Synthesis and characterization of chemically modified polystyrene as processable carbon fiber precursors

In this study, the chemically modified polystyrene was studied for improvement of polystyrene which had low carbon yield, as a carbon fiber precursor. The polystyrene was synthesized with divinylbenzene which was used as a cross-linking agent by the solution polymerization method. Then the synthesized polystyrene was nitrated with sulfuric and nitric acids solution (H₂SO₄/HNO₃) followed by reduction to form nitrogen-functional groups. The surface properties of the modified polystyrene were investigated by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy to confirm the introduction of functional groups on the modified polystyrene surfaces. The thermal properties of the modified polystyrene were measured by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The morphologies of the electrospun polystyrene fibers by a chemical modification were observed by scanning electron microscopy. From the results, the nitrogen-functional groups were introduced on the modified polystyrene surfaces which affected the quantity of functional groups. Also, the chemical treatment affected the carbon yield of the polystyrene owing to the introduction of nitrogen-functional groups on polystyrene surfaces. Consequently, it was concluded that the chemical treatment of polystyrene fibers enables it to be used as a possible carbon fiber precursor.     

Studies on the photooxidation mechanism of polymers. I. Photolysis and photooxidation of polystyrene

A new mechanism has been proposed for the photooxidation of polystyrene as film and in benzene. The initial stage of the photooxidative degradation may involve reactions of singlet oxygen with polystyrene molecules. Singlet oxygen may be formed in the reaction between excited benzene ring in polystyrene molecule and molecular oxygen. The addition of singlet oxygen quenchers such as 1,3-cyclohexadiene or β-carotene reduces the rate of polymer degradation in benzene solution. The mechanisms of the photolysis of polystyrene as film and in benzene solution, in vacuo and in the presence of oxygen, are discussed and interpretations proposed. The pronounced yellowing of polystyrene during the photooxidation process is interpreted as a reaction involving benzene ring-opening photooxidation in polystyrene molecule. These results were obtained by comparing ultraviolet and infrared spectra in experiments of photooxidation of pure liquid benzene and polystyrene film.     

扫描探针显微技术研究聚苯乙烯单链颗粒的力学响应

首先通过极稀溶液滴膜的方法得到了聚苯乙烯的单链颗粒 .之后 ,采用稍浓溶液得到了既有单链聚苯乙烯颗粒又有多链 (上千根 )聚苯乙烯颗粒的样品 .力调制技术显示单链聚苯乙烯颗粒比多链聚苯乙烯颗粒软 ;另一方面 ,对多链聚苯乙烯颗粒和聚苯乙烯本体的纳米压印实验结果表明二者的模量是近似的 .因此 ,可以得出单链聚苯乙烯颗粒比本体聚苯乙烯软 ,这说明存在于聚苯乙烯单链颗粒中的分子链内的缠结点密度不如存在于本体中的分子链间的缠结点密度大     

Synthesis of difunctional polystyrenes and their incorporation in block copolymers with bisphenol a polycarbonate

Block polymers of polystyrene and bisphenol A polycarbonate have been prepared and their bulk viscosities studied as functions of both shear stress and polystyrene block length. The polystyrene blocks were α,ω-diacid chlorides prepared from the reaction of “living” polystyrenes with diacid chlorides. These reactions were studied in order to discover the most effective way of preparing the polystyrene diacid chlorides. The polystyrene diacid chlorides are best prepared by reaction of disodiopolystyrene with phosgene. The flow properties of the block copolymers depend on the composition of the polymers but do not depend on the length of the polystyrene blocks.     

Effect of rubbing-induced polymer chain alignment on adhesion and friction of glassy polystyrene surfaces

The friction and adhesion properties of polystyrene surfaces are studied below the glass transition temperature by means of atomic force microscopy in argon. Even at a temperature far below the glass transition, the repeated sliding of a polystyrene bead tip on the non-cross-linked polystyrene surface causes significant reduction of friction and adhesion forces. There is no measurable wear of the polystyrene surface due to repeated sliding. These decreases are associated with the alignment of the outermost polymer segments induced by repeated rubbing. There are only little changes in friction and adhesion on the cross-linked polystyrene surface in which the covalent cross-linking prevents chain realignment.     

Interaction of apo cytochrome c with sulfonated polystyrene nanoparticles

Stable nanoparticle dispersion in aqueous solutions was obtained with partially sulfonated polystyrene. The hydrophobic association of the backbone chains and phenyl groups is balanced by the electrostatic repulsion of the sulfonate groups on the particle surface. The size distribution of the sulfonated polystyrene particles in relation to concentration, degree of sulfonation and chain length, and pH was characterized by dynamic laser light-scattering. The structure and morphology of the particles were characterized with fluorescence and atom force microscopy. Highly sulfonated polystyrene particles can form large complex particles with positively charged protein, apo cytochrome c. Dynamic laser light-scattering and atom force microscopy studies show that the size and distribution of the complex particles depend on the relative amount of apo cytochrome c and sulfonated polystyrene. When sulfonated polystyrene is in excess, apo cytochrome c interacts with sulfonated polystyrene particles forming stable complexes and excessive sulfonated polystyrene particles bind to the periphery of the complexes preventing them from further aggregation. When apo cytochrome c is in excess, apo cytochrome c links the complexes forming much larger particles. Fluorescence study demonstrates that the hydrophobicity/hydrophility of the complex particles is relative to the ratio of apo cytochrome c and sulfonated polystyrene, degree of sulfonation, and pH. Apo cytochrome c not only can neutralize the negative charges on the surface of sulfonated polystyrene particles, but may also insert into the cores disrupting the original structure of sulfonated polystyrene particles.     

Oxidative degradation of polystyrene

Nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and ultraviolet spectroscopy were used to elucidate the structure of oxidized polystyrene. To identify the nuclear magnetic resonance peaks of the degraded polystyrene, deuterated polystyrenes were synthesized and degraded. The primary structure present in the degraded polystyrene was found to be an aromatic carbonyl group. It was shown that this structure was formed regardless of the presence of ultraviolet light and was also present when polystyrene was degraded in carbon tetrachloride solution. When polystyrene was degraded in carbon tetrachloride solution, stable polymeric peroxides were formed in a concentration of 4 peroxide groups for every 1000 styrene units.     

Studies on Mechanism of Grafting of Polystyrene on Elastomer Backbone

The mechanism of grafting of polystyrene on a polybutadiene (PB) backbone during the preparation of impact-resistant polystyrene was studied by withdrawing samples during propolym-erization from beginning of the reaction to about 25% conversion. Good separation of the “elastomer and graft” fraction of the polymer from the free polystyrene part could be achieved by using 0.24 volume fraction of methanol in (MEK + benzene) + methanol solvent-nonsolvent. IR analysis of the grafted fraction showed that the microstructure of the elastomer remained unaltered. The unsaturation of the samples studied through the bromine number as well as by the perbenzoic acid number was also found to remain unchanged. Formation of free polystyrene started with the onset of polymerization and was faster. During prepolymerization, 80% of styrene converted constantly to form free polystyrene and 20% went into the grafted polymer. The results indicate that grafting is initiated through proton abstraction at the α-carbon of butadiene, most probably by initiator radicals. The grafted polystyrene chains possibly are shorter than free polystyrene chains.     

The interfacial feature of thermoplastic polystyrene composite filled with nitric acid oxidized carbon fiber

The quality of interfacial interaction is dictated by the surface chemistry of the carbon fibers and the composition of the matrix. The composition of polystyrene was modified by the addition of maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polystyrene. The surface properties of the various matrix formulations were characterized by contact angle. Carbon fibers were modified by oxidation in nitric acid. The surface composition of the carbon fibers was characterized. The interaction between modified polystyrene and the carbon fibers was studied by single fiber pull‐out tests. The best adhesion behavior was achieved between polystyrene containing grafted MAH and nitric acid oxidation carbon fibers. The addition of MAH‐grafted polystyrene to the unmodified polystyrene caused the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) to increase. The IFSS of this fiber‐matrix combination allowed for the full utilization of the tensile strength of polystyrene. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The surface pressure dynamics and appearance of mixed monolayers of cholesterol and different sized polystyrenes at an air-water interface

Synthetic polymers are increasingly being used in situations where they are designed to interact with biological systems. As a result, it is important to investigate the interactions of the polymers with biochemicals. We have used cholesterol, as an example of an important biological surfactant component, to study its interactions with polystyrene. Mixed monolayers of cholesterol and one of two different molecular weight polystyrenes were formed at an air-water interface to investigate their interactions and to determine whether the size of the polystyrene affected the interaction. The pressure-area (pi-A) isocycles of mixed monolayers of cholesterol and polystyrene MW 2700 or polystyrene MW32700 showed that strongest attractive interactions occur at high surface pressures and in polystyrene rich films. The excess area and excess free energy of mixing were most negative at high surface pressures and at high mole fraction of polystyrene. The most stable mixed monolayers were formed with X(PS2700) = 0.9 and X(PS32700) = 0.09. Microscopic observation of the mixed monolayers of cholesterol and polystyrene showed the formation of stable islands in the cholesterol/polystyrene mixtures. These observations, the nature of the inflection points in the isocycles, and the anomalous changes in free energy lead us to conclude that there is a stable rearrangement of polystyrene into compact islands when it is mixed with cholesterol. Any excess cholesterol is excluded from these islands and remains as a separate film surrounding the islands.     

Microwave-Assisted Self-Organization of Colloidal Particles Inside Water-in-Oil Emulsions

Commercial amidine polystyrene microspheres were self-organized to obtain colloidal microclusters from water-in-oil emulsion droplets as confining geometries. For demulsification process, microwave was irradiated to remove water droplets selectively resulting in the shrinkage of water droplets which induces inward capillary pressure for the particle self-assembly. The amidine polystyrene clusters were coated with silica nanospheres or titania nanoparticles by co-organizing the mixed particle suspensions inside water droplets by microwave heating. Titania-coated polystyrene clusters were calcined to produce hollow macroporous titania powders. Finally, sulfate-coated polystyrene microspheres were self-assembled with silica nanoparticles to generate polystyrene/silica composite clusters by microwave irradiation method.     

Electromigration properties of capillary columns with polystyrene coating as a stationary phase

Relationships in variation of the surface energy of polystyrene coatings on melted quartz at varied polymer concentration in solution were refined by studying the functional chemical composition and surface structure of model coatings of atactic polystyrene on quartz plates and the electromigration properties of capillary columns with polystyrene coatings. The optimum concentration and temperature-kinetic conditions for preparing polystyrene coatings on quartz capillaries with controllable electrokinetic properties were determined.     

活性自由基聚合法制备以C60封端的聚苯乙烯

通过活性自由基聚合的方法制备了以２,２,６,６－四甲基－４－羟基呱啶氮氧自由基（ＴＥＭＰＯＬ）封端的聚苯乙烯大分子,实验结果证明该反应体系是一个典型的活性自由基聚合体系,同时研究了ＴＥＭＰＯＬ／ＡＩＢＮ的比例及ＡＩＢＮ的含量对聚合反应的影响。用以ＴＥＭＰＯＬ封端的聚苯乙烯和Ｃ６０反应,制得了Ｃ６０的聚苯乙烯高分子衍生物,紫外和ＧＰＣ结果均证明Ｃ６０已连接到聚苯乙烯的长链上,ＧＰＣ的结果还证明,Ｃ６     

Seed polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of anionic and cationic polystyrene colloidal spheres

Kinetic analyses are made for the seed polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of anionic and cationic polystyrene colloidal sphere seeds by turbidity and dynamic light-scattering measurements. Transmission-electron microscopy pictures of the spheres formed are also used. The seed polymerization of TEOS is difficult to take place on the surface of anionic polystyrene spheres (44–212 nm in diameter). On the other hand, the reaction proceeds easily on the cationic polystyrene spheres. Hairy and soft surfaces of polystyrene spheres will disturb the seed polymerization. Furthermore, the electrostatic attraction between the anionic hydrolytic products of TEOS molecules and cationic polystyrene spheres plays an important role for the seed polymerization.     

Influence of molecular architecture on the dewetting of thin polystyrene films

The control of dewetting for thin polymer films is a technical challenge and of significant academic interest. We have used polystyrene nanoparticles to inhibit dewetting of high molecular weight, linear polystyrene, demonstrating that molecular architecture has a unique effect on surface properties. Neutron reflectivity measurements were used to demonstrate that the nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the thin (ca. 40 nm) film prior to high temperature annealing, yet after annealing, they were found to separate to the solid substrate, a silanized silicon wafer. Dewetting was eliminated when the nanoparticles separated to form a monolayer or above while below this surface coverage the dewetting dynamics was severely retarded. Blending linear polystyrene of similar molecular weight to the polystyrene nanoparticle with the high molecular weight polystyrene did not eliminate dewetting.     

氯甲基化聚苯乙烯后交联过程中的氧化反应研究

在１２０℃将氯甲基化聚苯乙烯进行Ｆｒｉｅｄｅｌ—Ｃｒａｆｔｓ后交联制备超高交联聚苯乙烯的过程中，伴随有氧气对氯甲基化聚苯乙烯的氧化作用而使超高交联聚苯乙烯含有极性基团羰基约２．５ｍｍｏｌ／ｇ，而在较低的温度下，通过后交联制备超高交联聚苯乙烯时，则没有氧化反应发生。     

Fire reaction properties of polystyrene-based nanocomposites using nanosilica and nanoclay as additives in cone calorimeter test

Using nanofiller additives in the polymer matrix to form nanocomposites is a potential way of reducing the flame spread and enhancing flame retardancy of polymeric materials during fire. To understand the fire reaction properties and the relative performance of flame-retardant additives in polymer during well-developed fire, neat polystyrene, polystyrene–silica and polystyrene–nanoclay (MMT) have been tested in a cone calorimeter. The neat polystyrene and the polystyrene nanocomposites have been prepared via an in situ polymerization method. An external heat flux of 50 kW m^?2 was applied in the test, and parameters such as heat release rate, peak heat release rate, time to ignition, smoke toxicity, CO and CO₂ yield have been investigated. Both neat polystyrene and polystyrene nanocomposites have shown the trend of a thermally thick charring polymer in the heat release rate over time data. The nanocomposites had an overall better flame retardancy than the neat polystyrene in terms of lower peak heat release rate, lower average mass loss rate and enhanced char formation. The nanocomposites had also reduced smoke emission with lower CO and CO₂ yield compared to the neat polystyrene. The overall flame retardancy was enhanced as the nanofiller loading was increased for both the nanosilica and MMT nanocomposites.

     

聚苯乙烯—吡啶树脂的合成及催化水解反应

在氢氧化钠作用下，氯甲基化聚苯乙烯与吡啶反应制成聚苯乙烯－吡啶树脂，测定了其化学组成和红外光谱，并考察了在酯水解反应中的催化活性。     

A straightforward preparation of amino–polystyrene resin from Merrifield resin

Azidomethyl–polystyrene, obtained by nucleophilic substitution of chloromethyl–polystyrene, undergoes a Schmidt rearrangement when treated with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, affording amino–polystyrene. To assess its loading and reactivity the resin is used as a support for the preparation of triazene-linked amine.     

Immobilization of MoO2Cl2 on polystyrene via different linkers and oxidation of sulfides in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Chloromethylated polystyrene was oxidized to aldehydic polystyrene and by reaction of this aldehydic polystyrene resin with furfuryl amine and 2-(amino methyl) pyridine, imine-bounded polystyrene resins 1a and 1b were obtained. Amine-bounded polystyrene resins 1c?C1f were also prepared by direct reaction of chloromethylated polystyrene and amines. These functionalized polystyrene resins were used to immobilize MoO₂Cl₂ on polystyrene. These functionalized polystyrene resins were characterized with elemental analysis (CHN) and FT-IR spectrum. Polymer-supported catalysts were characterized with FT-IR and neutron activation analysis (NAA). These catalysts were used in oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide in the presence of H₂O₂ as oxidant and the results showed that these catalysts were highly active and selective. The reusability of these heterogeneous catalysts was also investigated and the results showed that the supported MoO₂Cl₂ catalyst on polystyrene via imidazole liker was highly reusable as it was used 15 times in oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide in the presence of environmental benign oxidant (H₂O₂) and solvent (H₂O) without any decrease in its activity. Then the catalytic activity of these supported catalysts was investigated in oxidation of some aliphatic and aromatic sulfides. Almost all of these supported molybdenum-based catalysts were highly active and selective in the conversion of these sulfides to their corresponding sulfoxides.