非均一交联高分子网络的结构表征

均一交联高分子网络在良溶剂和劣溶剂中平衡溶胀比Q和Q_0的比值依从Q/Q_0=1+k(Q-1)的关系,k是一个与溶剂性质和网络种类有关的恒定常数.当k已知时,测定非均一网络在良、劣两种溶剂中溶胀比Q~*和Q_0~*,依 Z=k(Q~*-1)(Q_0~*-1)/[(1-k)(Q~*-1)-(Q_0~*-1)],可得非均一因子Z及其他网络结构参数.用此方法研究了自由基引发的苯乙烯-二乙烯基苯无规共聚网络,所得结果符合聚合和网络形成机理的预计.     

聚苯乙烯齐聚物的高效尺寸排除色谱的研究——Ⅰ.链长分布

用高效尺寸排除色谱以紫外吸收光度计寿检测器,测定了一个以正丁基锂引发的聚苯乙烯齐聚物的链长分布。讨论了端基对实验的紫外吸收响应以及理论的链长分布函数中各个半分散组分重量分数的影响。引进了一个端基改正因子以获得真实的重量链长分布。实验数据可以用两个Poisson分布的叠和精确描述。与单一Poisson分布的偏离相信是由于聚合反应物混合方式的变化所致。     

聚苯乙烯齐聚物的高效尺寸排除色谱的研究——Ⅰ.链长分布

 用高效尺寸排除色谱以紫外吸收光度计寿检测器,测定了一个以正丁基锂引发的聚苯乙烯齐聚物的链长分布。讨论了端基对实验的紫外吸收响应以及理论的链长分布函数中各个半分散组分重量分数的影响。引进了一个端基改正因子以获得真实的重量链长分布。实验数据可以用两个Poisson分布的叠和精确描述。与单一Poisson分布的偏离相信是由于聚合反应物混合方式的变化所致。     

活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和溴甲基化聚苯乙烯偶合反应制备接枝共聚物

采用基团转移聚合、阴离子聚合以及高分子偶合反应的方法,合成了一种结构明确、链长均匀和分子量可控的聚苯乙烯接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯。主链聚苯乙烯由阴离子聚合得到,并进行溴甲基化。支链活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯由基团转移聚合制备。经偶合反应后得到分子量为3×10⁴～7×10⁴、多分散性指数D为1.2～1.4的接枝共聚物。溴甲基化聚苯乙烯和活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯的偶合反应活性随分子量的增大而降低,理想的反应温度为-20℃。用¹HNMR、GPC和DSC表征接枝产物。和均聚物相比,共聚物的玻璃化温度较低。     

活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯活性链和溴甲基化聚苯乙烯偶合反应制备接枝共聚物

采用基团转移聚合、阴离子聚合以及高分子偶合反应的方法，合成了一种结构明确、链长均匀、分子量可控的聚苯乙烯接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯。主链聚苯乙烯由阴离子聚合得到，并进行溴甲基化。支链活性聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯由基团转移聚合制备。经偶合反应后得到分子量为３×１０４～７×１０４、多分散性指数Ｄ为１．２～１．４的接枝共聚物。用１ＨＮＭＲ，ＧＰＣ和ＤＳＣ表征接枝产物。和均聚物相比，共聚物的玻璃化温度较低。     

由直链聚苯乙烯制备的负载型钯催化剂的加氢性能

聚苯乙烯(PS)是匀相催化剂多相化研究中常用的高分子载体,但通常涉及的均是交联聚苯乙烯(CPS)。本文制备了不同链长的直链聚苯乙烯(LPS)负载钯催化剂(LPSN-Pd);将其与相应的交联聚苯乙烯负载的钯催化剂(CPSN-Pd)对比,考察了这类催化剂对不饱和烃类加氢反应的活性、选择性以及起始载体链长对催化刑加氢性能的影响。     

Af型自由基均聚反应的固化理论（Ⅱ）：凝胶网络的结构参数

用高分子反应统计理论，给出Ａｆ型自由基均聚反应在不同反应程度时的弹性有效链及悬吊链的链数，链节数和平均链长，也得到了体系的有效交联点数和弹性模量，进而给出弹性有效链的数量和重量分数，以此可进一步揭示该反应体系凝胶网络的粘弹性及相关的力学性质。     

笼形聚羧酸树脂的溶胀

研究了甲基丙烯酸—丙烯酸—二乙烯基苯接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-P[MAA-co-AA-co-DVB])、甲基丙烯酸—丙烯酸—双甲基丙烯酸三甘醇酯接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-P[MAA-co-AA-co-TGDMA])和甲基丙烯酸—二乙烯基苯接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-P[MAA-co-DVB])等系列制成的笼形聚羧酸钠在水溶液中的溶胀行为。PP-g-P[MAA-co-AA-co-DVB)/Na笼形树脂的溶胀度与交联密度的平方根成反比。PP-g-P(MAA-co-AA-co-TGDMA)/Na笼形树脂的溶胀度与交联密度关系比较复杂,可能是交联链的构型在一定的交联密度范围内最有利于水分子的吸留,但仍能保持交联网络结构不发生扭转缠结。PP-g-P(MAA-co-DVB)/Na笼形树脂的溶胀度测定结果表明,树脂的溶胀度不但随交联密度发生变化,而且和树脂上羧基的分布密度有关,认为是同荷离子相互排斥所引起的网络扩张的结果。     

Af型自由基均聚反应的固化理论(Ⅱ)——凝胶网络的结构参数

用高分子反应统计理论,给出A_f型自由基均聚反应在不同反应程度时的弹性有效链及悬吊链的链数、链节数和平均链长,也得到了体系的有效交联点数和弹性模量,进而给出弹性有效链的数量和重量分数,以此可进一步揭示该反应体系凝胶网络的粘弹性及相关的力学性质.     

低渗透极限交联聚苯乙烯型凝胶色谱填料

本文通过低交联度聚苯乙烯凝胶的合成,讨论了它的成孔机理以及致孔剂(稀释剂)的作用;并就若干低分子化合物作标样时,相对于聚苯乙烯标样的换算关系作简略介绍;测定填料的结构参数,并与色谱性能结合,指出即使是低交联度的凝胶也存在非均匀的分子链网孔结构。     

Dielectric relaxation of polymer networks built from macromolecules with dipole moment directed along the end-to-end chain vector

The dielectric relaxation properties are considered for polymer networks built from polar macromolecules with the dipole moment directed along the end-to-end chain vector. The viscoeleastic cubic model of a regular network is used. The fixed average volume of a polymer network is ensured by the effective internal pressure. The dynamic models of polymer networks with external and interchain friction are studied. Two cases are considered: (1) polar chains cross-linked in a network at their ends, and (2) a densely cross-linked network with many network junctions per polar chain. The expressions for the autocorrelation functions of the total dipole moment of a network, which determine the dielectric susceptibility, are calculated. The relaxation spectrum of the autocorrelation function consists of two regions: the high-frequency relaxation spectrum of a chain fragment between two neighbouring junctions (intrachain relaxation spectrum) and the lowfrequency interchain relaxation spectrum. The interchain relaxation spectrum is determined by cooperative motions of chains which form a network. The characteristic time of this spectrum for networks of type (1) is the relaxation time of a chain between junctions τ_min. For networks of type (2) a second time scale τ₁ exists, which corresponds to motions inside the volume occupied by a single long polar chain included in a network. It leads to different time behaviour of the autocorrelation functions for both network models. The existence of only interchain friction in the network model leads to a cut-off of the relaxation spectrum at the time τ_max depending on the volume of viscous interchain interactions.     

Polymer networks by molecular dynamics simulation: Formation, thermal, structural and mechanical properties

A molecular dynamics simulation method is presented and used in the study of the formation of polymer networks. We study the formation of networks representing the methylene repeating units as united atoms. The network formation is accomplished by cross-linking polymer chains with dedicated functional end groups. The simulations reveal that during the cross-linking process, initially branched molecules are formed before the gel point; approaching the gel point, larger branched entities are formed through integration of smaller branched molecules, and at the gel point a network spanning the simulation box is obtained; beyond the gel point the network continues to grow through the addition of the remaining molecules of the sol phase onto the gel (the network); the final completion of the reaction occurs by intra-network connection of dangling ends onto unsaturated cross-linkers. The conformational properties of the strands in the undeformed network are found to be very similar with the conformational properties of the chains before cross-linking. The uniaxial deformation of the formed networks is investigated and the modulus determined from the stress-strain curves shows reciprocal scaling with the precursor chain length for networks formed from sufficiently large precursor chains (N ≥ 20).     

Chain conformation in polymer melts during flow as measured by small angle neutron scattering

The anisotropic form factor of polystyrene (PS) chains during tensile and simple shear flows in the melt has been measured by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) on quenched samples containing deuterium labeled chains. For all tensile experiments, carried out in a wide range of strain rates, including linear viscoelastic behaviour, the chain conformation is well predicted by a temporary network model involving the recoverable strain. For binary blends of two PS with different molecular weight, the technique allows to characterize the chain conformation of either species. The scattering patterns of sheared samples show that the principal directions of molecular orientation depend on the magnitude of the scattering vector q: At high q (local level on the chain) the orientation is close to 45° with respect to the shear axis, whereas at low q the chains appear to be almost aligned with the stream lines.     

Segmental orientation and chain relaxation of polymers by fourier transform infrared dichroism

Fourier transform infrared dichroism has been used to investigate molecular orientation in polymeric materials. It is first applied to characterize network behavior in some elastomeric systems such as model networks of poly(dimethylsiloxane). The strain dependence of segmental orientation is analyzed through networks of known degree of cross-linking and experimental results are compared with calculation predictions based on the rotational isomeric state formalism. Infrared dichroism spectroscopy has also been used to analyze orientational relaxation in binary blends of long and short polystyrene chains. The effect of short deuterated chains (M_w = 3000 to 72000) on the orientational relaxation of long entangled chains (Mw = 2 000 000) is examined in the bidisperse melts uniaxially deformed above the glass transition temperature. While the long chain relaxation is found to be dependent on the short-chain concentration, the local orientational order of the latter is molecular weight dependent in agreement with the classical relaxation theories.     

Synthesis strategies and properties of smart amphiphilic networks

This paper briefly surveys recent developments in the field of amphiphilic networks (APN) which are a new class of crosslinked polymer systems consisting of covalently bonded hydrophobic and hydrophilic chain segments. The covalent bonds between immiscible hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer chains prevent demixing and yield polymer networks with unique structure and properties. Telechelic macromonomers provide the basis for the first generation of APNs obtained by copolymerization of the macromonomer with selected low molecular weight monomers. Synthesis of a variety of APNs using methacrylate-telechelic polyisobutylene (PIB) macromonomers prepared by living carbocationic polymerization (LCCP) and quantitative chain end derivatization is reviewed. The second generation of PIB-based amphiphilic networks is prepared by crosslinking of well-defined hydroxy-telechelic PIB and partially deprotected silylated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) precursor chains. Other opportunities providing better structural control of APNs by crosslinking of functional amphiphilic block copolymers (or precursors) obtained by combining living carbocationic and anionic polymerizations are outlined as well. Properties of APNs, such as control of swellability by composition, pH-response of swelling, fast surface structure reorganization by contacting with solvent, morphology, sustained release of drugs and bio- and blood compatibility, are also summarized.     

Characterisation of UV-cured acrylate networks by means of hydrolysis followed by aqueous size-exclusion combined with reversed-phase chromatography

UV-cured networks prepared from mixtures of di-functional (polyethylene-glycol di-acrylate) and mono-functional (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) acrylates were analysed after hydrolysis, by aqueous size-exclusion chromatography coupled to on-line reversed-phase liquid-chromatography. The mean network density and the fraction of dangling chain ends of these networks were varied by changing the concentration of mono-functional acrylate. The amount and the molar-mass distribution of the polyethylene-glycol chains between cross-links (M(XL)) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) backbone chains (the so-called kinetic chain length (kcl)) in the different acrylate networks were determined quantitatively. The molar-mass distribution of kcl revealed an almost linear dependence on the concentration of mono-functional acrylate. Analysis of the starting materials showed a significant concentration of mono-functional polyethylene-glycol acrylate. In combination with the analysis of the extractables of the UV-cured networks (polymers not attached to the network, impurities that originate from the photo-initiator and unreacted monomers), more insight in the total network structure was obtained. It was shown that the UV-cured networks contain only small fractions of residual compounds. With these results, the chemical network structure for the different UV-cured acrylate polymers was expressed in network parameters such as the number of PAA units which are cross-linked, the degree of cross-linking, and the network density, which is the molar concentration of effective network chains between cross-links per volume of the polymers. The mean molar mass of chains between chemical network junctions (M(C)) was calculated and compared with results obtained from solid-state NMR and DMA. The mean molar mass of chains between network junctions as determined by these methods was similar.     

The Estimation of Statistical Parameters Determining the Relaxation Times of Nematic Elastomers: A Three‐Chain Network Model

A simplified “three‐chain” network model formed from freely jointed polymer chains consisting of Gaussian elements with fixed mean‐square lengths is proposed for describing local dynamic properties of nematic elastomers. The boundaries of a polymer network are supposed to be fixed when sample volume and shape do not change with ordering. Relaxation times characterising intrachain motions in both isotropic and ordered states are determined by two factors. The first (“dynamic”) factor is related to the friction of chain elements and the second one (“statistical” factor) is determined by statistical mean–square fluctuations of segment projections on the three axes of rectangular frame of reference. The “statistical” factor of relaxation times is calculated here as a function of the order parameter and the parameter characterising the degree of network crosslinking. Statistical factor obtained in the framework of a network model consisting of Gaussian subchains is compared with that calculated here by using freely‐jointed‐rods chain model. Good agreement is shown between statistical factors obtained in the framework of the two chain models considered. This result confirms the validity of describing the dynamics of real rod‐like mesogenic groups in nematic elastomers in terms of a simplified chain model consisting of Gaussian segments with fixed average lengths which do not change with ordering. The influence of “dynamic” factor on the relaxation spectrum of a nematic elastomer is discussed qualitatively.     

Sequential semi-interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane and polystyrene

The formation of microheterogeneous sequential semi-interpenetrating polymer networks based on network polyurethanes with different molecular masses of chain segments between crosslinks and a linear polystyrene has been studied by DSC and small-angle X-ray scattering. It has been shown that variation in the molecular mass of polymer segments between polyurethane network junctions affects the formation of the linear component of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks. As a result, the material structure may change in a wide range from a nearly single-phase system to a two-phase one. SAXS measurements indicate that there is a cymbate dependence between the degree of segregation of components of sequential semi-interpenetrating polymer networks and their microheterogeneous structure on the internetwork space. Two hierarchical heterogeneity levels are found to exist in polymer networks, and the features of each of these levels are analyzed.     

Polymers with macrocyclic architectures: Synthesis and properties

The preparation by living polymerization and the investigation of the properties of polymers with cyclic chain architectures have been recently undertaken. The cyclization involves a unimolecular end-to-end reaction of a heterodifunctional linear precursor. The elementary steps of the cyclization mechanism are examined in the light of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) data obtained on linear polystyrene precursors and cyclized products. The synthetic procedures developed to prepare macrocyclic polymers of various structures, as well as macrocyclic random and block copolymers are then reviewed and discussed. The main characteristics of the cyclic (co)polymers are compared to the corresponding linear chains and some of the original properties that are induced by the cyclic chain architecture are presented.     

Characterization of polystyrene networks by small-angle neutron scattering

Polystyrene networks prepared by anionic polymerization have been characterized by small-angle neutron scattering. Two kinds of systems have been examined: (A) networks with labelled branch points allowing characterization of the spatial distribution of crosslinking points; (B) networks containing a low proportion of chains labelled with perdeuterated polystyrene in order to characterize the conformation of individual elastic chains of the polymeric network. The dependence of the results on swelling and uniaxial extension is discussed.