Glass transition in poly(propylene glycol) networks

Difficulty in controlling and determining the structural parameters of polymer networks has hindered experimental studies on the glass transition in crosslinked polymers. A series of wellcharacterized networks of poly(propylene glycol) having narrow network chain-length distributions and average molecular weight between crosslinks M _c in the range of 425–3000 has been prepared. The glass transition temperatures T_g of these networks were found to vary linearly with M , consistent with several theoretical treatments. Both the physical crosslinking and the incorporation of crosslinking agent into the system (a “copolymer” effect) are shown to be responsible for increase in T_g upon crosslinking in this system. Varying the network chain-length distribution without changing M _c did not affect the T_g of the system. The chemical nature of the crosslinking agent, however, does affect the T_g of the network, particularly at high crosslink densities.     

Modification of poly(vinyl chloride). XXIX. Cross linking of poly(vinyl chloride) with 2-dibutylamino-4,6-dithiol-s-triazine and MGO

Thermal crosslinking of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with 2-dibutylamino-4,6-dithiol-s-triazine (DB) and MgO has been studied to determine the kinetic parameters such as induction period (t₀), rate constant (k), and activation energy (E), and to elucidate the structure of crosslink and the crosslinking mechanism. The thermal crosslinking was treated as a pseudo-first-order reaction. In the crosslinking, k and t₀ were about 0.075 min^?1 and 6.8 min at 180°C, respectively, and E was 16.6 and 14.2 kcal/mole for k and 1/t₀, respectively. The structure of crosslink was confirmed to be indicated as the following scheme (I) from the results of model reactions and IR spectra of crosslinked products The crosslinking reaction was found to proceed through the following three processes: (1) formation of DB-Mg from DB and MgO; (2) formation of DB-Mg pendants by the reaction of PVC with DB-Mg; and (3) formation of crosslink by the reaction of PVC with DB-Mg pendants.     

NMR spectrum of poly(vinyl chloride)

The 100-MHz proton NMR spectra of commercial and laboratory-prepared poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) have been measured in various solvents at high temperature (80–150°C). Tacticity in PVC was determined by the analysis of the β-proton spectrum. The spectrum was calculated assuming that the PVC chain consists of tetrad sequences of monomer units and that their distribution in the chain is described by a simple Bernoulli-sequence statistics with a P_m (the probability of isotactic placement) of 0.45 for commercial PVC polymerized at 50°C. Tacticity calibration curves based on measurements made for the polymer in pentachloroethane and β-dichlorobenzene were established, and they provide a simple method for the measurement of tacticity in PVC directly from the observed spectra. Excluding samples prepared in butyraldehyde solution, the formation of syndiotactic structures in PVC (prepared by free-radical polymerization) was found to be favored by lowering the polymerization temperature. This preference is due to an increase in the activation enthalpy of 510 cal/mole which is required for forming an isotactic placement in the chain during the propagation step.     

Degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) by u.v. radiation—II: Mechanism

The mechanism of the light-induced degradation of solid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) has been investigated, and an overall reaction scheme has been developed, based on values of the quantum yields for the primary photoproducts. Only a very small fraction (0.2%) of the excited polyenes induces the degradation of PVC, primarily by photocleavage of the allylic CCl bond. The high instability of β-chloroalkyl radicals is responsible for the chain dehydrochlorination that leads to formation of polyenes. In the absence of O₂, chain scissions and crosslinking are postulated to originate mainly from α-chloroalkyl radicals through β-cleavage of CC bonds and radical coupling, respectively. In the presence of O₂, the chain dehydrochlorination still proceeds, together with an oxidative chain process which yields, via peroxy and alkoxy radicals, hydroperoxides, ketones and peroxide crosslinks. Cleavage of the polymer backbone results most probably from the decomposition of tertiary alkoxy radicals by a carbon-carbon β-scission process.     

Friedel–crafts crosslinking methods for polystyrene modification. IV. Macromolecular structure of crosslinked particles

Crosslinked polystyrene particles were prepared by Friedel–Crafts suspension crosslinking of polystyrene using 2,4-dichloromethyl-2,5-dimethyl benzene as crosslinking agent. The polymer was dissolved in nitrobenzene and reaction occurred in a 70 wt % aqueous solution of ZnCl₂ with poly(vinyl alcohol) as a suspending agent. The spherical particles produced were swollen in toluene, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran to determine their equilbrium polystyrene volume fraction. Analysis of the crosslinked macromolecular structure gave values of number-average molecular weight between crosslinks of M?_c = 900–5900 increasing as the nominal crosslinking ratio X decreased from 0.75 to 0.0625 mol of crosslinking agent per mole of polystyrene repeating unit. Porosimetric analysis contributed to the understanding of the importance of the pore structure for swelling behavior.     

Ultraviolet‐induced crosslinking of poly(butylene succinate) and its thermal property,dynamic mechanical property,and biodegradability

Crosslinking is an effective way to improve polymer properties. This paper focuses on ultraviolet‐induced crosslinking of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) in the presence of a photoinitiator and a crosslinking agent at ambient temperature. The effects of the concentration of photoinitiator, the crosslinking agent content, and the irradiation time on the crosslink behavior were investigated. To obtain an appropriate gel fraction in different irradiation times, 3.0 wt% of photoinitiator and 10.0 wt% of crosslinking agent were proved to be the optimum choice. Furthermore, properties such as thermal properties, dynamic mechanical property, and enzymatic degradation of PBS before and after crosslinking were examined. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that glass transition temperature (T_g) increased with increase in gel fraction, while melting temperature (T_m) and the degree of crystallinity decreased. This may be caused by the reduced molecular chain mobility and inhibited molecular motion for crystallization in crosslinked samples. The crosslinked polymer also showed improved thermal stability and dynamic mechanical property. In addition, the introduction of crosslinking retarded the enzymatic degradation rate of PBS, but it was still biodegradable. The improved properties of crosslinked PBS will extend the application of PBS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modification of poly(vinyl chloride). X. Crosslinking of poly(vinyl chloride) with a soft segment of an elastomer containing thiol groups

To obtain poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) of excellent toughness, a new method of crosslinking PVC is proposed in which PVC is crosslinked with the soft segment in an elastomer such as liquid Thiokol. The reaction can be accomplished by immersing PVC–Thiokol blends in liquid ammonia at 20–30°C. A similar reaction occurs in aqueous ammonia when hexamethylphosphoramide is used as an activator. Characteristics of the crosslinked PVC thus obtained and of the controls of a similar uncrosslinked composition (PVC–Thiokol LP-8, 100:5 by weight) were as follows: tensile strength, 7.3 and 4.8 kg/mm²; elongation at break, 30 and 2.5%; Young's modulus, 3.5 × 10⁴ and 2.9 × 10⁴ kg/cm²; tensile impact, 88 and 15 kg-cm/cm³, respectively. The crosslinked PVC as plasticized with dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and the control blend (PVC–Thiokol LP-8–DOP, 100:10:10 by weight), respectively, showed tensile strengths of 5.9 and 4.8 kg/mm², elongations at break of 44 and 24%, Young's moduli of 2.5 × 10⁴ and 1.6 × 10⁴ kg/cm², and tensile impact strengths of 62 and 120 kg-cm/cm³. As the crosslinkage through the soft segments increases up to about 5%, the elongation at break, Young's modulus, and tensile impact, in addition to the tensile strength, are improved. This is different from the results so far observed with the crosslinked amorphous polymers and is characteristic of the products of crosslinking through the soft segment. The experimental results are discussed in this paper.     

Elastomeric adhesives: Effect of cross link density on joint strength

The dependence of joint strength upon the molecular weight between crosslinks M_c of an adhesive has been investigated for joints which consist of a crosslinked, amorphous rubber adhering to a rigid polymeric substrate. The joint strength was found to be independent of M_c if results were compared at the same effective rate of testing. If, however, values of joint strength were compared at a particular test temperature and rate, the joint strength generally increased as the value of M_c decreased. This result can be explained by the increase of the glass transition temperature of the adhesive with increasing crosslink density.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels: Reinforcement of radiation-crosslinked networks by crystallization

Aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions were crosslinked via electron-beam irradiation to form transparent hydrogels of varying crosslinking densities. Typical crosslinked hydrogels with M _c between 3500 and 8000 were weak, easily shattered, nonextensible materials with very low tensile moduli (up to 70 psi) and tensile strengths at break (less than 10 psi). Reinforcement by induction of partial crystallization was accomplished by a two-stage drying process, consisting of a slow dehydration stage at room temperature and an annealing stage at elevated temperatures, which was mainly responsible for the introduction of the crystallites. The swollen hydrogels after the annealing process had crystallinities widely varying between 30 and 65% and polymer volume fractions between 30 and 60%, depending on the temperature-time history of the specimen. These materials showed greatly improved mechanical properties (modulus, ultimate tensile strength, tear strength), as compared to the uncrystallized hydrogels.     

Proton conducting membranes based on poly(vinyl chloride) graft copolymer electrolytes

The direct preparation of proton conducting poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) graft copolymer electrolyte membranes using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is demonstrated. Here, direct initiation of the secondary chlorines of PVC facilitates grafting of a sulfonated monomer. A series of proton conducting graft copolymer electrolyte membranes, i.e. poly(vinyl chloride)‐g‐poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PVC‐g‐PSSA) were prepared by ATRP using direct initiation of the secondary chlorines of PVC. The successful syntheses of graft copolymers were confirmed by ¹H‐NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The images of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) presented the well‐defined microphase‐separated structure of the graft copolymer electrolyte membranes. All the properties of ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, and proton conductivity for the membranes continuously increased with increasing PSSA contents. The characterization of the membranes by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) also demonstrated their high thermal stability up to 200°C. The membranes were further crosslinked using UV irradiation after converting chlorine atoms to azide groups, as revealed by FT‐IR spectroscopy. After crosslinking, water uptake significantly decreased from 207% to 84% and the tensile strength increased from 45.2 to 71.5 MPa with a marginal change of proton conductivity from 0.093 to 0.083 S cm^?1, which indicates that the crosslinked PVC‐g‐PSSA membranes are promising candidates for proton conducting materials for fuel cell applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride)

A pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometric technique has been developed to study the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chlorides) polymerized at different temperatures. Hydrogen chloride and benzene evolution during successive stages of pyrolysis have been quantitatively determined and correlated to the tacticity and molecular weight of the polymer. It was found that lowering the temperature of polymerization and molecular weight depresses benzene evolution and increases char weight but does not affect the HCl yield. It is suggested that the syndiotactic trans microstructure favored at low temperature of polymerization yields polyenes which cannot cyclize to form benzene. As the molecular weight decreases, the increase in number of vinyl chain ends facilitates pyrolytic crosslinking and char formation.     

Modification of PVC. XXVI. Syntheses and photocrosslinking of polysulfide pendant poly(vinyl chloride)

Poly(vinyl chloride) pendant with polysulfide (PS–PVC) having various degrees of substitution, various S substituents, and various numbers of atoms in the sulfur chain has been synthesized by the reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) with a thiol, sulfur, and triethylamine in dimethylformamide at 30°C for 0.4–5 hr. The photocrosslinking reaction has been investigated under ultraviolet irradiation at 250–450 mμ. The photocrosslinking reaction of PS–PVC is influenced by the degree of substitution, the nature of the S substituent, and the number of atoms in the sulfur chain. The degree of photocrosslinking r increased in the order, n-C₄H₉? < n-C₈H₁₇? < C₆H₅CH₂? < i-C₃H₇? < t-C₄H₉? . On the photocrosslinking of PS–PVC having two different S substituents, r increases in the similar order for aliphatic substituents and in the order NO₂C₆H₄? < ClC₆H₄? < C₆H₅CH₂? < CH₃C₆H₄? < t-C₄H₉C₆H₄? < C₆H₅? for the aromatic substituents. Further, r increases markedly with the increase of sulfur chain number for all PS–PVC. The chemical structure of the crosslinks and the crosslinking mechanism are discussed on the basis of the results.     

Small‐angle x‐ray scattering study of thermoreversible poly(vinyl chloride) gels

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DOP) gels were prepared at room temperature from tetrahydrofuran solutions of PVC and DOP. PVC/DOP gels of different molecular weights at various PVC concentrations (c) were investigated with small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The mean distance between two neighboring inhomogeneities (D) and two characteristic lengths, the intrainhomogeneity distance (d₁) and interinhomogeneity distance (d₂), were evaluated from Bragg's law and the distance distribution function, respectively. Both D and d₂ can be expressed by a power‐law relation (e.g., D and d₂ ∝ c^?0.5). After a period of rapid cooling to 25 °C from the sol state, the structural evolution was examined with time‐resolved SAXS measurements. An Avrami analysis with the SAXS invariant data revealed that the growth kinetics of PVC/DOP gels was one‐dimensional growth from predetermined nuclei, regardless of c. These results suggest that the PVC/DOP gels are constructed from a fibrillar structure that forms gel structures at high concentrations or low temperatures. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2340–2350, 2001     

Effect of Temperature on Dynamic Physical Behavior of Poly(vinyl chloride) Gel Structure with Ester Plasticizers

Dynamic viscoelastic properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP) and PVC/di-n-butyl sebacate (DBS) gels with molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n), of 2.16 and various polymer concentrations c, have been studied as a function of temperature. These PVC gels exhibited an elastic solid at room temperature T, and gradually became liquid (sol) with increasing temperature. The sol-gel transition took place at a critical gel temperature at which the scaling law of G′(ω) ∼ G″(ω) ∝ ωⁿ held, allowing an accurate determination of the critical gel temperature by means of the frequency ω independence of the loss tangent. In this study the scaling exponent n, was 0.75–0.77. This is in good agreement with the previous results observed at different temperatures and suggests the formation of a similar fractal structure of the PVC gels. The gel strength S_g, at the gel point increased with increasing PVC concentration. These results suggest a unique character and structure for the gel points of PVC-plasticizers.     

Investigations on poly(vinyl chloride). I. Evolution of aromatics on pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) and its mechanism

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) alone or mixed with 10 wt-% and 50 wt-% TiO₂, SnO₂, ZnO, and Al₂O₃ were pyrolyzed by using a pyrolysis gas chromatograph. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, styrene, naphthalene, and various chlorobenzenes were identified. No hydrocarbons could be detected in pyrolysis products of any samples at 200°C. More aromatic hydrocarbons than aliphatic hydrocarbons are released from the PVC–TiO₂ system and in preheated PVC. The contrary result is observed in the PVC–ZnO and PVC–SnO₂ systems. Aromatics having methyl endgroups are easily released from the PVC–ZnO and PVC–SnO₂ systems and at elevated pyrolysis temperature, because methylene groups are easily isolated along the chain by ZnO, SnO₂ and the heating. The release of ethylbenzene o-xylene, and chlorobenzenes suggests a repeated dehydrochlorination and recombination of HCl and Cl₂ to double bonds along the chain. Possible decomposition mechanisms of PVC are discussed.     

Radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene to poly(vinyl chloride)

The radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. Relations between the rate of grafting and the dose rate when the polymer is irradiated in liquid monomer or in monomer vapor, and between the rate of grafting and monomer concentration absorbed in the polymer have been investigated. The rate of grafting in monomer vapor was found to be far larger than that in liquid monomer. A high rate of grafting in monomer vapor was thought to result from a lower concentration of monomer in PVC during irradiation. An experiment carried out on PVC containing the monomer at various concentrations showed that the rate is largest at a monomer concentration of about 3.5 mole/l. and is smaller for higher and lower concentrations. On the assumption that the theory of homogeneous homopolymerization can be applied to this grafting reaction, the value of k_p²/k_t has been obtained, where k_p and k_t are propagation constant and termination constant, respectively. The value of k_t greatly increases when the monomer concentration exceeds 3.5 mole/l. This increase of k_t can be accounted for if it is assumed that the monomer absorbed in the polymer works as a plasticizer and increases the molecular motion of the polymer. A measurement of the elastic modulus of PVC containing the monomer at various concentrations showed that this is, in fact, the case.     

STUDY ON THE TOUGHENING MECHANISM OF RUBBER TOUGHENED EPOXY

The following factors affecting the rubber toughened epoxy resin system were studied: 1. kindsof curing agent used, 2. the M_c value of the matrix, 3. the bonding foce between the dispersed phaseand the matrix. Our experimental result indicates that the average chain length between crosslinks(M_c) is a much more important affecting factor. Chemical bonding between the dispersed phaseand the matrix is also important. A toughening mechanism of rubber toughened epoxy has beenproposed. In the material with relatively low crosslinking density, extensive fracture process stripis formed which is induced by the combined stress field near the rubber particles. The chemical bond-ing between the dispersed phase and the matrix may inerease the strength of the local stress field aboutthe rubber particles which is in favor of broading the fracture process area.     

Synthetic thermally reversible gel systems. VIII. Poly(vinyl chloride)–dioxane

When interpreted by network theory, equilibrium swelling measurements on poly-(vinyl chloride) (PVC) film in dioxane and moduli measurements on the equilibrium swelled films yield values for the approximate molecular weight between thermally reversible crosslinks and for the number of these crosslinks per polymer chain. These values are in reasonable agreement with the thermodynamic analysis of PVC–dioxane gels by Takahashi, Nakamura, and Kagawa and with the premise that three-dimensional network formation in these gels occurs by crystallization of a very limited number of syndiotactic sequences per chain having a sequence length of between 8 and 10. Failure to observe fusion endotherms by DTA on PVC–dibutyl phthalate gels supports the view that PVC gels have a low crystalline crosslink density and a low heat of crosslinking. The heat of crosslinking obtained by the method of Eldridge and Ferry shows only moderate agreement with expectations based on the heat of fusion of PVC and the number of repeating units per PVC chain passing through a crystalline crosslink in a PVC–dioxane gel.     

Thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) synthesized with a titanocene catalyst

PVC was synthesized using a trichloroindenyltitanium-methylaluminoxane catalyst at room temperature, and its degradation was monitored along with a commercial sample at 160, 170 and 180 °C under air or nitrogen atmosphere. The process was followed by HCl evolution, yellowing index, colour formation and thermogravimetric analysis. The produced polymer had a lower molecular weight and higher surface area, compared with a commercial PVC, while ¹H NMR and T_g values show minimal differences between materials. The HCl evolution degradation studies indicate that produced PVC has a lower thermal resistance than commercial PVC, while TGA reveals the opposite behaviour. Yellowing index and colour evaluation give evidence that nitrogen atmosphere and high surface area in produced PVC allow the polyene growth, whereas low surface area and air atmosphere generate shorter polyenes and chromophoric species. Differences in degradation performance are thought to be due to chemical origin, inherent morphology and differences in instrumentation.     

Sol-Gel Transition and Equilibrium Shear Modulus of Poly(vinyl chloride) and Plasticizers

The elasticity of poly(vinyl chloride) gels with molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n), of 2.16 have been studied in the region beyond their gel points. Dynamic storage modulus G′, and equilibrium gel shear modulus of elasticity G_e, at low frequencies (ω) have specific developments as a function of polymer concentrations c, and plasticizers. The scaling elasticity from G_e = kε^z equation holds at different PVC plasticizer gels. The scaling exponent z, and constant k. ε is defined as the relative distance, ε = (|c − c_g|)/c_g, the calculated z = 2.45 ± 0.15. Furthermore, this analysis provides constant k with certain informations about the dependency of gel elasticity on the kind of plasticizer. Near the sol-gel transition temperature T, G_e decreases rapidly with increasing temperature. The normalized moduli G_eM/cRT, of the gels at different temperature, and/or c were dependent on the relative distance from the gelation point ε, and PVC and plasticizers concentration respectively. These results suggested mesh size of gel network near the gelation point for PVC with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP) or di-n-butyl sebacate (DBS) plasticizers that has been newly reported.