, and annealing treatment hardly influenced the crystalline natures. FHBA residue possibly interferes with the recrystallization during annealing. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36 : 413–419, 1998     

Electrochemical and Electrochromic Properties of Ni Oxide Thin Films Prepared by a Sol–Gel Method

Nickel oxide thin films, which are well known anodic coloration materials that are used in electrochromic devices, were prepared by a sol–gel method, and their electrochemical and electrochromic properties were investigated. The sol was prepared from Ni(OH)₂ powder with an average size of 7 nm, in a mixture of ethylene glycol and absolute ethanol. The films were coated on an ITO substrate using the powder, dispersed in the solution. When additive materials, acetyl acetone and glycerol, were added to the sol its hardness and adhesion properties were improved. The optimized thin film formed an amorphous, porous structure, and showed a large current density during continuous potential and pulse potential cycling. The film also was transparent and had a high coloration efficiency (33.5 cm²/C) and a rapid response time (1.0–2.5 s) during the coloring/bleaching process.     

Donor–acceptor complexes in copolymerization. XLIII. Cyclization of alternating and random styrene–(meth)acrylic ester copolymers

Equimolar alternating copolymers of styrene and methyl methacrylate (prepared with Et_1.5AlCl_1.5, SnCl₄, and ZnCl₂) as well as equimolar random copolymer were treated with polyphosphoric acid at 135°C. The extent of cyclization of the alternating copolymers was about 40%, independent of the cotacticity of the copolymer, and there was little or no crosslinking. The random copolymer underwent only 10% cyclization and considerable crosslinking. The extent of cyclization of the alternating copolymer of styrene and methyl acrylate (prepared with Et_1.5AlCl_1.5) was the same as that of the random copolymer and was lower than that of the corresponding methyl methacrylate copolymer. Both alternating and random copolymers underwent extensive crosslinking.     

Blends of a siloxane/urea/urethane-segmented copolymer with an IPDI-based polyetherurethane

A series of copolymer blends have been prepared using a poly(ether urethane) and a poly(siloxane–urea–urethane). The copolymers were prepared by a hardsegment first, two-step polymerization method. The hard segments of the copolymers were derived from isophorone diisocyanate (IP) and 1,4-benzenedimethanol (B), and the soft segments were based on polytetrahydrofuran (PTMO, M_w = 2000), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, M_w =27,000), respectively. The siloxanecontaining copolymer, PDMS27K-IP-B2 (2 moles diol chain extender/mole PDMS27K), was used as the minor component (1.6, 2.5 and 6.0 wt%) in a series of blends. These blends were found to preserve the mechanical properties of the poly(ether–urethane) as well as the surface properties of the poly(siloxane–urea–urethane).     

Studies on the syntheses of polymetalloxanes and their properties as a precursor for amorphous oxide. V. Preparation and properties of polytitanosiloxanes from silicic acid and bis(2,4-pentanedionato)titanium diisopropoxide

Preparation and properties of polytitanosiloxanes (PTS) as a preceramic polymer for SiO₂-TiO₂ fibers were investigated. The PTS was prepared by the reaction of bis(2,4-pentanedionato) titanium diisopropoxide (PTP) with silicic acid (SA), extracted with tetrahydrofuran from an aqueous solution, in methanol. They were soluble in methanol, ethanol, and THF. The molecular weight (M_n ) was 1500–4200 depending on the reaction molar ratio (SA/PTP). A Concentrated methanol solution of PTS showed an appreciable stability to self-condensation and good spinnability. Dry spinning of the solution provided golden yellow precursor fibers which can be subjected to thermal-treatment to give ceramic fibers. The PTS is considered to be a copolymer formed by the condensation of oligomeric silicic acid with PTP consisting of Si? O? Ti and Si? O? Si linkages in the molecular main chain with the ligand and hydroxy groups as pendants.     

Viscoelastic behavior,order-disorder transition,and phase equilibria in mixtures of a block copolymer and an endblock-associating resin

The viscoelastic behavior, order-disorder transition, and phase equilibria in mixtures of a block copolymer and an endblock-associating resin were investigated. The block copolymer was a polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene (KRATON® D-1107, Shell Development Co.) copolymer. The endblock-associating resins investigated were two different grades of a commercially available random copolymer of poly(α-methyl styrene) and polystyrene, one with a weight-average molecular weight \[\bar M_{\rm w}\] of 710 (KRISTALEX® 3085, Hercules Inc.) and the other with \[\bar M_{\rm w}\] = 4100 (KRISTALEX® 5140, Hercules Inc.). Mixtures of various proportions of the block copolymer and the endblock-associating resin were prepared in toluene solvent. With the mixtures, measurements of dynamic viscoelastic properties were made, namely, dynamic storage modulus G″ and dynamic loss modulus G″ as a function of temperature from temperature scans of the samples using a Rheometrics Mechanical Spectrometer. The following observations were made. (1) The plateau modulus of the block copolymer increased with increasing amount of KRISTALEX 3085 or KRISTALEX 5140, indicating that the low-molecular-weight resin was associated with the polystyrene microdomains of the block copolymer. (2) When KRISTALEX 3085 (up to 30 wt %) was added to the block copolymer, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polyisoprene midblock of the SIS block copolymer was shifted toward higher temperatures, indicating that part of the KRISTALEX 3085 added had associated with the rubbery midblock of the block copolymer. Also investigated was the order-disorder transition behavior of the mixtures, using a rheological technique (log G′ versus log G″ plots) recently introduced by Han and Kim. It has been found that the order-disorder transition temperature T_r of mixtures of the SIS block copolymer and KRISTALEX 3085 decreased steadily with increasing amount of KRISTALEX 3085, whereas the addition of KRISTALEX 5140 increased the T_r of the block copolymer. It was found by light scattering and hot-stage microscopy that macrophase separation occurred in the KRATON 1107/KRISTALEX 5140 mixtures while microdomains of polystyrene were present in the block copolymer.     

Molecular design of multicomponent polymer systems. X. Emulsifying effect of poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/noryl blends

The emulsifying activity of block copolymers is investigated in blends of incompatible engineering polymers such as polyvinyldene fluoride (PVF₂) and Noryl (high impact polystyrene-poly-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide mixture). When the blends are modified by a poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) copolymer, (PS-PMMA) each block of which being selectively miscible with Noryl and PVF₂ respectively, Phase dispersion, interfacial adhesion and ultimate mechanical properties are significantly improved; major effect is observed upon addition of 12 percent copolymer, resulting in intermingled and firmly adherent phases and a rough additivity of both tensile strength and elongation at break. All these features clearly demonstrate the important emulsifying effect of PS-PMMA in these very attractive PVF₂/Noryl blends.     

Fabrication of Gene Carrier via Self-assembly of Poly[(dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate] and Poly(aspartic acid)-grafted-Poly(ethylene glycol)

A biocompatible complex has been prepared as gene carrier via electrostatic interaction, which is composed of a polycation, that is, poly[(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] end-capped with cholesterol moiety (Chol-PDMAEMA₃₀), along with a polyanion named poly(aspartic acid)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (PASP-g-PEG). The complexes have less cytotoxicity compared to the case of alone Chol-PDMAEMA₃₀ or branched polyethylenimine (PEI) system.

In the present study, biocompatible complexes have been prepared as gene carrier via electrostatic interaction, which is composed of a polycation, that is, poly[(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] end-capped with cholesterol moiety (Chol-PDMAEMA₃₀), along with a polyanion named poly(aspartic acid)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (PASP-g-PEG). We first synthesized polysuccinimide (PSI) via condensation polymerization of aspartic acid, and then used PEG-NH₂ to react with the partial pentacyclic rings of PSI to yield a kind of graft copolymer polysuccinimide-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (PSI-g-PEG). After hydrolysis of the residual succinimide units, a new biodegradable and biocompatible graft copolymer PASP-g-PEG was prepared successfully. Chol-PDMAEMA₃₀ was synthesized via oxyanion-initiated polymerization, as reported in our previous literature. We investigated the interactions between every pair among calf thymus DNA, Chol-PDMAEMA₃₀, and PASP-g-PEG by agarose gel retardation assay. The results indicate that the prepared complexes could completely bind DNA and may become more stable during systemic circulation. The complexes have less cytotoxicity compared to the case of alone Chol-PDMAEMA₃₀ or branched polyethylenimine (PEI) system. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of the complexes were also investigated by zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. These biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric carriers have potential applications in gene delivery.     

Thermal and flammability behaviour of copolymers of N-(2, 4, 6-tribromophenyl)maleimide with some acrylates

The copolymers of N-(2, 4, 6-tribromophenyl)maleimide (TBPMI) with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile of different composition were prepared by free radical polymerization at low conversion. Their thermal behaviour was established by TGA measurements in helium atmosphere and flammability properties were determined by limiting oxygen index method. The higher TBPMI content in the copolymer led to a higher thermal stability and lower flammability particularly when Sb₂O₃ was used as a synergist.     

Polyethylene/Poly(Butyl Methacrylate-co-Styrene) Copolymers Interpenetrating-Like Networks. I. Influence of the Copolymer Composition on Interpenetrating Polymer Network Properties

Abstract

IPN-like systems, consisting of low-density polyethylene (PE) and poly[butyl methacrylate (BMA)-co-styrene (S)] copolymer networks, were prepared in situ by a procedure described in previous papers. The initial PE/copolymer molar ratio was kept equal to 1 for all samples. The initial molar BMA/S ratio of the copolymer was varied over a composition range from pure S to pure BMA in order to investigate its influence on IPN properties. The samples obtained were analyzed by DSC; WAXS; tensile mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, and impact tests; swelling in CCl₄; and by some optical and electronic observations. The materials, became more and more brittle after undergoing mechanical and impact tests, even in the rubbery state, with increasing copolymer BMA content. The morphology consisted of a two-phase system. Good optical properties were obtained for the transparent specimens at relatively high BMA molar contents in the copolymer (70–80% BMA). Reversible changes of the optical properties were induced by temperature variations. A matching/mismatching of the refractive indexes of PE and the copolymer was found to be the cause of the optical behavior of these materials. Work is in progress to improve the mechanical behavior of these systems.     

Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Epoxy Surfaces Prepared by a Facile Process with Fluorosilicone Copolymer and SiO2 Nano-Particle

Hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces with multi-scale structures were prepared on epoxy coating surfaces by using a facile process with fluorosilicone copolymer and SiO₂ nano-particles. The fluorosilicone copolymers were synthesized using perfluoroalkyl acrylate (FA), vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and styrene (St) as comonomers via radical emulsion polymerization. In this paper, the surface properties of epoxy coating modified by fluorosilicone copolymer and SiO₂ nano-particles were analyzed by using the contact angle measurement. The results showed that the modified epoxy coating surface exhibited not only excellent hydrophobicity but also oleophobicity, the water contact angle reached as high as 149° and the oil (atoleine) contact angle 101°, respectively.     

Polyethylene/poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) sodium sulphonate membranes : Part 1. Synthesis and properties

Transport properties of cation-exchange membranes have been studied. The self-diffusion coefficients of sodium and chloride ions, the transport numbers of sodium ions and water, and the conductivities were measured in 0.1 M sodium chloride at 25°C. The concentration potentials were determined in the system 0.05/0.15 M sodium chloride.The membranes were prepared by sulphonation of oriented polyethylene (PE) film modified with 30 wt % of styrene—divinylbenzene copolymer (poly(St-co-DVB)). The copolymer was introduced by interpolymerization of the monomers within the film without its dissolution. A sequence of membranes having similar ion-exchange capacity but differing in water content was then obtained from sheets of normal PE/poly(St-co-DVB)SO₃Na membranes by expanding them by heating in water followed by a thermal treatment in air.The deviations of the measured transport properties from the behaviour of homogeneous membranes and the analysis of the Kedem—Katchalsky relationships for composite membranes have led to the conclusion that in PE/poly(St-co-DVB)SO₃Na membranes a structure prevails with a series arrangement of layers with different properties.     

Effect of methylaluminoxane/transition-metal ratio on the physical properties and chemical composition distributions of ethylene-hexene copolymers produced by a rac-Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/TiCl4/MAO/SMB catalyst

A silica-magnesium bisupport (SMB) was prepared by a sol-gel method for use as a support for the impregnation of TiCl₄ and rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂. The prepared rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TiCl₄/MAO(methylaluminoxane)/SMB catalyst was applied to the ethylene-hexene copolymerization under the conditions of variable Al(MAO)/Zr ratio and fixed Al(TEA, triethylaluminum)/Ti ratio. The effect of Al(MAO)/Zr ratio on the physical properties and chemical composition distributions of ethylene-hexene copolymers produced by a rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TiCl₄/MAO/SMB catalyst was investigated. The catalytic activity of rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TiCl₄/MAO/SMB was steadily increased with increasing Al(MAO)/Zr ratio from 200 to 500. The ethylene-hexene copolymer produced with Al(MAO)/Zr = 300, 400, and 500 showed two melting points at around 110 °C and 130 °C, while that produced with Al(MAO)/Zr = 200 showed one melting point at 136 °C. The number of chemical composition distribution (CCD) peaks was increased from 4 to 7 and the short chain branches of ethylene-hexene copolymer were distributed over lower temperature region with increasing Al(MAO)/Zr ratio. The lamellas in the copolymer were distributed over lower temperature region and the small lamellas in the copolymer were increased with increasing Al(MAO)/Zr ratio. The rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TiCl₄/MAO/SMB catalyst preferably produced a ethylene-hexene copolymer with non-blocky sequence ([EHE]) with increasing Al(MAO)/Zr ratio.     

Photoresponsive poly(methyl methacrylate)2–(polystyrene)2 miktoarm star copolymer containing an azobenzene moiety at the core

We prepared a novel miktoarm star copolymer with an azobenzene unit at the core via combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and nitroxide‐mediated free radical polymerization (NMP) routes. For this purpose, first, mikto‐functional initiator, 3 , with tertiary bromide (for ATRP) and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxy (TEMPO) (for NMP) functionalities and an azobenzene moiety at the core was synthesized. The initiator 3 thus obtained was used in the subsequent living radical polymerization routes such as ATRP of MMA and NMP of St, respectively, to give A₂B₂ type miktoarm star copolymer, (PMMA)₂‐(PSt)₂ with an azobenzene unit at the core with controlled molecular weight and low polydispersity (M_w/M_n < 1.15). The photoresponsive properties of 3 and (PMMA)₂‐(PSt)₂ miktoarm star copolymer were investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1396–1403, 2006     

The improvement of electro‐optical properties of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals using copolymer macroinitiator with different glass transition temperature

In this article, copolymer macroinitiators prepared with styrene and iso‐octyl acrylate by reversible additional‐fragmental chain transfer polymerization were used to prepare polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) with methyl acrylate. The electro‐optical properties of the PDLCs were investigated. The results showed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the macroinitiator has a great influence on the memory effect of the resulting PDLCs. Low driving voltage and low memory effect PDLCs could easily be obtained with copolymer macroinitiators. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010