Preparation of Well‐Defined Poly[(ethylene oxide)‐block‐(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonate)] Diblock Copolymers by Water‐Based Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Summary: Well‐defined poly[(ethylene oxide)‐block‐(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonate)] diblock copolymers [P(EO_m‐b‐AMPS_n)], have been obtained by water‐based ATRP using α‐methoxy‐ω‐(2‐methylbromoisobutyrate) poly(ethylene oxide)s (MeO‐P[EO]_m‐BrⁱB with m ranging from 12 to 113) and CuBr · 2Bpy (Bpy for 2,2′‐bipyridyl) as macroinitiator and catalytic complex, respectively. Compared to direct polymerization in water, it has been demonstrated that the water/methanol (3:1, v/v) mixture is better suited for predicting the final number‐average molar mass from the initial monomer‐to‐macroinitiator molar ratio and achieving a quite narrow polydispersity, even at high monomer conversion ( ≈ 1.4 at 80% conversion). The effect of temperature, solvent mixture composition and addition of NaCl salt on the polymerization rate and extent of control over the copolymer molecular parameters have been highlighted as well.

     

Synthesis of Novel Star Shaped Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Utilizing Fullerene as the Molecular Core

Summary: The synthesis of star shaped poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with a fullerene molecular core (s‐PCLF) was successfully achieved by the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with fullerenol as the initiator. Through NMR and GPC analysis, the average number of arms of PCL on each fullerene core was estimated to be 2–3.

Fullerenol (left) and PCL star polymer (right) in THF.     

Photoinitiated Free Radical Polymerization Using Benzoxazines as Hydrogen Donors

Summary: Free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) is initiated upon irradiation at λ > 350 nm in CH₂Cl₂ that contains benzoxazine (P‐a) and one of the following photosensitizers: benzophenone (BP), thioxanthone (TX), 2‐chlorothioxanthone (CTX), 2‐isopropyl thioxanthone (ITX), and camphorquinone (CQ). The postulated mechanism is based on the intermolecular reaction of the excited photosensitizer with the tertiary amino moiety of the ground state P‐a and a subsequent hydrogen abstraction reaction. The resulting aminoalkyl radicals initiate the polymerization. The incorporation of P‐a groups into polymers is demonstrated by spectroscopic methods. The possibility of deep curing using the described photoinitiating system followed by the thermal ring opening of the incorporated P‐a groups is also demonstrated.

Schematic of the photoinitiated free radical polymerization using benzoxazines as hydrogen donors.     

On the Nitroxide Quasi‐Equilibrium in the Alkoxyamine‐Mediated Radical Polymerization of Styrene

Summary: The range of validity of two popular versions of the nitroxide quasi‐equilibrium (NQE) approximation used in the theory of kinetics of alkoxyamine mediated styrene polymerization, are systematically tested by simulation comparing the approximate and exact solutions of the equations describing the system. The validity of the different versions of the NQE approximation is analyzed in terms of the relative magnitude of (dN/dt)/(dP/dt). The approximation with a rigorous NQE, k_c[P][N] = k_d[P N], where P, N and P N are living, nitroxide radicals and dormant species respectively, with kinetic constants k_c and k_d, is found valid only for small values of the equilibrium constant K (10⁻¹¹–10⁻¹² mol · L⁻¹) and its validity is found to depend strongly of the value of K. On the other hand, the relaxed NQE approximation of Fischer and Fukuda, k_c[P][N] = k_d[P N]₀ was found to be remarkably good up to values of K around 10⁻⁸ mol · L⁻¹. This upper bound is numerically found to be 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than the theoretical one given by Fischer. The relaxed NQE is a better one due to the fact that it never completely neglects dN/dt. It is found that the difference between these approximations lies essentially in the number of significant figures taken for the approximation; still this subtle difference results in dramatic changes in the predicted course of the reaction. Some results confirm previous findings, but a deeper understanding of the physico‐chemical phenomena and their mathematical representation and another viewpoint of the theory is offered. Additionally, experiments and simulations indicate that polymerization rate data alone are not reliable to estimate the value of K, as recently suggested.

Validity of the rigorous nitroxide quasi‐equilibrium assumption as a function of the nitroxide equilibrium constant.     

Controlled Radical Ab Initio Emulsion Polymerization of n‐Butyl Acrylate by Reverse Iodine Transfer Polymerization (RITP): Effect of the Hydrolytic Disproportionation of Iodine

Summary: Controlled radical polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate by reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP) was achieved in ab initio emulsion polymerization to yield a stable and uncolored latex (particle diameter d_p = 106 nm). Hydrolysis of iodine, I₂, was responsible for an upward deviation from the targeted molecular weight = 10 400 g · mol⁻¹. The iodide concentration [I⁻] was followed by an iodide selective electrode and the amount of efficient iodine (33%) was successfully correlated with the experimental molecular weight = 31 000 g · mol⁻¹. Finally, a simplified mechanism of RITP in ab initio emulsion polymerization taking into account the iodine hydrolysis was proposed.

Evolution of molecular weight and polydispersity index in RITP of BuA in ab initio emulsion.     

Selection of Catalyst for the Esterification Step of the PPT Polymerization Process

Summary: TBOT is a proven catalyst for the esterification step of the PPT polymerization process. Previous studies have shown that the performance of TBOT is superior in terms of the enhanced degree of polymerization and shorter processing time. However, one interesting aspect which has not yet been investigated is whether with different process objectives, like by‐product minimization and controlled growth of desired functional groups, any other catalyst offers any increase in process performance. The present study gives a detailed process analysis through different sets of optimized operations, which consists basically of searching for other catalytic options for process improvements. A well validated kinetic model for the esterification step of the PPT polymerization process and the advanced Real‐Coded NSGA‐II optimization routine have been used in this study. It can be seen that with all the process considerations, such as maximization of the degree of polymerization, minimization of processing time and the enhanced controlled growth of desired functional groups and minimization of by‐products, the Zn‐based catalyst can replace the conventional Ti‐based catalyst. An Sn‐based catalyst was also found to be able to compete with these two catalysts in some cases.

Optimized Pareto plot for a study on the 4 objectives case for various catalysts. The Zn‐based catalyst outperforms the others.     

用原子转移自由基方法合成新型大分子偶联剂

表面活性剂工业作为精细化工中一个重要分支目前正处于良好发展时期,具有特殊功能“大分子桥”的大分子偶联剂由于其独特的结构,多用作复合材料,在理论和实际应用中都得到了广泛而深入的研究,接枝型大分子偶联剂由性质差别很大的主链和支链组成,具有清晰的结构及独特的性能,     

水分散体系中苯乙烯和甲基丙烯酸甲酯梯度共聚物的合成与表征

以2-溴代异丁酸乙酯(EBiB)为引发剂,CuBr/CuBr₂/1,10-邻二氮菲(phen)为复合催化剂,十二烷基磺酸钠(SLS)为乳化剂,考察了水分散体系中苯乙烯(St)和甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)的原子转移自由基共聚合的可控性和相对反应活性.在此基础上,通过反应进料法在水分散体系中进行了St和MMA的梯度共聚合,反应表现出“活性”聚合的特征,即所得共聚物的数均分子量随着单体转化率的增加而增大,分子量分布较窄(M_w/M_n<1.50).用¹HNMR跟踪分析了聚合反应过程中共聚物微观组成的变化规律,结果表明,共聚物链中MMA链节的累积含量和瞬时含量都随着共聚物相对链长的增加而增加,即随着聚合物相对链长的增加共聚物的微观组成从St链节占主导地位逐渐变化为以MMA链节占主导地位,表明确实形成了St和MMA的梯度或渐变共聚物.     

含羧基的含氟嵌段共聚物的合成及表面性能研究

利用原子转移自由基聚合反应以及随后的大分子链中叔丁酯基团的水解反应,合成了一系列具有不同含氟量和羧基含量的二嵌段共聚物,并分别通过GPC, ¹H NMR和FT-IR对共聚物的组成和结构进行了表征.进一步考察了这些含羧基或羧酸钠基团的含氟嵌段共聚物在吡咯烷酮或水中的溶解性能、临界胶束浓度、表面活性、达到饱和吸附时每个分子在表面所占据的面积,以及成膜后的临界表面张力等性能.实验结果表明,此含氟嵌段共聚物能显著降低吡咯烷酮和水的表面张力,成膜后表现出与聚四氟乙烯极为接近的低表面能特性.     

高支化聚酯的合成及表征

高支化聚酯的合成及表征;开环聚合;偏苯三酸酐;环氧氯丙烷