Photochemistry of polymeric systems. I. Photocrosslinking of polymers and copolymers containing pyridine N-oxide groups

Vinylpyridine-N-oxide units were introduced in polymeric chains in order to study their photocrosslinking. Copolymers of styrene and 4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide were especially synthesized and studied. The methods used for characterization of photocrosslinked films were a “photoresist test” or the measurement of the insolubility and of the swelling ratio. The Cleavage of the N-oxide bond was responsible for the photocrosslinking. The competitive formation of carbonyl compounds took place and decreased the rate of photocrosslinking. This last reaction is favored by triplet-state quenchers. The photosensitivity of the copolymers was determined as a function of the wavelength of the radiation used. When the photocrosslinking proceeded, a film of the copolymeric material became transparent in the 280–320-nm range. Thick films could therefore be completely photocrosslinked when irradiated in this range of wavelength.     

Photochemistry of fiber-forming polymers. I. Acrylonitrile copolymers and fibers containing ketone groups

The inclusion of minor amounts of methyl isopropenyl ketone in polyacrylonitrile and its copolymers with methyl acrylate and vinyl acetate causes the polymer to become sensitive to ultraviolet light in the 290–320 nm region. Both films and fibers show decreases in molecular weight on irradiation which are attributable to C? C bond scission by the Norrish type II reaction. In addition to bond cleavage, decarbonylation occurs, presumably by a type I radical process which also leads to the formation of ketonitrile groups. Fibers spun from such polymers lose most of their tensile strength and elongation after a few months outdoor exposure to natural sunlight, whereas control samples not containing carbonyl groups will retain their strength for much longer periods. Quantum yields both for chain scission and for carbonyl loss in these systems are estimated to be of the order of 0.005.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic polymers containing pendant silyl groups. II. Aromatic polyamides

In order to improve the solubility of aromatic polyamides without significant loss of thermal stability, synthesis of aromatic polyamides containing pendant silyl groups was carried out by direct polycondensation of silylated aromatic diacids such as 2-trimethylsilylterephthalic acid (TSTA), 2,5-bis (trimethylsilyl) terephthalic acid (BTSTA), 5-trimethylsilylisophthalic acid (TSIA), 5-dimethylphenylsilylisophthalic acid (DMSIA), and 5-triphenylsilylisophthalic acid (TPSIA) with various aromatic diamines. The resulting polyamides had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.18–1.10 dL/g and showed improved solubilities toward aprotic polar solvents such as NMP, DMF, DMSO, etc. The prepared aromatic polyamides exhibited fairly good thermal stabilities, which were almost comparable to those of corresponding nonsubstituted aromatic polyamides. That is, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data revealed 10% weight losses at 358–500°C and residual weights at 700°C were 46–67% under nitrogen atmosphere. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Monolayers of methacrylic polymers containing aromatic groups

Monolayers of poly-methacrylates containing either aromatic or linear side groups were studied at the air-water interface. The aim of the work is to define the role of the aromatic group in determining the interfacial distribution and orientation of these polymers. Surface pressure measurements show that all the polymers give stable expanded monomolecular films between 288 K and 308 K temperature range.Surface potential and ellipsometric measurements show that both aromatic and aliphatic polymers are in an almost horizontal conformation at the liquid-air interface. From a comparison of the experimental isotherms with Huggins' theory, it was deduced that no preferential interactions exist between benzene rings in the film. In contrast, preferential attractive energies are observed for n-alkylmethacrylates.Further information on the state of the collapsed film was obtained from electron scanning micrographs.     

New high-temperature polymers. II. Ordered aromatic copolyamides containing fused and multiple ring systems

Symmetrical diamines, containing preformed carbonamide linkages, were prepared by reacting nitrobenzoyl chlorides with aromatic diamines and reducing the dinitro intermediates. The diamines were polymerized with aromatic diacid chlorides to give wholly aromatic ordered copolyamides of exceptionally high thermal stability. Ordered diamines were prepared containing only phenylene units as the aromatic portion, and others containing phenylene and naphthylene or biphenylene groups. Low-temperature solution polymerization of these diamines with isophthaloyl chloride, 4,4′-bibenzoyl chloride, or 2,6-naphthalenedicarbonyl chloride, gave thirteen ordered copolyamides, each containing a naphthylene and/or biphenylene group in its repeating unit. Differential thermal analyses and thermogravimetric analyses showed these polymers to have melting points or decomposition temperatures of from 420 to over 500°C. Films of one of the polymers had a breakdown voltage of 3000 v./mil at 180°C. Fibers of the same composition had tenacities of up to 8 g/den.; a 5.5 g/den. sample retained 85% of its tenacity after 17 hr. at 300°C. and 21% after 9 days.     

Low-temperature mechanical relaxations in polymers containing aromatic groups

Studies have been made of the secondary relaxation processes in the solid state of a number of polymers containing aromatic groups in the polymer chain. The polymers investigated include one, polystyrene, with the aromatic group in side-chain positions, and six high polymers in which phenylene rings lie in the main backbone chain. In polystyrene, wagging and torsional motions of the side chain phenyl rings give rise to a low-temperature δ-relaxation which is centered at 33°K (1.7 Hz) and which has an activation energy of about 2.3 kcal/mol. Most of the polymers with phenylene rings in the main chain exhibit a low-temperature relaxation in the temperature region from 100°–200°K. This relaxation process is centered at 159°K (0.54 Hz) in poly-p-xylylene, at 162°K (0.67 Hz) in polysulfone, and at 165°K (1.24 Hz) in poly(diancarbonate). In poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide), two overlapping low-temperature relaxations are found, one in the range 125–140°K and the other near 277°K (ca. 1 Hz). The low-temperature secondary relaxation process in all of these polymers is believed to be associated with local reorientational motion of the phenylene, or substituted phenylene, rings or with combined motion of the phenylene rings and nearby chain units. For these low temperature relaxation processes, the activation energy is about 10 kcal/-mole. The temperature location of the relaxation appears to depend on the specific units to which the phenylene rings are attached and on steric and polar effects caused by substituents on the ring. In the poly-p-xylylenes the relaxation is shifted to much higher temperatures by a single Cl substitution on the ring but remains at essentially the same temperature position when dichlorosubstitution is made. The effects of water on the magnitude and temperature location of the observed low temperature relaxations, as well as the implications of the study for other polymers containing aromatic groups in their backbone chains, are discussed.     

Photocrosslinking of copolymers of vinyloxyethyl methacrylate-styrene initiated by sulfonium salts. II. Photocrosslinking behaviors

Vinylether was used as a cationically polymerizable moiety and incorporated into sidechain of polymers as copolymers of vinyloxyethyl methacrylate (VEM) and styrene (St). Photoirradiation of the copolymers containing a small amount of benzyl(4-hydroxyphenyl) methylsulfonium salt (BSS) resulted in a high crosslinking density as evidenced by a low degree of swelling, which is ascribed to the high reactivity of the vinyloxy moieties. The sensitivity of this photoreaction is significantly high because of a large kinetic chain length of the cationic polymerization of vinylethers, while copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate and St showed crosslinking to much less extent when irradiated under the same condition. The ability of other sulfonium salts, (4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl(4-nitrobenzyl) sulfonium salt and (4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl(1-naphthylmethyl)sulfonium salt, to induce photocrosslinking was also examined. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sulfur-containing polymers: Thermal behavior of copolymers containing thiocarbonate groups

The thermal behavior of polymers containing 1,3-phenylene and bisphenol-A moieties joined by thiocarbonate and/or carbonate groups was investigated from the point of view of both thermal transitions and the reactions which occur on heating at high temperature.For thermal transitions it was found that replacing bisphenol-A moieties by 1,3-phenylene moieties leads to a decrease in T_g and in the ability to crystallize. On the other hand, replacing carbonate groups by thiocarbonate groups leads to only a slight decrease in T_g.The degradation proceeds at a significant rate, under nitrogen, only at temperatures higher than 360°C and the first step seems to be the breaking of the S-carbonyl bond followed by evolution of CO and CO₂ and, to a lesser extent, of COS. At the same time sulfide moieties are formed.In the presence of oxygen the degradation pathway is more complex and seems to involve both thiocarbonate groups and peroxides; the latter originated from the thermooxidation of bisphenol-A moieties. Branched and crosslinked polymers, possibly resulting from these reactions, are less prone to gas evolution than the parent polymers, as shown by the shift in the TG curves towards higher temperatures.     

Photochemistry of ketone polymers. XIV. Studies of ethylene copolymers

Studies have been made of the photochemistry of ethylene copolymers with carbon monoxide (CO), methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), and methyl isopropenyl ketone (MIPK) in solid films. Infrared (IR) evidence is presented to show that a variety of unexpected ketone structures is present in these polymers as a result of 1,5-hydrogen transfer or “back-biting” during the high-pressure polymerization reaction. These additional structures complicate the analysis of the quantum yield data. The overall quantum yield for carbonyl disappearance (?-co) which increases from 0.074 to 0.24 to 0.26 in the series PE-1% CO, PE-2% MVK, and PE-20% MIPK reflects the increasing stability of the alkyl radicals produced from the type I process in the respective ketone structures. It is also shown that ketone groups located in the backbone of the polymer, as in the 1% CO copolymer, have lower quantum yields for photochemical reactions, particularly those that produce free radical intermediates. Studies of the gaseous products from extensive photodegradation under nitrogen show that in all three cases carbon monoxide is the major product (46-65% of the total). Acetaldehyde and methane, expected from the type I reaction, are major products only for the MVK and MIPK copolymers. Reaction schemes are presented to explain the major products observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic polymers containing pendant silyl groups. I. Polyarylates

Polyarylates containing pendant silyl group were prepared by the phase-transfer catalyzed, two-phase polycondensations of 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane with corresponding dicarbonyl chlorides such as 2-trimethylsilylterephthaloyl chloride, 5-trimethylsilylisophthaloyl chloride, 5-dimethylphenylsilylisophthaloyl chloride, and 5-triphenylsilylisophthaloyl chloride. The resulting amorphous polyarylates with glass transition temperatures of 163–214°C had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.41–0.95 dL/g. These polyarylates were readily soluble in common chlorinated hydrocarbons and it was possible to obtain transparent, flexible, and tough films from the polymer solutions. The prepared polyarylates showed fairly good thermal stabilities as well as tensile strengths, i.e., the tensile strengths of the cast films from chloroform solution were 6.0–6.7 kg/mm². And TGA data revealed 10% weight losses and residual weights at 800°C were 437–495°C and 27–40% under nitrogen atmosphere, respectively. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conductivity of nonaqueous solutions of aromatic polymers containing ionizable side groups

The concentration dependence of the equivalent conductivity has been measured for dilute DMAc solutions of K, Na, and Li salts of aromatic polymers with ionizable side groups [poly(diphenylenesulfophthalide) and poly(arylene ether ketone) with side COOH groups]. A correlation between the concentration dependences of the equivalent conductivity and reduced viscosity shows that the first parameter initially sharply decreases with an increase in concentration and then achieves a limiting value at a rather low concentration and that precisely in this concentration range the polyelectrolyte effect manifests itself in the concentration versus reduced viscosity curve. With an increasing amount of metal ions incorporated into the polymer, the equivalent conductivity grows. It was demonstrated that the type of counterion affects the reduced viscosity and equivalent conductivity of salt solutions. This effect depends on the structure of the polymer backbone: for poly(arylene ether ketone) salts, the reduced viscosity and the equivalent conductivity increase in the sequence Li → Na → K, while for poly(diphenylenesulfophthalide) salts, the reduced viscosity increases in the reverse order and the equivalent conductivity remains almost invariable. The limiting values of the equivalent conductivity and the degree of association of polyelectrolytes have been estimated in terms of the Arrhenius-Ostwald theory. It has been shown that, in the case of poly(diphenylenesulfophthalide) salts, the equivalent conductivity and the degree of association are higher than those for poly(arylene ether ketone) salts with side COOH groups. This finding is indicative of a stronger binding of counterions by poly(arylene ether ketone).     

Studies on polymers containing functional groups. II. Polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene

The polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene with free-radical and cationic initiators and without an initiator was examined. The structures thus obtained were estimated. Although polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene was rather complicated, according to the results, it appeared that each polymerization more or less might simultaneously follow the two types of mechanisms: normal vinyl polymerization and polymerization through the addition to benzene nuclei. The proportion of addition to benzene nuclei was considered to be highest in the polymerization with BF₃·(OEt)₂ and lowest in that with azobisisobutyronitrile. Degrees of polymerization of these polymers were low in all cases (42–82). Some brief experiments on copolymerization of o-hydroxystyrene were carried out.     

Polyamides incorporating phosphine oxide groups. II. Aromatic polymers containing sulfone functionality

Four novel polyamides have been prepared in high yields by the polycondensation reactions of bis(3-carboxyphenyl)- and bis(4-carboxyphenyl)phenylphosphine oxide with 3,3′- and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone. The thermal properties of these materials were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the presence of both phosphine oxide and sulfonyl groups within the polymer backbone brought about remarkable modifications in the thermal behavior. Glass transition temperatures 40–50°C lower than those of conventional polyamides i.e., in the range 170–200°C, were recorded. However, we observed greater thermooxidative stability (5% weight loss at >410°C) and high char yield upon prolonged heating at 800°C (20–34%). Also, good solubility in polar aprotic solvents was observed for all polyamides together with some solubility in aqueous solvent mixtures, e.g. tetrahydrofuran/water (95:5). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Surface modification of imide containing polymers II: Co-reactive groups

This paper describes basic studies of the surface modification of polyimide covered wires for insulation of electrical machines. By introduction of surface reactive groups mechanical interlocking during the curing step should improve the life cycle. Kinetic analysis of ring opening reactions by aminolysis of low molecular model compounds for polyimides proved fast modification reactions under mild conditions. The co-reactivity of various functional groups with unsaturated polyesterimide, acrylate and epoxy resins was investigated by DSC. Aminolytic treatment of Kapton^® sheets was followed by ATR-IR. Mandrel bend test of agglutinations of unmodified and amine-treated Kapton^® sheets with different resins proved successful bonding and significantly improved adhesion.     

Photocrosslinking of polymers containing cinnamoyl groups: The change in polymer coil dimension during the reaction in solution

Intra- and intermolecular photocrosslinking reactions of poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate) (PCEMA) and copoly(CEMA/MMA) in dilute solution under u.v. light irradiation at 30°C were studied by u.v. absorption, light scattering, GPC and viscosity measurements. The contraction of polymer coils proceeds due to predominant intramolecular photodimerization in very dilute solution. When the polymer concentration increases, competition between intra- and intermolecular photodimerization is observed, and the volume of polymer coils increases gradually due to the increase in molecular weight caused by the intermolecular reaction overcoming the contraction caused by the intramolecular reaction. The contribution of intramolecular crosslinking is much more important in the presence of oxygen than in its absence, showing that the shorter lifetime of the excited singlet state makes intermolecular photodimerization difficult.     

Anion conductive aromatic polymers containing fluorenyl groups: Effect of the position and number of ammonium groups

Synthesis and properties of anion conductive aromatic block copolymers, QPE‐bl‐3, QPE‐bl‐3 M2, and M4, containing fluorenylidene biphenylene groups as scaffold for ammonium groups are described. These copolymers share the same main chain structure, but the position and the number of ammonium groups on a fluorenyl group differ. High molecular weight quaternized block copolymers were obtained via typical chloromethylation reaction or using preaminated monomers, and were well‐characterized by ¹H NMR spectra. Self‐standing bendable membranes were obtained by solution casting. QPE‐bl‐3 M4 membranes containing four ammonium groups per hydrophilic repeat unit (highest ammonium density) in the hydrophilic block exhibited well developed phase‐separated morphology, while QPE‐bl‐3 membranes containing two ammonium groups per hydrophilic repeat unit exhibited high anion conductivity. The highest anion conductivity (104 mS/cm) was obtained with QPE‐bl‐3 membrane (IEC = 2.1 meq/g) at 80 °C in water. An H₂/O₂ alkaline fuel cell was operable with the membrane to achieve 62 mW/cm² of the maximum power density at 161 mA/cm² of the current density. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 935–944     

Photochemistry of supramolecular systems containing C60

Fullerenes have been used successfully in the covalent assembly of supramolecular systems that mimic some of the electron transfer steps of photosynthetic reaction centers. In these constructs C60 is most often used as the primary electron acceptor; it is linked to cyclic tetrapyrroles or other chromophores which act as primary electron donors in photoinduced electron transfer processes. In artificial photosynthetic systems, fullerenes exhibit several differences from the superficially more biomimetic quinone electron acceptors. The lifetime of the initial charge-separated state in fullerene-based molecules is, in general, considerably longer than in comparable systems containing quinones. Moreover, photoinduced electron transfer processes take place in non-polar solvents and at low temperature in frozen glasses in a number of fullerene-based dyads and triads. These features are unusual in photosynthetic model systems that employ electron acceptors such as quinones, and are more reminiscent of electron transfer in natural reaction centers. This behavior can be attributed to a reduced sensitivity of the fullerene radical anion to solvent charge stabilization effects and small internal and solvent reorganization energies for electron transfer in the fullerene systems, relative to quinone-based systems.     

Photochemistry of ketone polymers. XII. Studies of ring-substituted phenyl isopropenyl ketones and their styrene copolymers

The synthesis of a number of ring-substituted phenyl isopropenyl ketones and their polymerization with styrene is reported. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of the polymers are analogous to those of ring-substituted acetophenones and valerophenones. The quantum yields of the Norrish type II photoreaction were estimated in 1,2-dichloroethane solution at 364 nm by automatic viscometry. These quantum yields are comparable to those of substituted butyrophenones and valerophenones, in that relatively high quantum yields were obtained for the unsubstituted and p-chloro-substituted compounds with low yields for p-amino and p-hydroxy compounds. The p-nitro-substituted compound gives no type II reaction, presumably because the excitation becomes localized on the nitro groups which photolyzes by a mechanism which does not involve chain scission. The implications of these studies on possible applications to photoimaging are discussed.