Local chain dynamics of a model polycarbonate near glass transition temperature: A molecular dynamics simulation

Constant pressure constant temperature molecular dynamics method is employed to investigate the atomistic scale dynamics of a model Bisphenol A polycarbonate in the vicinity of its glass transition temperature. First, the glass transition temperature and the thermal expansion coefficients of the polymer are predicted by performing simulations at different temperatures. To explore the significance of different modes of motion, various types of time correlation functions are utilized in analyzing the trajectories. In these nanosecond scale simulations, the motion of the chain segments is found to be highly localized with little reorientation of the vectors representing these segments. Detailed analysis of trajectories and the correlation functions of the backbone dihedrals and side methyl groups indicates that they exhibit numerous conformational transitions. The activation energies of the conformational transitions obtained from the simulation are generally larger than the potential barriers for the rotations of these dihedrals, however, both show the same trend. We also have estimated the phenylene ring flip activation energy as 12.6 kcal/mol and the flip frequency as 0.77 MHz at 300 K. These values fall either fall within the range determined by various NMR spectroscopy experiments or slightly out of the range. The study shows that the conformational transitions between the adjacent dihedrals are strongly correlated. Three basic cooperative modes are identified from the simulation. They are: a positive synchronous rotation of two phenylene rings, a negative synchronous rotation of two phenylene rings, and a carbonate group rotation. Above the glass transition temperature, the large scale cooperative motions become much more significant.     

Phenylene ring dynamics in bisphenol-A-polysulfone by neutron scattering

We have investigated the dynamics of phenylene rings in a glassy polysulfone (bisphenol-A-polysulfone) by means of quasielastic neutron scattering. Nowadays it is well known that these molecular motions are directly connected with the mechanical properties of engineering thermoplastics in general. The particular system investigated by us has the advantage that by selective deuteration of the methyl groups, the neutron scattering measured is dominated by the incoherent contribution from the protons in the phenylene rings. In this way, the dynamics of such molecular groups can be experimentally isolated. Two different types of neutron spectrometers: time of flight and backscattering, were used in order to cover a wide dynamic range, which extends from microscopic (10(-13) s) to mesoscopic (10(-9) s) times. Moreover, neutron diffraction experiments with polarization analysis were also carried out in order to characterize the structural features of the sample investigated. Fast oscillations of increasing amplitude with temperature and pi-flips are identified for phenylene rings motions. Due to the structural disorder characteristic of the amorphous state, both molecular motions display a broad distribution of relaxation times, which spreads over several orders of magnitude. Based on the results obtained, we propose a model for phenylene rings dynamics, which combines the two kinds of molecular motions identified. This model nicely describes the neutron scattering results in the whole dynamic range investigated.     

Dipolar relaxation mechanisms in the vitreous state, in the glass transition region and in the mesophase, of a side chain polysiloxane liquid crystal

The dipolar relaxation mechanisms in a side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane have been studied by Thermally Stimulated Discharge Currents (t.s.d.c.) and by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy (d.r.s.). The study was carried out in a wide temperature range covering the vitreous phase, the glass transition region and the liquid crystalline phase. Different discharges were observed in the t.s.d.c. spectrum of this polymer which were attributed, in the order of increasing temperature, to local non-cooperative motions probably involving internal rotations in the spacer and in the alkyl group of the mesogenic moiety, to the Brownian motions of the main chain associated with the glass transition and to motions involving reorientations of the components of the dipole moment of the mesogenic side group in the liquid crystalline phase. The dielectric relaxation spectrum, on the other hand, is dominated by two relaxation processes both of which are above the measured glass transition temperature and shows also a much broader and less intense relaxation below the glass transition temperature which is attributable to local motions along the side groups. It is emphasized that the comparison between the d.r.s. and the t.s.d.c. results is not straightforward and that more research work is needed in order to enable a clear attribution of the relaxation processes at the molecular level, and an unambiguous interpretation of the results obtained by the two techniques.     

Thermodynamic functions of thermotropic polyethers based on the semiflexible mesogen 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane

Heat capacities of a series of thermotropic polyethers consisting of a semiflexible mesogen [1-(4-hydroxyphenyl) - 2 - (2 - methyl - 4 - hydroxyphenyl)ethane], with n methylene flexible spacers (n = 4–12) (MBPE-n) have been measured by DSC and fitted at low temperature to an approximate frequency spectrum, as well as at high temperature to a general equation for the liquid MBPE-n. The latter equation is: C_p = n(17.33 + 0.04551T) + (280.9 + 0.3839T) where n is the number of methylenes in the polyether spacer. The calculated vibration-only heat capacities start to show deviations from the measured heat capacities below the melting temperature, reflecting contributions from conformational disorder and motion in methylene spacers. It is suggested that part of this increase in heat capacity can be looked upon as a glass transition of the partially conformationally disordered crystals. Solid state ¹³C–NMR studies showed similarly that over the range of temperature some of the C? C bonds in the spacer are in a rotational state similar to that in the melt. The equilibrium heats of fusion (ΔH) and the changes of heat capacity (ΔC_p) for the amorphous polymer at the glass transition temperature, T_g, were determined by WAXD and DSC. Based on the discrepancy of ΔC_p it is concluded that these phenylene containing polyethers have a certain amount of rigid amorphous polymer. Thermodynamic functions H, S and G for all of the polyethers have been established.     

Polymer blends: Structure and specific interaction of components - poly(phenylene sulfide) and its oligomers

Poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and its blends with oligomers of PPS have been investigated. It was shown that such a system shows changes in the crystallization behaviour, in the amount of rigid amorphous phase, in the glass transition temperature and in the electrical conductivity (after doping).     

Mechanical properties of molecular composites. I. Poly (p‐phenylene terephthalamide) anion molecules dispersed in poly(4‐vinylpyridine)

Molecular composites have been prepared by dispersing rigid‐rod molecules of ionically‐modified poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA anion) in a polar poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP) matrix. For concentrations up to 5 wt % of the rigid‐rod reinforcement, the resulting composites are transparent and possess a single glass transition temperature that increases with concentration of the PPTA anion. The mechanical properties of the molecular composites are found to increase with concentration and to attain maximum values at about 5 wt % of the PPTA anion. The enhancement in properties, and the miscibility induced between the two component polymers, is attributed to the development of specific interactions between the ionic groups of the PPTA anion and the polar units of the PVP matrix. When such interactions are not present, as in composites reinforced with non‐ionic PPTA, the samples are opaque and their properties are significantly reduced compared to those of the PPTA anion/PVP composites. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2201–2209, 1999     

Molecular composites of poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) anion and poly(ethylene oxide): Thermal behavior and morphology

Molecular composites, in which a small concentration of ionically modified poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) is dispersed in a poly(ethylene oxide) matrix, have been prepared. With the content of PPTA anion increasing to about 5 wt %, the glass‐transition temperature rises and the melting temperature decreases. From the equilibrium‐melting‐temperature depression data that were obtained from Hoffman–Weeks plots, the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter was determined to be negative (−1.10). These indications of enhanced miscibility between the components are attributed to intermolecular ion–dipole interactions. The presence of rigid PPTA‐anion reinforcement alters the morphology; for example, the spherulite size is reduced, and the degree of crystallinity is lowered. Possible models of how the reinforcement is incorporated into the composite are presented. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1369–1376, 2000     

Soluble rigid–flexible polyethers containing bis(biphenyl)anthracene or bis(styryl)anthracene units in the main chain for light-emitting applications

New rigid–flexible polyethers containing bis(biphenyl)anthracene or bis(styryl)anthracene units in the main chain were synthesized and characterized by viscosimetry, thermal and mechanical analysis, NMR, UV-vis, and luminescence spectroscopy. The polyethers containing bis(styryl)anthracene units in the main chain form free-standing films either from solution casting or after melt pressing at temperatures where they are thermally stable. The length of the flexible spacer influences the thermal and mechanical behavior of these polymers. The isotropization temperature as well as the glass transition temperature show an odd–even effect depending on the spacer segment length. Films with high modulus at room temperature and glass transition temperatures in the range 74–103°C were obtained using dynamic mechanical analysis. These polymers show bright-yellow photoluminescence with maximum at 580 nm in solution. In the solid state, the luminescence maximum is either red or blue shifted depending on the number of the methylene units in the aliphatic segment. The polyethers containing bis(biphenyl)anthracene units in the main chain are blue-light-emitting polymers with photoluminescence maxima at 435 and 455 nm in solution. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3826–3837, 1999     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of new sequenced poly(ether amide)s based on 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐5‐aminobenzimidazole and 2‐(3‐aminophenyl)‐5‐aminobenzimidazole

A set of new aromatic poly(ether amide)s containing benzimidazole groups and ethylene oxide sequences of different lengths were synthesized and characterized. The new polymers were prepared from two benzimidazole diamines, 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐5‐aminobenzimidazole and 2‐(3‐aminophenyl)‐5‐aminobenzimidazole, and various oligo(ethylene oxide)dibenzoyl chlorides. They exhibited good solubility in polar aprotic solvents and glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 125–300 °C (the longer the ethylene oxide spacer was, the lower the glass‐transition temperature was). The new polyamides were essentially amorphous, as observed by X‐ray diffraction measurements and confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry measurements, by means of which no melting endotherm was observed in any case. The decomposition temperatures, as revealed by thermogravimetric analysis in nitrogen, were about 400 °C for all of them, regardless of the length of the ethylene oxide content or the phenylene ring orientation (meta or para) of the diamine moiety. The number of ethylene oxide linkages per repeat unit also determined the water uptake. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1414–1423, 2006     

Synthesis of new thermosetting poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)s containing epoxide pendant groups

A new class of thermosetting poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)s containing pendant epoxide groups were synthesized and characterized. These new epoxy polymers were prepared through the bromination of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) in halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons followed by a Wittig reaction to yield vinyl‐substituted polymer derivatives. The treatment of the vinyl‐substituted polymers with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid led to the formation of epoxidized poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) with variable pendant ratios, and the structures and properties were studied with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and gel permeation chromatography. The ratios of pendant functional groups were tailored for the polymer properties, and the results showed that the glass‐transition temperatures increased as the benzylic protons were replaced by bromo‐, vinyl‐, or epoxide‐functional groups, whereas the thermal stability decreased in comparison with the original polymer. Within a molar fraction of 20–50%, the degree of functionalization had little effect on the glass‐transition temperature; however, it correlated inversely with the thermal stability of each functionalized polymer. The thermal curing behavior of the epoxide‐functionalized polymer was enhanced by the increment of the pendant functionality, which resulted in a significant increase in the glass‐transition temperature as well as the thermal stability after the curing reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5875–5886, 2006     

Adsorption of cationic gemini surfactants at solid surfaces studied by QCM-D and SPR: effect of the rigidity of the spacer

Two small series of cationic gemini surfactants with dodecyl tails have been synthesized and evaluated with respect to self-assembly in bulk water and at different solid surfaces. The first series contained a flexible alkane spacer and is denoted 12-n-12, with n = 2, 4, and 6. The second series had a phenylene group connected to the quaternary nitrogens in either the meta or para position and the surfactants are referred to as 12-m-Φ-12 and 12-p-Φ-12, respectively. The phenylene group is a rigid linker unit. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) was determined both by tensiometry and by conductometry, and the packing density of the surfactants at the air-water interface was calculated from the Gibbs equation. The cmc values for the geminis with a rigid spacer, 12-m-Φ-12 and 12-p-Φ-12, were of the same order of magnitude as for 12-4-12, which is the flexible surfactant that most closely matches the phenylene-based surfactants with respect to hydrophobicity, measured as log P, and distance between the positively charged nitrogen atoms. The adsorption of flexible and rigid surfactants was investigated on gold, silicon dioxide (silica), gold made hydrophobic by the self-assembly of hexadecanethiol, and gold made hydrophilic by the self-assembly of 16-hydroxyhexadecanethiol. On all of the surfaces, there was a reverse relationship between the adsorbed amount at the cmc and the length of the spacer (i.e., 12-2-12 gave the highest and 12-6-12 gave the lowest amount of adsorbed material). The adsorption pattern was similar for all of the surfactants when recorded at 25 °C. Thus, one can conclude that a rigid spacer does not render the self-assembly of a gemini surfactant difficult, neither in bulk water nor at solid surfaces. However, on one of the surfaces-untreated gold-the adsorbed amount of the geminis with a rigid spacer at 40 °C was approximately twice the values obtained at 25 °C. This is interpreted as the formation of an interdigitated bilayer at 25 °C and a regular bilayer without interpenetration of the alkyl chains at 40 °C.     

Study of spin–lattice relaxation and local motion in dissolved poly[2,2-propanediylbis(3,5-dimethyl-4, hydroxyphenyl)carbonate]

Proton and carbon-13 spin–lattice relaxation times are reported for 10-wt % solutions of tetramethyl bisphenol-A polycarbonate. The relaxation times for both nuclei were measured at two Larmor frequencies and as a function of temperature. These relaxation times are interpreted in terms of three motions: segmental motion, restricted rotational diffusion, and backbone methyl-group rotation. The Hall–Helfand correlation function is used to describe the segmental motion. Internal rotation is described by the usual Woessner approach and restricted anisotropic rotational diffusion by the Gronski approach. As demonstrated by its higher activation energy, correlated segmental motion appears to be slower than the unsubstituted polycarbonate of BPA. In addition, the single-transition processes seem to be still less important than correlated backbone transitions. Phenylene-group rotation is described in terms of restricted rotational diffusion instead of complete anisotropic rotation. The time scale for backbone methyl-group rotation is comparable to that in BPA, a fact indicative of weaker cooperativity between this motion and the other motions. Rotation of the methyl group attached to the phenylene ring is too fast to significantly contribute to relaxation except by partially averaging the dipole–dipole interactions. The higher activation energies for segmental motion observed in solution for this methyl-substituted polycarbonate relative to the unsubstituted polycarbonate parallel a significant increase in the glass transition temperature observed for the substituted material. The restricted pheylene-group rotation in solution is also parallelled by a large upward shift of the low-temperature loss peak in the glassy polymer.     

Low-temperature mechanical relaxations in polymers containing aromatic groups

Studies have been made of the secondary relaxation processes in the solid state of a number of polymers containing aromatic groups in the polymer chain. The polymers investigated include one, polystyrene, with the aromatic group in side-chain positions, and six high polymers in which phenylene rings lie in the main backbone chain. In polystyrene, wagging and torsional motions of the side chain phenyl rings give rise to a low-temperature δ-relaxation which is centered at 33°K (1.7 Hz) and which has an activation energy of about 2.3 kcal/mol. Most of the polymers with phenylene rings in the main chain exhibit a low-temperature relaxation in the temperature region from 100°–200°K. This relaxation process is centered at 159°K (0.54 Hz) in poly-p-xylylene, at 162°K (0.67 Hz) in polysulfone, and at 165°K (1.24 Hz) in poly(diancarbonate). In poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide), two overlapping low-temperature relaxations are found, one in the range 125–140°K and the other near 277°K (ca. 1 Hz). The low-temperature secondary relaxation process in all of these polymers is believed to be associated with local reorientational motion of the phenylene, or substituted phenylene, rings or with combined motion of the phenylene rings and nearby chain units. For these low temperature relaxation processes, the activation energy is about 10 kcal/-mole. The temperature location of the relaxation appears to depend on the specific units to which the phenylene rings are attached and on steric and polar effects caused by substituents on the ring. In the poly-p-xylylenes the relaxation is shifted to much higher temperatures by a single Cl substitution on the ring but remains at essentially the same temperature position when dichlorosubstitution is made. The effects of water on the magnitude and temperature location of the observed low temperature relaxations, as well as the implications of the study for other polymers containing aromatic groups in their backbone chains, are discussed.     

Synthesis and Surface Activity of Novel Triazole—based Cationic Gemini Surfactants

Gemini surfactants, which contain two hydrophilic groups and two hydrophobic groups in the molecule, are considered as a new generation of surfactants. These surfactants are about 3 orders of magnitude more efficient at reducing surface tension and more than 2 orders of magnitude more efficient at forming micelles than conventional surfactants1. During recent years, many gemini surfactants have been synthesized, and a considerable number of investigations have been reported on their unusua…     

Molecular composites made of ionic poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Relaxation behavior

Molecular composites were prepared from several types of ionically modified, poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) dispersed in a poly(4‐vinylpyridine) matrix. Optical clarity tests indicated that the component polymers of the composite were miscible, at least at low concentrations of the rodlike reinforcement. In composites containing ionic PPTA, where ionic sulfonate groups were attached as side groups either to PPTA chains or to PPTA anion chains, the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) was increased by l0 °C or more, at 5 wt % reinforcement. At concentrations of 10–15 wt % of the ionic polymer, T_g values leveled off or decreased slightly. This suggested that some aggregation of the rigid‐rod molecules occurred. In composites containing ionic PPTA, where the ionic sulfonate groups were directly attached to the phenylene rings of PPTA chains, not only was T_g shifted significantly to higher temperatures, but the rubbery plateau modulus retained high values up to temperatures of 250 °C or above. Observed effects were considered to be the result of strong ionic interactions between the ionic reinforcement polymer and the polar matrix polymer. The possible effects of the counterion on T_g and the storage modulus are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1110–1117, 2002     

Molecular structure-dynamics relationships in glassy poly(isophthalamide)s as revealed by wide angle x-ray scattering, dielectric loss spectroscopy, and molecular modelling

The effect of molecular structure on the gamma relaxation dynamics has been studied in a set of aromatic poly(isophthalamide)s. This polymer family differ in the bridge group between phenylene rings [hexafluoroisopropylidene (C(CF(3))(2)) or ether] and also in the presence of t-butyl groups (C(CH(3))(3)) as pendant substituent on the five position of isophthalic ring. The results obtained from wide angle x-ray scattering in the glassy state indicated that both (C(CF(3))(2)) and (C(CH(3))(3)) groups favor the separation between chains, which is reflected on different interchain average distances. Dielectric experiments showed that both bulky groups favor the mobility in the glassy state. Molecular modelling methods were used to know the kind of molecular motions associated to the dielectric relaxation observed below the glass transition temperature.     

Thermal properties of poly(ester‐imide)s with C12H24 and C22H44 groups

The thermal properties of poly(4,4′‐phthaloimidobenzoyl‐n‐methyleneoxycarbonyl) with n =12 and 22, abbreviated as PEIM‐12 and PEIM‐22, respectively, have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The heat capacities of the solid states of both polymers were measured and compared to computed heat capacities from approximate vibrational spectra. The deviations from the vibrations‐only heat capacity were used to identify large‐amplitude, conformational motions. The heat capacities of the liquid states were described as linear functions of temperature. They agreed with the liquid heat capacities generated from the ATHAS addition scheme using group contributions derived from polymers containing the same chemical segments as the PEIM‐ns. Knowing the heat capacities for the solid and liquid, the transition parameters could be separated and enthalpies, entropies, and free enthalpies obtained. With these data, the change of the crystallinity with temperature could be computed. In the early stages of solidification both compounds contain significant entropy contributions from conformational ordering of the flexible spacer and little from the rigid, aromatic segments. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 319–328, 2000     

Thermal analysis study of the effect of molecular weight on constrained amorphous phase in poly(phenylene sulfide)

We report a thermal analysis study of the effect of molecular weight on the amorphous phase structure of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, crystallized at temperatures just above the glass transition temperature. Thermal properties of Fortron PPS, having viscosity average molecular weights of 30000 to 91000, were characterized using temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). We find that while crystallinity varies little with molecular weight, the heat capacity increment at the glass transition decreases as molecular weight decreases. This leads to a smaller liquid-like amorphous phase, and a larger rigid amorphous fraction, in the lower molecular weight PPS. For all molecular weights, constrained fraction decreases as the scan rate decreases.This research is supported by the U. S. Army Research Office through contract DAAH04-96-1-0009. The authors thank Hoechst Celanese for providing different molecular weight Fortron samples and Dr. George Collins for providing sample information. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Elizabeth Oyebode and Leonardo Grimaldi with sample preparation and MDSC work.     

Dielectric relaxation of poly(phenylene sulfide) containing a fraction of rigid amorphous phase

The dielectric relaxation behavior of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, has been investigated from room temperature to 180°C. This study was undertaken to examine the mobility of the amorphous phase through the glass transition region, to determine the contribution that rigid amorphous phase material makes to the relaxation process. Semicrystalline samples contain a fraction of the rigid amorphous phase, which was determined from the heat capacity increment at the glass transition, using degree of crystallinity determined from x-ray scattering. In the dielectric experiment, we measured the temperature and frequency dependence of the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function. ε″ vs. ε′ was used to determine the dielectric relaxation intensity, δε = ε_s–ε∞, at temperatures above the glass transition. For amorphous PPS, δε decreases as temperature increases, while for all semicrystalline PPS, δε increases with temperature. The ratio of semicrystalline intensity to amorphous intensity determines the total fraction of dipoles which are already relaxed at a given temperature. Results indicate that more and more rigid amorphous phase material relaxes as the temperature is increased. This provides the first evidence that rigid amorphous phase material in PPS contains chains that possess different levels of molecular mobility. Finally, to the temperature of the loss peak maximum, at a given frequency, we assign the value of the dielectric T_g. For both melt and cold crystallization, the dielectric T_g systematically decreases as the crystallization temperature increases, and as the fraction of rigid amorphous phase decreases.