Calorimetric investigation of polymerization reactions. I. Diffusion-controlled polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene

The rate of bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene was determined directly, continuously and over the whole range of conversion with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) operated isothermally. At the later stages of the accelerated polymerization of methyl methacrylate, a previously unknown inflection or peak in the rate of polymerization was observed. The variation of the rate after the onset of the gel effect, including this peculiar inflection, was interpreted on the basis of the diffusion behavior of monomer molecules and polymeric radicals in the polymer–monomer system, their diffusion rates being predicted from the free volume theory. The final conversion at which no further polymerization proceeds was determined for both monomers. It was affirmed quantitatively that the final conversion has a close relation with the transition of the polymer–monomer system from a viscous liquid to a glassy state.     

Polymerization in nonuniform latex particles. II. Kinetics of two-phase emulsion polymerization

A new theory, based on the concept of nonuniform distribution of free radicals in polymerizing latex particles, has been developed for the kinetics of two-phase emulsion polymerization reactions. This theory also takes into account the diffusion controlled termination and propagation reactions to describe the gel effect and limiting conversion. The kinetic model permits prediction of the distribution of free radicals in the two polymer phases and rate of polymerization as a function of reaction conditions. Experimental data for polystyrene/polymethyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate/polystyrene (postformed polymer/preformed polymer) in the literature have been used to assess the proposed idea of nonuniform distribution of free radicals in the latex particle.     

Free-radical polymerization of monomer-polymer solutions initiated by a peroxide-tertiary aromatic amine system

The free-radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate initiated by the peroxide-tertiary aromatic amine system in the presence of dissolved aromatic polyethers and fluoroelastomer has been studied with the use of quantitative chemical, thermometric, and gravimetric analyses. It has been shown that the rate of polymerization of monomer-polymer solutions is higher than that of pure monomers. The influence of the content of dissolved polymers on the conversion of monomers corresponding to the onset of the gel effect has been estimated. In the presence of the polymer being added, this phenomenon manifests itself at a lower fractional conversion of the monomer. The greater the content of the polymer and the higher the viscosity of the reaction system, the sooner the rise in the rate of polymerization. The experimental evidence of this study makes it possible to control the synthesis of composite materials from monomer-polymer systems.     

Analysis of the thermodynamic compatibility of interpenetrating networks during their synthesis

A thermodynamic analysis of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), at any extent of reaction during their synthesis, is presented for both simultaneous and sequential procedures. A model IPN is assumed to be built up by the independent stepwise homopolymerization of two monomers: a tetrafunctional one, A₄, and a trifunctional one, A₃. No reaction of copolymerization or grafting is allowed between the two types of polymers. For the case of semi-IPNs, A₃ is replaced by A₂, i.e., a bifunctional monomer leading to a linear polymer. The free energy of mixing is described by a Flory-Huggins lattice model, whereas the elastic contribution is calculated by assuming affine deformation of an ideal elastic network. Results show that a sequential polymerization gives a more incompatible system (i.e., it enters the metastable region at lower conversions) than a simultaneous polymerization starting from the same monomers. In every case, a semi-IPN is shown to be more compatible than an IPN owing to the fact that the average size of the bifunctional monomer increases less with conversion than the size of the trifunctional monomer. When a sequential polymerization begins from a swollen gel at equilibrium, any increase in the extent of reaction of the solvent monomer will lead to its segregation from the swollen gel. The critical Flory-Huggins interaction parameter provides a simple way to ascertain the possibility of phase separation during a simultaneous polymerization.     

Variation in the chromatographic,material, and chemical characteristics of methacrylate‐based polymer monoliths during photoinitiated low‐temperature polymerization

Both the separation behavior and the structure of a polymer monolith column depends on both the reaction solution composition and the polymerization conditions. In photoinitiated low‐temperature polymerization, polymerization temperature, irradiation intensity, and polymerization time were key factors to control the monolith characteristics. In this study, the effect of polymerization time on the chromatographic, material, and chemical characteristics of poly(butyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) monoliths was studied using pyrolysis‐gas chromatography, Raman spectroscopy, inverse size exclusion chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, and chromatographic methods. Both butyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate monomers were incorporated into the monolith as the polymerization time increased, and it resulted in increases in both the flow resistance (decrease in both permeability and total/through pore porosities) and retention factors. The longer polymerization time led to lower relative amounts of free methacrylate functional groups in the monolith, i.e. cross‐linking was enhanced. The increase of the polymerization time from 8 to 12 min significantly reduced the separation efficiency for the retained analyte, whereas an increase in the fraction of the mesoporosity was observed.     

甲基丙烯酸丁酯在Nd-Al-α,α'-联吡啶催化剂体系中的聚合反应

 研究了Nd（naph）3－Al（i－Bu）3－α,α’－联吡啶（naph＝环烷酸）催化体系中甲基丙烯酸丁酯的聚合反应．用核磁共振和红外光谱表征了聚合物的结构．用凝胶色谱测定了聚合物的分子量和分子量的分布．结果表明,聚合物的结构以全同和无规为主,反应机理为配位聚合,聚合反应对单体浓度呈一级关系,表观活化能为30．2kJ／mol．     

The Role of a Metallocene Additive in Radically Initiated Polymerization when Solving Direct and Inverse Kinetic Problems

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate, initiated by benzoyl peroxide in the presence of titanocene dichloride, is considered from the point of view of formal kinetics. Based on the kinetic scheme of the process (which includes the reactions of classical radical polymerization, the reaction of benzoyl peroxide with titanocene dichloride, the reactions of the controlled radical polymerization of organometallic mediated radical polymerization (OMRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), the reaction of the formation of a coordinating active site and the coordinating chain propagation on a mathematical model of the kinetics of the process is created. This model also makes it possible to calculate the molecular-mass characteristics of poly(methyl methacrylate). As a result of the solution of the inverse kinetic problem at a temperature of 343 K, the values of the reaction rate constants of the kinetic scheme are found under which the discrepancy between the calculated models and experimental data is minimal. Using the developed model of the kinetics of the process, a numerical experiment is performed (i.e., a direct kinetic problem is solved). This problem revealed the following regularities of the process. (1) An increase in the initial concentration of titanocene dichloride at a constant initial concentration of benzoyl peroxide leads to an increase in the rate of consumption of benzoyl peroxide but not to an increase in the initial rate of the process compared to classical radical polymerization. (2) With an increase in the initial concentration of titanocene dichloride, the lifetime of the macroradicals at the initial stage of the process is reduced, and hence the molecular weight of the resulting polymethyl methacrylate is less than that of the polymethyl methacrylate obtained in the absence of titanocene dichloride, and it will increase during the process of approaching the final values. (3) During the polymerization of methyl methacrylate, initiated by benzoyl peroxide in the presence of titanocene dichloride, a smoothing gel effect (as in the case of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by benzoyl peroxide in the presence of ferrocene) does not occur since titanocene dichloride forms stable complexes with methyl methacrylate and, consequently, it participates in reactions consuming macroradicals to a lesser degree than ferrocene.     

Estimation of the Characteristic Ratio kp(f/kt)½ and Its Temperature Dependence in Bulk Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride

According to a reaction scheme which as its main features assumes that polymerization is predominantly in the interior of the monomer swollen polyvinyl chloride) particles and that all the decaying initiator finally contributes to the polymerization within the polymer particles, the ratio k_p (f/k_t)^½ = K (where k_p, k_t are rate constants for chain propagation and chain termination, respectively, within the particles and f is initiator efficiency) has been calculated for bulk polymerization of vinyl chloride at three temperatures. K is found to be markedly larger than the corresponding quantity for homogeneous solution polymerization, e.g., at 50°C it is seven times this latter quantity. The characteristic ratio K shows a marked negative temperature dependence, which corresponds to approximately -4.5 kcal/mole for E_p - (E_t/2), when f is assumed to be independent of temperature. This behavior is quite consistent with a strong gel effect being operative at the site of reaction, i.e., the swollen polymer particles can be taken as equivalent to a homogeneous polymerization system at high conversion.     

Systematic Investigation of the Photopolymerization of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Styrene and Vinyl Monomers

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) as media in radical polymerizations has demonstrated the ability of these unique solvents to improve both reaction kinetics and polymer product properties. However, the bulk of these studies have examined the polymerization behavior of common organic monomers (e.g., methyl methacrylate, styrene) dissolved in conventional ILs. There is increasing interest in polymerized ILs (poly(ILs)), which are ionomers produced from the direct polymerization of styrene-, vinyl-, and acrylate-functionalized ILs. Here, the photopolymerization kinetics of IL monomers are investigated for systems in which styrene or vinyl functionalities are pendant from the imidazolium cation. Styrene-functionalized IL monomers typically polymerized rapidly (full conversion ≤1 min) in both neat compositions or when diluted with a nonpolymerizable IL, [C₂mim][Tf₂N]. However, monomer conversion in vinyl-functionalized IL monomers is much more dependent on the nature of the nonpolymerizable group. ATR-FTIR analysis and molecular simulations of these monomers and monomer mixtures identified the presence of multiple intermolecular interactions (e.g., π–π stacking, IL aggregation) that contribute to the polymerization behaviors of these systems. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2364–2375     

Synthesis and thermal properties of poly(cycloalkyl methacrylate)s bearing bridged- and fused-ring structures

Radical polymerizations of some cycloalkyl methacrylates bearing bridged- and fused-ring structures, i.e., bornyl methacrylate (BoMA), isobornyl methacrylate (IBoMA), 2-decahydronaphthyl methacrylate (DNMA), and 3-tetracyclo [4.4.0^2,5.1^7,10] dodecyl methacrylate (TCDMA), were carried out. The radical polymerization reactivities of these monomers depended on the structure of the cycloalkyl ester groups in the following order: TCDMA > BoMA > DNMA > CHMA > IBoMA > MMA, where CHMA and MMA are cyclohexyl and methyl methacrylates, respectively. The propagation and termination rate constants of these monomers were evaluated from the polymer radical concentration determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The solubilities and microstructures of the resulting polymers were examined. Thermal properties, i.e., glass transition temperatures and decomposition behaviors, of the polymers were also investigated and related to the structures of the polymer side chain. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride at reduced monomer accessibility. III. Polymerization kinetics and molecular structure using PVC latex as seed

Vinyl chloride was polymerized at 53–97% of the saturation pressure in a water-suspended system at 55°C with an emulsion PVC latex as seed. A water-soluble initiator was used in various concentrations. The monomer was continuously charged as vapor from a storage vessel kept at lower temperature. Characterization included determination of molecular weight distribution and degree of long-chain branching by gel chromatography and viscometry and by thermal dehydrochlorination. To avoid diffusion control intense agitation was necessary. At a certain conversion, aggregation of primary particles resulted in restricted polymerization rate. Before aggregation, formation of new particles did not occur as the number of particles was high enough to ensure capture of all oligoradicals. The kinetic equation accepted for ordinary emulsion polymerization of vinyl chloride was qualitatively found to be valid after the pressure drop as well. Decreased termination rate may result in increased polymerization rate at reduced monomer concentration, i.e., a gel effect, especially at low particle numbers and high polymer contents. The molecular weight decreased with decreasing monomer concentration. This is in accordance with the new mechanism suggested for chain transfer to monomer starting with occasional head-to-head additions.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate). V. Kinetics of initial template polymerization

The influence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a polymer matrix on the initial rate of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been measured between ?11 and +60°C using a dilatometric technique. Under proper conditions an increase in the relative initial rate of template polymerization with respect to a blank polymerization was observed. Viscometric studies showed that the observed effect could be related to the extent of complex formation between the polymer matrix and the growing chain radical. The initial rate was dependent on tacticity and molecular weight of the matrix polymer, solvent type and polymerization temperature. The accelerating effect was most pronounced (a fivefold increase in rate) at the lowest polymerization temperature with the highest molecular weight isotactic PMMA as a matrix in a solvent like dimethylformamide (DMF), which is known to be a good medium for complex formation between isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA. The acceleration of the polymerization below 25°C appeared to be accompanied by a large decrease in the overall energy and entropy of activation. It is suggested that the observed template effects are mainly due to the stereoselection in the propagation step (lower activation entropy Δ S_p^?) and the hindrance of segmental diffusion in the termination step (higher activation energy Δ E_t^?) of complexed growing chain radicals.     

Polymerization of vinyl monomer with carbon disulfide–alkali metal complex

The reaction of carbon disulfide with one or two equivalents of alkali metal (potassium- or sodium) was carried out, and the deep red reaction mixture obtained only in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The polymerization of vinyl monomers with this reaction mixture was studied. The reaction mixtures of mono- and dialkali metal with carbon disulfide induced the polymerization of N-phenylmaleimide, methyl vinyl ketone, and acrylonitrile but did not induce the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene. In the polymerization of acrylonitrile with this reaction mixture of carbon disulfide with monoalkali metal, the polymerization rate was found to be proportional to the initiator concentration and to the square of the monomer concentration. The activation energy was ?1.1 kcal/mole. Similar results were obtained in the case of carbon disulfide with dialkali metal. The polymer yield increased with increasing solvating power of solvents, i.e., diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, hexamethylphosphoramide, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran. In the copolymerization of AN with MMA, the copolymer obtained consisted almost of AN units.     

Coffee Beverage: A New Strategy for the Synthesis of Polymethacrylates via ATRP

Coffee, the most popular beverage in the 21st century society, was tested as a reaction environment for activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) without an additional reducing agent. Two blends were selected: pure Arabica beans and a proportional blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. The use of the solution received from the mixture with Robusta obtained a high molecular weight polymer product in a short time while maintaining a controlled structure of the synthesized product. Various monomers with hydrophilic characteristics, i.e., 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA₅₀₀), and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), were polymerized. The proposed concept was carried out at different concentrations of coffee grounds, followed by the determination of the molar concentration of caffeine in applied beverages using DPV and HPLC techniques.     

Catalytic Effect of Dimethylsulfoxide Complexes of Rh(III) and Ru(II) on the Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Initiated by 2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile

Transition metal salts and complexes catalyze the polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence or absence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). In this article the effect of some dimethyl sulfoxide complexes of Rh(III) and Ru(II) on the polymerization of vinyl monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) initiated by AIBN is reported. The percentage conversion and the rate of polymerization of MMA and MA are found to increase rapidly with time. At the critical concentrations of the complexes, the percentage conversion and the rates of reaction are found to be higher than those with AIBN alone, which significantly proves their accelerating effect. At concentrations above and below that of the critical value, the percentage conversion and the rates of polymerization of MMA and MA are found to decrease from those with AIBN alone. The trend of the increase and decrease of the percentage conversion and the rate of reaction with both types of complexes are similar. The solvent used in the polymerization of MMA and MA is dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and the temperature of the reaction is 60°C. A precise mechanism for the catalytic reaction is suggested.     

Epoxy‐functionalized,low‐glass‐transition‐temperature latex. II. Interdiffusion versus crosslinking in the presence of a diamine

This article describes the results of experiments examining the competition between the polymer diffusion rate and the crosslinking rate in low‐glass‐transition‐temperature, epoxy‐containing latex films in the presence of a diamine. We examined films formed from donor‐ and acceptor‐labeled poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer latex and studied the influence of several parameters on the growth rate of gel content and the rate of polymer diffusion. These factors include the molecular weight of the latex polymer, the presence or absence of a diamine crosslinking agent, and the cure protocol. The results were compared to the predictions of a recent theory of the competition between crosslinking and polymer diffusion across interfaces. In the initially formed films, polymer diffusion occurs more rapidly than the chemical reaction rate. Therefore, these films fall into the fast‐diffusion category of this model. In our system (unlike in the model), the latex polymer has a broad distribution of molecular weights and a distribution of diffusivities. The shortest chains contribute to the early time diffusion that we measure. At later stages of our experiment, slower diffusing species contribute to the signal that we measure. The diffusion time decreases substantially, and we observe a crossover to a regime in which the chemical reaction dominates. The increases in chain branching and gel formation bring polymer diffusion to a halt. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4098–4116, 2002     

锂离子电池PMMA-VAc聚合物电解质的制备与性质研究

以甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)和醋酸乙烯酯(VAc)为单体, 用乳液聚合法合成聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯-醋酸乙烯酯聚合物(PMMA-VAc), 并以此聚合物制备了新型聚烯烃膜支撑的聚合物膜及聚合物电解质. 用红外光谱(FTIR)、凝胶色谱(GPC)、差热和热重分析(DSC/TG)、扫描电镜(SEM)及电池充放电实验等方法研究了聚合物、聚合物膜和聚合物电解质的性质. 红外光谱结果表明, MMA与VAc通过各自的C＝C双键打开聚合成PMMA-VAc. PMMA-VAc易于分散在混合碳酸酯溶剂中并形成凝胶, 凝胶粘度随PMMA-VAc浓度的增加而增加, 当浓度为4%时成膜效果最佳. PMMA-VAc膜具有大量的微孔结构, 具有极强的吸液性能. PMMA-VAc膜具有良好的热稳定性: 在380 ℃范围内保持稳定. 聚烯烃膜支撑的PMMA-VAc膜室温下的离子电导率为1.85×10^－3 S•cm^－1, 用作为锂离子电池的聚合物电解质时, 电池具有良好的循环稳定性和倍率性能.     

Isothermal frontal polymerization: Confirmation of the mechanism and determination of factors affecting the front velocity,front shape,and propagation distance with comparison to mathematical modeling

Isothermal frontal polymerization (IFP) is a directional polymerization that uses the Trommsdorff, or gel, effect to produce gradient materials for optical applications. When a solution of methyl methacrylate and a thermal initiator contacts a polymer seed (a small piece of polymer), a viscous region is formed in which the polymerization rate is faster because of the Trommsdorff effect. Using the optical techniques of laser line deflection (Weiner's method) and shadowgraphy along with controls, we obtained definitive experimental evidence of IFP. Moreover, we were able to measure accurately and precisely the front position and front concentration profile as a function of time by monitoring IFP systems and controls of various initiator concentrations and cure temperatures. The experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions from a model using mass‐diffusion and radical polymerization kinetics. The model reproduced the decrease of the propagation time and showed an increase in the propagation velocity for an increase in the initiator concentration and/or cure temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5774–5786, 2005     

Controlled release of 5-fluorouracil or mitomycin-c from polymer matrix: Preparation by radiation polymerization and in vivo evaluation of the anticancer drug/polymer composites

Polymer tablets containing anticancer drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin-C (MMC) have been prepared to evaluate the drug-release characteristics in vitro and the effect on local control of mouse solid tumors in vivo. Radiation-induced polymerization of hydrophilic monomers (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and related monomers) at low temperature (-80°C) was performed to immobilize 5-FU or MMC in the polymer matrix. The drug was dispersed as microcrystallines within the polymer matrix. The rate of drug release in vitro in buffer solution (pH7.0, 37°C) increased with increase in hydrophilicity of polymer matrix. Appropriate amount of crosslinks within the polymer matrix, as formed by ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (2G) added in the polymerization system, was effective to control the rate of drug release. The drug release became faster upon the addition of increasing amount of water in the radiation-induced polymerization. The tablet consisting of drug/polymer was buried surgically near solid tumors of striate muscle sarcoma (S180) transplanted to Kunming mice and the therapeutic effect of slow releasing drugs was evaluated in vivo by reference to intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the corresponding drugs. The slow releasing drugs led to high chemotherapeutic gain for local control of solid tumors with remarkable reduction of toxic side effect of the drugs.     

Model filled polymers. V. Synthesis of crosslinked monodisperse polymethacrylate beads

Monodisperse polymethacrylate beads of varied size and crosslink density are prepared by emulsion copolymerization of methacrylate and divinyl monomers in the absence of emulsifiers. The sizes of polybutyl and polyethyl methacrylate beads decreased with increasing polymerization temperature, while polymethyl methacrylate beads were largely unchanged in size. The molar mass of polymer in polymethyl metnacrylate beads markedly exceeded that in polystyrene beads. The rate of polymerization increased, and bead size decreased, with increasing initiator concentration or decreasing monomer concentration. The polymethacrylate beads are used as filler particles in polymer composites.