The RAFT radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide was modeled using the Predici® simulation package. The sensitivity of polymerization responses on formulation and process variables was analyzed. The simulations were carried out using kinetic and physical parameters corresponding to the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide, using AIBN as initiator, at 65 °C and 200 bar, and using values of the addition and fragmentation kinetic rate constants of a “typical” RAFT agent, as reference conditions. This is the first report in the literature addressing the modeling or simulation of RAFT polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide.
PS grafted silica nanoparticles have been prepared by a tandem process that simultaneously employs RAFT polymerization and click chemistry. In a single pot procedure, azide‐modified silica, an alkyne functionalized RAFT agent and styrene are combined to produce the desired product. As deduced by thermal gravimetric and elemental analysis, the grafting density of PS on the silica in the tandem process is intermediate between analogous “grafting to” and “grafting from” techniques for preparing PS brushes on silica. Relative rates of RAFT polymerization and click reaction can be altered to control grafting density.
This paper highlights the powerful combination of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization and various click/coupling chemistries. This is not an exhaustive review but rather an overview demonstrating the impressive possibilities that the “marriage” of these two synthetic approaches offers in modern macromolecular design and synthesis.
The deformation and breakup of a single polycarbonate drop in a polyethylene matrix is studied at high temperatures under simple shear flow using a transparent Couette device. We observed “parallel breakup” where the drop breaks after being stretched into a thin sheet parallel to the flow. The breakup occurs at a viscosity ratio greater than 3.5. Deborah number and a stress ratio incorporating elastic moduli can characterize the “parallel breakup”.
Deformation and breakup of a polycarbonate drop in a polyethylene matrix. 相似文献
Well‐defined “smart” block copolymer–protein conjugates were prepared by two consecutive “grafting‐from” reactions via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The initiating portion (R‐group) of the RAFT agent was anchored to a model protein such that the thiocarbonylthio moiety was readily accessible for chain transfer with propagating chains in solution. Well‐defined polymer‐protein conjugates of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared at room temperature in aqueous media. The retained trithiocarbonate moiety on the free end group of the immobilized polymer allowed the homopolymer conjugate to be extended by polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography, and NMR spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of the various conjugates and revealed that the polymerizations were well controlled. As expected, the resulting block copolymer–protein conjugates demonstrated thermoresponsive behavior due to the temperature‐sensitivity of the PNIPAM block, as evidenced by turbidity measurements and dynamic light scattering analysis.
Novel glucosamine hydrochloride functionalized water‐soluble conjugated polyfluorene was easily synthesized through Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide/alkyne “click” ligation and Suzuki coupling polymerization. The water‐solubility and biocompatibility of the polymer were improved after grafting glucosamine hydrochloride to the side chains of the conjugated polymer. As a fluorescent model system of chitosan, its interaction with single‐stranded DNA was studied by spectrofluorometric titration.
Poly(ethersulfone) membranes were surface modified in a one‐step procedure. For this purpose, the membranes were soaked with aqueous solutions of different low‐molecular weight molecules bearing diverse hydrophilic functionalities and subject to electron beam treatment. No catalysts, photoinitiators, organic solvents or other toxic reagents were used, and no additional synthetic or purification steps were required.
In this article we provide a brief summary of computational techniques applied to investigate polymerization reactions in general, with a focus on systems under confinement and initiated from surfaces. We concentrate on two major classes of techniques, i.e., stochastic methods and molecular modeling. We describe the major principles of the two classes of methodologies and point out their strengths and weaknesses. We review a variety of studies from the literature and conclude with an outlook of these two classes of computer simulation approaches as they are applied to “grafting from” polymerizations.
The full molecular weight distribution (FMWD) equations in RAFT polymerization are solved by direct integration for three models: intermediate radical termination (IRT), slow fragmentation (SF), and IRT with oligomers (IRTO). It is shown that the quasi steady state approximation (QSSA) is always applicable to living radicals, and also applicable to intermediate radicals in the IRT and IRTO models. The application of the QSSA allows for considerable simplification of the numerical solution of the equations. A marked bimodality is found for the FMWD of the SF model only. This suggests model discrimination by radical trapping experiments followed by GPC measurement of the total MWD.
Highly efficient and well‐controlled ambient temperature reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is readily carried out under environmentally friendly mild solar radiation. This discovery has significantly extended studies from man‐made separated‐spectroscopic‐emission UV‐vis radiation (Macromolecules 2006 , 39, 3770) to natural continuous‐spectroscopic‐emission solar radiation for ambient temperature RAFT polymerization.
A new method to control the morphology and functionality of micelles is reported. Triblock copolymer micelles with atom transfer radical polymerization initiators at the interface are prepared in aqueous solution. After in‐situ polymerization at the interface, the structures of the interface and corona change, and micelles with PDMAEMA‐PEG comb–coil coronal chains are obtained. In aqueous solution, the pH exerts an influence on the morphology of the micelles. The coronal chains adopt different conformations at different pH values. Upon drying, the two coronal chains phase separate and form nanometer‐sized domains.
We describe the fabrication of a biomimically designed superhydrophobic poly(ε‐caprolactone) surface, which was obtained using a modified electrostatic process. The fabricated surface exhibits a micron‐sized pyramid structure consisting of accumulated droplets and nanofibres. By using this simple one‐step process, we can achieve a superhydrophobic surface having both a high water contact angle and low threshold sliding angle, similar to that of the superhydrophobic plant leaf.
Porous surface patterns are used in a wide variety of practical applications. Honeycomb‐patterned porous polymer films are good templates for preparing porous surfaces due to their simple fabrication and the arrangement of pores on the surface. Catechol groups include in adhesive protein of mussels have attracted much attention due to their highly and substrate‐independent adhesive properties. In this paper, highly and substrate‐independent adhesive honeycomb‐patterned porous polymer films are prepared by using amphiphilic copolymer having catechol moieties. Furthermore, porous surface patterns are transferred on various organic or inorganic substrates by wet etching with using adhesive honeycomb films as templates.
Summary: Polystyrene (PS) micro‐ and nanospheres with uniform dimensions and smooth surfaces have been produced by electrospray. The effect of PS molecular weight on beads morphology and the fundamental role of concentration have been investigated. Moreover, a new apparatus was designed to collect the polymer spheres during the process and to prevent the coalescence among the spheres.
PS micro‐ and nanospheres produced by electrospray 相似文献
The method of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations is used to investigate the static properties of the organic–inorganic interface in a polymer nanocomposite consisting of polyimide and silica nanoparticles with modified surface. Alkylsilane chains are used as the surface modifiers. The surface density and chains length of the modifier are the main parameters of the simulations. For simplicity, the model of the composite has been constructed as a polymer layer sandwiched between two solid surfaces. Our results show that one can change the properties of the interface between the polymer matrix and the inorganic filler by choosing the molecular weight and surface density of the modifier.
Summary: Thermosensitive polymer nanotubes can be fabricated within an aminopropylsilane‐modified porous anodic aluminum oxide membrane by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) followed by template removal. DSC experiments prove that the synthesized PNIPAM‐co‐MBAA copolymer nanotubes have a reversible thermosensitive behavior. The temperature‐induced changes in dimension and shape of the nanotubes were studied by AFM in real time in an aqueous environment. It indicates that the nanotubes undergo a shape alteration from an “ellipse” to “circular” shape in water upon heating to LCST or above.
Summary: We report a new method for the preparation of polyaniline nanoballs by using HAuCl4 as an oxidizing agent. During the reaction, aniline is oxidized and forms polyaniline whilst the hydrogen tetrachloroaurate is reduced and forms gold nanoparticles. These gold nanoparticles are found to decorate the nanoballs.
The resultant precipitate and corresponding TEM image of the gold‐nanoparticle covered polyaniline nanoball. 相似文献
