Radiation polymerization of alkyl methacrylates in polymer–monomer compositions

This work summarizes the results of a study of the mechanism of polymerization in monomer-polymer compositions initiated by ionizing radiation. Attention was mainly paid to the investigation of the polymerization directly in the γ-radiation field. The next monomers were chosen for monomer-polymer compositions: heptyl acrylate (HA), heptyl methacrylate (HMA) and some other acrylic and methacrylic monomers. The polymer components are: chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) (molecular mass M_n ≅ 1 × 10⁵), chlorinated paraffins (CP) (molecular mass M_r ≅ 450), butadiene-nitrile rubber BN-1 (molecular mass M_w ≅ 3 × 10⁵) and BN-2 (molecular mass M_w ≅ 2500). Compositions that are crosslinked (BN-1+HMA, BN-2+HMA, CPE+HA) and noncrosslinked under γ-radiation were specially selected. The dynamic of radiation polymerization in the system studied was measured by calorimetric technique. A calorimeter was situated directly in the zone of γ-ray₆₀ Co. The dynamic of polymerization was followed by the heat release rate recorded by the calorimeter. Viscosity of the systems was measured on a rotational viscosimeter REOTEST-2 at room temperature. The investigations carried out have allowed us to establish the kinetic regularities of the radiation polymerization processes in the crosslinking and noncrosslinking compositions under irradiation based on HMA and some polymers. A comparison of the main characteristic of these processes was also made. The employment of the crosslinking and noncrosslinking polymers in the compositions significantly changes the radiation polymerization dynamics and allows the construction of the composites at the molecular level to be changed. The results obtained may serve as a basis for choosing the optimal system for producing-radiation-cured monomer-polymer compositions.     

Calorimetric investigation of polymerization reactions. I. Diffusion-controlled polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene

The rate of bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene was determined directly, continuously and over the whole range of conversion with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) operated isothermally. At the later stages of the accelerated polymerization of methyl methacrylate, a previously unknown inflection or peak in the rate of polymerization was observed. The variation of the rate after the onset of the gel effect, including this peculiar inflection, was interpreted on the basis of the diffusion behavior of monomer molecules and polymeric radicals in the polymer–monomer system, their diffusion rates being predicted from the free volume theory. The final conversion at which no further polymerization proceeds was determined for both monomers. It was affirmed quantitatively that the final conversion has a close relation with the transition of the polymer–monomer system from a viscous liquid to a glassy state.     

Formation of homopolymers,graft copolymers,and gel fraction during polymerization of monomer-polymer systems

The formation of homopolymers, graft copolymers, and the gel fraction in the course of polymerization of monomer-polymer systems has been studied. It has been demonstrated that the graft copolymers form at monomer conversions up to 30–40% and the intense accumulation of homopolymers corresponds to the degree of conversion at which autoacceleration begins. Structural features of the polymer composites have been revealed by electron microscopy measurements. The use of comonomers containing two double bonds has been shown to provide a way of controlling the properties of final polymeric materials.     

The Growth of Polystyrene Latex Particles

Our understanding of the factors controlling the growth of polystyrene latex particles has recently undergone extensive revision. For this compatible monomer-polymer system, it was generally presumed that monomer and polymer were uniformly distributed throughout the particles, whereas we have found quite the contrary. Under a wide range of conditions, growing latex particles actually exhibit a distributed structure in which a monomer-rich shell encapsulates a polymer-rich core. First elucidated in kinetic studies of styrene emulsion polymerization, this behavior has also been observed in particles which reside in a state of equilibrium saturation with monomer. The encapsulation phenomenon is governed by the microscopic thermodynamic environment of the latex particles which has, in turn, a profound effect upon the conformational behavior of the long-chain polymer molecules as they interact with the particle-water interface. The control of latex particle properties by the staged addition of several monomers (overcoating) has been part of the industrial lore for many years. The successful execution of this technique has been attributed to either a slow monomer addition technique or to the inherent incompatibilities of the successive generations of polymer. In situations involving the addition of a monomer which is compatible with the seed polymer, the encapsulation phenomenon is probably the controlling factor in the overcoating process.     

High conversion free-radical suspension polymerization: End groups in poly(methyl methacrylate) and their influence on the thermal stability

Suspension free-radical polymerization of vinyl monomers, carried out in the presence of alkyl mercaptans as chain-transfer agents, is analyzed. A model which accounts for the development with conversion of the polymer weight fractions having particularly tagged end groups, namely sulfur-containing and unsaturated end groups, is presented. The best current theories for diffusion-controlled polymerizations are included in the model. The sulfur content of poly(methyl methacrylate), determined as a function of conversion by a microcoulometric method, is in good agreement with the values predicted from polymerization kinetics. The rate of weight loss of the produced polymers is then related to the content of the unsaturated end groups. By comparing experimental thermal stability indexes (from thermogravimetry and isothermal heating experiments) to calculated polymer weight fractions, it is shown that the thermal stability of poly(methyl methacrylate) produced in the presence of alkyl mercaptans approximately depends on the square of the weight fraction of the polymer chains with an unsaturated end group.     

New β-linked pyrrole monomers: approaches to highly stable and conductive electrochromic polymers

An efficient synthetic route to β-linked dipyrrole monomers has been developed. Electrochemical polymerization of these monomers leads to the incorporation of polycyclic aromatic residues into a polymer backbone. The resulting conjugated polymer films are electroactive, robust electrochromic materials that are highly delocalized in their oxidized forms.     

Ionic Polymerization of Vinyl Aromatic Monomers

The ionic polymerization of vinyl monomers possessing aromatic and heterocyclic functional groups has not been studied in any systematic fashion. Only in a few isolated cases have detailed mechanistic and structural studies been reported. The anionic polymerization of a number of vinylanthracene monomers has recently been investigated and some rationalization of this system is presented. The cationic and anionic polymerization of the N-, 3-, and 2-vinylcarbazole series of monomers is discussed in some detail. The important role of vinyl aromatic/vinyl heterocyclic monomers, i.e., diphenylethylene and the vinylcarbazoles, in elucidating the mechanistic aspects of cationic polymerization, “change transfer” polymerization, and photoionic polymerization is considered.     

High-conversion polymerization. IV. A definition of the onset of the gel effect

The gel effect in free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers has been recognized as the result of the increased viscosity of the reaction solution of polymer in monomer, which causes a decrease in the rate of the termination reaction. This effect manifests itself as an increase in the rate of polymerization over that rate to be expected in its absence. Definition of the onset of the gel effect has become necessary for several purposes. Previously, it has been common to define the onset phenomenologically, i.e., in terms of the increase in the rate of polymerization. It is proposed here that the onset of the gel effect is best defined on a fundamental basis, i.e., as occurring at that conversion at which the rate of segmental diffusion of the polymeric radicals equals the rate of their translational diffusion. Experimental evidence is presented that shows that the small minima predicted by this definition do exist for both rates and degrees of polymerization. Measurements of the viscosities of solutions of polymers in their monomers suggest that the polymer concentrations at which the “chain-entanglement” phenomena are observed are the same as those for the onset of the gel effect for styrene, methyl methacrylate, and butyl methacrylate.     

Systematic Investigation of the Photopolymerization of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Styrene and Vinyl Monomers

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) as media in radical polymerizations has demonstrated the ability of these unique solvents to improve both reaction kinetics and polymer product properties. However, the bulk of these studies have examined the polymerization behavior of common organic monomers (e.g., methyl methacrylate, styrene) dissolved in conventional ILs. There is increasing interest in polymerized ILs (poly(ILs)), which are ionomers produced from the direct polymerization of styrene-, vinyl-, and acrylate-functionalized ILs. Here, the photopolymerization kinetics of IL monomers are investigated for systems in which styrene or vinyl functionalities are pendant from the imidazolium cation. Styrene-functionalized IL monomers typically polymerized rapidly (full conversion ≤1 min) in both neat compositions or when diluted with a nonpolymerizable IL, [C₂mim][Tf₂N]. However, monomer conversion in vinyl-functionalized IL monomers is much more dependent on the nature of the nonpolymerizable group. ATR-FTIR analysis and molecular simulations of these monomers and monomer mixtures identified the presence of multiple intermolecular interactions (e.g., π–π stacking, IL aggregation) that contribute to the polymerization behaviors of these systems. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2364–2375     

Radical ring-opening polymerization of lipoates: Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects

The radical ring-opening polymerization of a lipoate-based monomer, ethyl lipoate, in bulk and in solution was studied at various temperatures and it was found that in all cases, only limited (plateau) conversions were reached, which were lower at higher temperatures and/or at higher dilutions. It was established that a monomer-polymer equilibrium exists with a corresponding ceiling temperature of 139°C. Due to the reversibility of the lipoate polymerization, when poly(ethyl lipoate) was heated to 150°C, it degraded and within 3 h, the molecular weight decreased to less than 15% of the initial value. Likewise, when the polymer was dissolved in anisole and a radical initiator was added, degradation was observed even at 60°C and it became increasingly pronounced at higher concentrations of the radical source. Due to the presence of multiple disulfide groups in the backbone, poly(ethyl lipoate) also degraded in the presence of reducing agents, such as tributylphosphine, yielding the reduced (dithiol) form of the monomer, ethyl dihydrolipoate.     

Stereoselective Polymerization of Aromatic Vinyl Polar Monomers

Polar vinyl polymers, a class of polymers with polar groups as side chains, have significant advantages over conventional nonpolar polyolefin materials in terms of viscosity, toughness, interfacial properties (dyeability and printability), and compatibility with solvents or other polymers. Among them, aromatic polar vinyl polymers are of interest because of their good heat resistance properties. In addition, stereoselective polymerization of aromatic polar vinyl monomers has been rapidly developed because the steric structure of the polymer has a significant impact on its physical properties. In this paper, we review the research progress of stereoselective polymerization catalysts for aromatic polar vinyl monomers in recent years, discuss in detail the influence of ligand structure, electronic effect of substituents, spatial site resistance effect, central rare earth metal species and polymerization solvents on the activity and stereoselectivity of polymerization reactions, and explore the possible mechanism of polymerization reaction.     

含胺基功能性单体的聚合研究 Ⅴ.4-N,N-二甲胺基苯乙烯的合成及其作为氧化还原引发体系组分的研究

<正> 前文我们报告了含有芳香叔胺基的丙烯酸酯、甲基丙烯酸-4-N,N-二甲氨基苄酯(DMABMA)在过氧化二月桂酰(LPO)引发下的聚合动力学。从所得的聚合速度方程式及低的聚合活化能,认为DMABMA与LPO形成氧化还原体系而使DMABMA聚合,在本文第Ⅳ报中报道了DMABMA不仅能引发甲基丙烯酸甲酯的聚合,还参与聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯的链中,因此称这种既能参与引发聚合反应,又参与聚合物链中的引发“引发剂单体(initiatomer)”。这种含有可聚合胺引发体系的优点是,用于丙烯酸酯类医用     

Effect of branched copolymers on the kinetics of polymerization of MMA and the structure and properties of the resulting polymers

It has been shown that the free-radical polymerization of MMA carried out in the presence of branched PMMAs of various compositions and structures proceeds as a crosslinking process. Branched PMMAs containing reactive C=C bonds serve as weak crosslinking agents; polymers formed in their presence are rarely crosslinked macromolecular structures. The kinetic features of the polymerization of MMA performed in the presence of branched PMMAs and the structure and properties of the polymers are determined by the content of branched PMMAs in the starting monomer-polymer mixture and their structure and physicochemical characteristics.     

Laser-induced polymerization of functional derivatives of acetylene

Photochemical and photophysical processes leading to the formation of polymers with a conjugated double bond system under He-Cd laser irradiation have been considered. Phenyl- and diphenylpropargylamines are utilized as monomers. The polymerization of these monomers is carried out only in the presence of an electron acceptor such as tetrabromomethane. The polymer formation process is directed to obtaining an intermediate compound followed by its polymerization. The polymerization of intermediate compound is carried out by cationic reaction of triple bond in the presence of electron acceptor. The polymer structure and properties have been investigated. The parameters of lightsensitive layers based on diphenylpropargylamine have been determined.     

Analytical followup of the gamma initiated synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the template phenytoin has been prepared by gamma initiated copolymerization of methacrylamide and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The progress of polymerization was studied by measuring the monomer conversions and the template binding properties of the resulting polymers, respectively. The consumption rate of the two monomers showed different course. There was no difference observed in the polymerization rates of the MIP and the control polymer (NIP). The template binding properties of the MIP and the NIP changed considerably with the progress of the polymerization process and became similar to those of the thermally initiated polymers after full conversion.     

Novel synthesis of photocrosslinkable polymers

A new preparative route to photocrosslinkable polymers in which the polymers are produced directly from the polymerization of vinyl monomers having photocrosslinkable groups has been investigated. The photosensitive resins thus produced have higher sensitivity and resolution than conventional photosensitive resins. The monomers were synthesized from the esterification of vinylphenols or vinyl β-chloroethyl ether with cinnamic acid, β-styrylacrylic acid, and their homologs, and from the etherification of vinyl β-chloroethyl ether with hydroxychalcones. Homopolymerizations of these monomers and their copolymerizations with other comonomers were investigated with the use of both radical and ionic initiators. It is shown that radical polymerization of the monomers gave soluble polymers only at low conversion. Anionic initiators did not initiate polymerization. Cationic polymerization imparted soluble polymers in high yield, except for the monomers bearing cyano groups, which generally gave insoluble polymers. Infrared and NMR spectroscopic investigation of the cationically obtained soluble polymers and comparative investigation by cationic polymerization of model compounds indicated that polymerization of the monomers proceeds through the vinyl double bond without affecting the photosensitive unsaturated bond. Thus, linear photocrosslinkable polymers with an intact photoreactive group may be produced by cationic polymerization. In general, these polymers have uniform structure and modifiable physical properties depending on the monomer used. The polymer thus obtained from β-vinyloxyethyl cinnamate has been shown to have excellent properties for use as a photo-resist.     

Dispersion polymerization of styrene in ethanol: Monomer partitioning behavior and locus of polymerization

A thermodynamic model has been proposed for the simulation of monomer partitioning behavior in the dispersion polymerization of styrene in ethanol. The monomer concentration in the polymer particles is very low (20 vol% at 5% conversion) and decreases further as the polymerization proceeds. It is independent of stabilizer concentration but is strongly dependent on initial monomer concentration. The partitio n coefficient ([M_p]/[M_c]) of styrene increases from 0.8 to 1.1 with incresing conversion. There are two polymerization loci in dispersion polymerization, namely the continuous and polymer phases. Competition between solution and heterogeneous polymerization has been observed in this system. The rate of dispersion polymerization is dependent on initial monomer concentration but is independent of initiator concentration at higher conversions. The molecular weight of the polymers produced by this process increases with increasing conversion and decreases with increasing initiator concentration.     

PPV Polymerization through the Gilch Route: Diradical Character of Monomers

Despite various studies on the polymerization of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) through different precursor routes, detailed mechanistic knowledge on the individual reaction steps and intermediates is still incomplete. The present study aims to gain more insight into the radical polymerization of PPV through the Gilch route. The initial steps of the polymerization involve the formation of a p‐quinodimethane intermediate, which spontaneously self‐initiates through a dimerization process leading to the formation of diradical species; chain propagation ensues on both sides of the diradical or chain termination occurs by the formation of side products, such as [2.2]paracyclophanes. Furthermore, different p‐quinodimethane systems were assessed with respect to the size of their aromatic core as well as the presence of heteroatoms in/on the conjugated system. The nature of the aromatic core and the specific substituents alter the electronic structure of the p‐quinodimethane monomers, affecting the mechanism of polymerization. The diradical character of the monomers has been investigated with several advanced methodologies, such as spin‐projected UHF, CASSCF, CASPT2, and DMRG calculations. It was shown that larger aromatic cores led to a higher diradical character in the monomers, which in turn is proposed to cause rapid initiation.     

再活化链式聚合

基于传统的链式聚合和逐步聚合二种高分子链增长过程,提出了再活化链式聚合。按此聚合机理,高分子的链增长是通过将一个非活性或睡眠状态的链(Mm)重新活化为活性种(Mm*),活性种再和一个单体(M)反应,生成一个较大分子量的休眠产物(Mm 1)来实现的。再活化链式聚合主要例子包括苯胺和或许其它芳香族单体的氧化聚合,活性自由基聚合,以及核酸和蛋白质合成中的生物聚合。     

Polymerization Kinetics of Water-Soluble N-Vinyl Monomers in Aqueous and Organic Solution

Summary: Free-radical batch polymerization (FRP) of N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) and N-vinyl formamide (NVF) monomers in aqueous solution as well as NVP polymerization in organic (n-butanol) solution has been studied. The differences found in rate of monomer conversion with monomer and solvent choice correlates well with the differences in values of the propagation rate coefficients (k_p) and their variation with monomer concentration measured in independent pulsed-laser polymerization studies, a result demonstrating that a generalized understanding of water-soluble vinyl monomers can be obtained once their k_p differences have been accounted for. A reasonable representation of polymer molecular mass averages and the complete molecular mass distributions for the three systems was obtained by assuming that the rate coefficient for transfer to monomer, polymer, and organic solvent also vary as a function of monomer concentration.