Glass transitions in hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes

Mutual precipitates of poly (N, N-dimethyl acrylamide) and poly (4-hydroxystyrene) were collected from dioxane, methanol, or acetone. The glass transition (T_g) temperatures of the precipitates are higher than the weight-average values. Clear films cast from dimethylformamide solutions have lower T_g values. Complexation also occurred between poly (ethyl oxazoline) and poly (4-hydroxystyrene) in dioxane and between poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly (4-hydroxystyrene) in methanol. Again, the glass transition temperatures of the precipitates are higher than the values for the blend films. The ΔC_p values associated with the glass transitions of the complexes are smaller than those of the blends having the same compositions. Negative excess heat capacities of mixing have been observed for several precipitates.     

Compatibility studies of styrene and hydroxyl containing styrene copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide)

Copolymers of styrene with vinylphenyl trifluoromethyl carbinol, p-vinylphenyl trifluoromethyl carbinol, vinylphenyl hexafluorodimethyl carbinol, and p-vinylphenol are conditionally compatible with poly(ethylene oxide), depending on their composition and blending ratios, whereas copolymers of styrene and vinylphenyl methyl carbinol are much less compatible with poly(ethylene oxide), as determined by T_g criteria and differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallinity of poly(ethylene oxide) is changed in the copolymer/poly(ethylene oxide) blends, as indicated by depressions of the poly(ethylene oxide) melting point. Hydrogen-bond formation has been studied in two selected blends by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Hydrogen bonding dissociation and reassociation as a function of temperature are reported. The conformation changes of poly(ethylene oxide) in the blends, the interaction between copolymer and poly(ethylene oxide) as well as in the reference blend, polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide), are also investigated.     

The synthesis of a precursor of polybenzimidazole (PBI) and blends with polyamic acid (PAA)

The precursor of polybenzimidazole (PBI), poly(3,3′-diamino-4,4′-benzidine isophthalamide) (PDABI), was synthesized from poly(3,3′-dinitro-4,4′-benzidine isophthalamide) (PDNBI) by reduction. With increasing temperature, the NH₂ moiety which was protected by SnCl₅^?1 could cyclize and form PBI. Blends with polyamic acid (LaRC-TPI) were prepared. Clear blend films were prepared at up to 400°C. The IR spectra displayed shifts in the NH stretching band, thereby providing evidence for specific interactions related to the miscibility of their cured blends. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Miscible blends through hydrogen bonding: effects on polymer properties

Miscible blends through hydrogen bonding have been intensively studied. The effects of a variety of miscible hydrogen bonded polymer blends on properties such as thermal and thermal oxidative stability, moisture sensitivity, modulus and glass transition temperature are discussed. In addition, the preparation of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and studies of the effect of crosslinking on the miscibility in hydrogen bonded polymer blends are reviewed.     

Modification of polybenzimidazole: Synthesis and thermal stability of poly(N1-methylbenzimidazole) and poly(N1,N3-dimethylbenzimidazolium) salt

Poly(N₁,N₃-dimethylbenzimidazolium) (PDMBI) salt and poly(N₁-methylbenzimidazole) (PMMBI) were synthesized by methylation of commercial polybenzimidazole [poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole (PBI)]. First, the N-lithium salt of polybenzimidazole was formed by treating polybenzimidazole solution of 1-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (NMP) with lithium hydride at 80°C for 18 h. Ninety percent substitution of PMMBI was obtained by treating the N-lithium salt of PBI with equimolar ratio of iodomethane at room temperature. Upon addition of excess iodomethane to the lithium salt of PBI at 80°C, a polymer was formed that showed 100% substitution on the N₁ nitrogen and about 30% substitution of the methyl group on the N₃ nitrogen in the form of N₁,N₃-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide salt [PDMBI (30%)]. The content of the benzimidazolium iodide salt was increased to about 90% by dissolving PDMBI (30%) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and re-treating with excess iodomethane at 80°C overnight. The modified PBI polymers were characterized by NMR and FTIR. The modified PBI differed in solubility from PBI. PMMBI could be easily dissolved in NMP and PDMBI in DMSO at room temperature. The solution of PDMBI could be mixed with water in all proportions without precipitation. PDMBI could be also dissolved directly in a mixture of DMSO and water (1 : 1). Typical polyelectrolyte behavior of viscosity was found in solution of PDMBI (30%) and PDMBI (90%) when DMSO and a mixture of DMSO and water were used as solvents. A salt effect on viscosity was also found in the mixed solvent solution. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the methyl group on the imidazole ring was unstable above 180°C under nitrogen. When PDMBI was heated under nitrogen, one of the methyl groups was lost with the counterion to result in a neutral PMMBI. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular composites in thermosets

The synthesis of molecular composites where rigid polymer molecules are reinforcing elements in a thermoset bisimide matrix has been investigated. The approach has been designed to avoid phase separation by selecting systems where reaction of amine-terminated rigid and semiflexible oligomers with maleimide unsaturation occurs prior to crosslinking of the thermoset. This objective has been met for some compositions. The concentration and molecular weight of the rigid oligomers have been varied. The structure of the reinforcing polymer, the reactivity of the maleimide and the conditions for composite synthesis are variables of critical importance, and further work must determine the promise and limitations of this approach.     

Photo-oxidation of poly(vinyl chloride)

The photo-oxidation of PVC has been studied over the temperature range 30–150°C. Initiation with ultraviolet (2537A) radiation has been correlated with the presence of minute amounts of ozone. The contribution of atomic oxygen and singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g) molecules to the initiation mechanism is discussed. The β-chloroketones probably formed in the photo-oxidation of PVC, decomposed according to a Norrish type I reaction without loss of chlorine atoms. The gaseous products of the photo-oxidation of PVC at 30°C were carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. Hydrogen chloride was obtained only when PVC was heated at high temperatures. When PVC was photo-oxidized and then heated at high temperature, benzene was obtained in addition to hydrogen chloride. The gaseous products from the photo-oxidations of model compounds, such as 4-chloro-2-butanone and 2,4-dichloropentane, were also compared with those from PVC. Hydrogen chloride was detected only after photo-oxidation at temperatures of 25°C or higher. Therefore, it was concluded that hydrogen chloride is mainly a product of thermal decomposition. Since unsaturation was not observed in photo-oxidized PVC films, the cause of discoloration is unclear. When PVC was modified by stabilizers or additives, the oxidative degradation was further complicated by side reactions with the additives.     

Two energy scales and slow crossover in YbAl3

Experimental results for the susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat, 4f occupation number, Hall effect, and magnetoresistance for single crystals of the intermediate valence (IV) compound YbAl3 show that, in addition to the Kondo temperature scale T(K) approximately 670 K, there is a low temperature scale T(coh) approximately 30-40 K for the onset of Fermi liquid coherence. Furthermore, the crossover from the low temperature Fermi liquid regime to the high temperature local moment regime is slower than predicted by the Anderson impurity model. We suggest that these effects are generic for IV compounds and we discuss them in terms of the theory of the Anderson lattice.