The Effect of Number of Arms on the Aggregation Behavior of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Star Polymers

The thermoresponsive nature of aqueous solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM) star polymers containing 2, 3, 4, and 6 arms has been investigated by turbidity, dynamic light scattering, rheology, and rheo-SALS. Simulations of the thermosensitive nature of the single star polymers have also been conducted. Some of the samples form aggregates even at temperatures significantly below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAM. Increasing concentration and number of arms promotes associations at low temperatures. When the temperature is raised, there is a competition between size increase due to enhanced aggregation and a size reduction caused by contraction. Monte Carlo simulations show that the single stars contract with increasing temperature, and that this contraction is more pronounced when the number of arms is increased. Some samples exhibit a minimum in the turbidity data after the initial increase at the cloud point. The combined rheology and rheo-SALS data suggest that this is due to a fragmentation of the aggregates followed by re-aggregation at even higher temperatures. Although the 6-arm star polymer aggregates more than the other stars at low temperatures, the more compact structure renders it less prone to aggregation at temperatures above the cloud point.     

Non-affine structural evolution of soft colloidal crystalline latex films under stretching as observed via synchrotron X-ray scattering

A polymer dispersion consisting of soft latex spheres with a diameter of 135 nm was used to produce a crystalline film with face-centered cubic (fcc) packing of the spheres. Different from conventional small-molecule and hard-sphere colloidal crystals, the crystalline latex film in the present case is soft (i.e., easily deformable). The structural evolution of this soft colloidal latex film under stretching was investigated by in-situ synchrotron ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering. The film exhibits polycrystalline scattering behavior corresponding to fcc structure. Stretching results not only in a large deformation of the crystallographic structure but also in considerable nonaffine deformation at high draw ratios. The unexpected nonaffine deformation was attributed to slippage between rows of particles and crystalline grain boundaries. The crystalline structure remains intact even at high deformation, suggesting that directional anisotropic colloidal crystallites can be easily produced.     

Effect of component interaction on the melting and crystallization characteristics of pe/pib blends

Linear low density polyethylene/polyisobutylene blends were prepared in the entire composition range. Non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization of the samples was carried out and melting behavior was studied as a function of composition and crystallization temperature. The equilibrium melting temperature of the neat PE and the blends was determined by the Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation technique. Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were calculated by the approach of Nishi and Wang. The decrease of melting temperature with increasing PIB content indicated the interaction of the polymers in the melt. Both irregular chain structure of the crystalline polymer and interaction lead to a decrease of the equilibrium melting temperature and maximum lamellar thickness. The results prove that even relatively weak dispersive forces can lead to the miscibility of two polymers.     

Solution behavior of 4-arm poly(tert-butyl acrylate) star polymers

This paper reports the synthesis of 4-arm poly(tert-butyl acrylate) stars of different molar masses up to 10⁶ g/mol by the “core-first” method using ATRP. All obtained stars have a monomodal and narrow molar-mass distribution (<1.2).The dilute-solution properties of these star polymers were investigated in good solvents (tetrahydrofuran and acetone). Gel permeation chromatography and dynamic and static light scattering were used to measure the hydrodynamic properties including intrinsic viscosity [η], radius of gyration R_g, hydrodynamic radius R_h, second virial coefficient A₂ and diffusion coefficient D₀. These data were used to establish relationships between these parameters and the molar mass of 4-arm poly(tert-butyl acrylate) stars. The branching parameters g and g′ and the shape factor ρ were calculated for all obtained star polymers.     

Synthesis and Rheological Investigation ofModel Symmetric 3-Arm Star Polyethylene简

A variety of linear and 3-arm star polyethylene （PE） model polymers covering a wide range of molecular weight are synthesized by the living polymerization of butadiene and the subsequent hydrogenation. Several rheological parameters of these model linear and 3-arm star PE samples are analyzed for detecting the long chain branching （LCB） structure. It is found that the analyses based on zero shear viscosity, vGP plot and flow activation energy are very sensitive to the 3-arm star PEs. The information on the presence of LCB can be obtained with these methods even for low molecular weight samples, which can not be determined by GPC-MALLS. However the information about the LCB structure can not be obtained by the rheological methods alone.     

Morphology of a highly asymmetric double crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone-b-ethylene oxide) block copolymer

The morphology of a highly asymmetric double crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone-b-ethylene oxide) (PCL-b-PEO) block copolymer has been studied with in situ simultaneously small and wide-angle x-ray scattering as well as atomic force microscopy. The molecular masses Mn of the PCL and PEO blocks are 24,000 and 5800, respectively. X-ray scattering and rheological measurements indicate that no microphase separation occurs in the melt. Decreasing the temperature simultaneously triggers off a crystallization of PCL and microphase separation between the PCL and PEO blocks. Coupling and competition between microphase separation and crystallization results in a morphology of PEO spheres surrounded by PCL partially crystallized in lamella. Further decreasing temperature induces the crystallization of PEO spheres, which have a preferred orientation due to the confinements from hard PCL crystalline lamella and from soft amorphous PCL segments in different sides. The final morphology of this highly asymmetric block copolymer is similar to the granular morphology reported for syndiotactic polypropylene and other (co-) polymers. This implies a similar underlying mechanism of coupling and competition of various phase transitions, which is worth further exploration.     

介观相分离对烯烃嵌段共聚物结晶动力学的影响

研究了介观相分离对烯烃嵌段共聚物(OBC)结晶动力学的影响.结果表明,OBC在保持介观相分离形态的情况下,结晶以三维生长的方式进行.原因可能是由于OBC的“相区溶合”造成的.OBC嵌段长度和嵌段数目存在一定的统计分布,其中某些较短的结晶性链段“溶解”于非晶区,这部分结晶性链段在结晶时起到了“传递”结晶的作用.     

聚丙烯酸酯型高分子侧链液晶的合成及其对聚乙烯成核结晶行为的影响

基于聚烯烃用成核剂的结构特征设计合成了两种极性基团和非极性基团交替排列的乙烯基单体,并利用自由基引发聚合,制备出相应的侧链型液晶聚合物.采用元素分析、红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱对所合成单体和聚合物的结构进行了确认.并采用热失重(TGA)和差示扫描量热仪(DSC)研究了聚合物的热稳定性和相转变温度.结果表明,所合成聚合物的起始热分解温度均在337℃以上,具有优异的热稳定性;液晶相变温度区间可达186 K,具有较宽的液晶态温度范围.热台偏光显微镜(HS-POM)研究结果表明,聚合物均呈现出纹影织构,证明所合成的聚合物均为热致向列型侧链液晶高分子.采用DSC和HS-POM研究了所合成的侧链液晶聚合物对高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)异相成核结晶行为的影响.结果表明,侧链型液晶聚合物在提高HDPE结晶温度、结晶度以及降低HDPE晶粒的尺寸及分布方面均有优异的效果,是一类HDPE有效的成核剂.     

Colloidal star polymers: Models for studying dynamically arrested states in soft matter

The use of well‐defined macromolecular assemblies with tunable interactions represents the key for exploring the regime of soft‐material behavior between hard spheres and polymer coils. Colloidal stars are ideal choices for such a formidable task and especially for shedding light on the formation and properties of dynamically arrested states. In this brief review, we demonstrate the rich variety of kinetic frustration phenomena that can be encountered with such ultrasoft particles. We address two specific examples in particular: the reversible vitrification upon heating and the melting of star gels upon the addition of linear polymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2931–2941, 2004     

The interaction parameter of crosslinked networks and star polymers

Recent results on blends containing star polymers have revived the interest on the interaction parameters of structures that contain junctions between chains, a matter which can be connected with the earlier studies on the influence of crosslinks on the interaction parameters of polymer networks and gels. Here, we review results on crosslinked networks and star polymer solutions together with the more recent work on star polymer blends. The review covers swelling and elastic deformation of gels, differential vapour sorption between crosslinked and uncrosslinked polymers, osmotic equilibrium of gels and of star polymer solutions, and neutron scattering of polymer blends containing star polymers. In the systems reviewed, the interaction parameters of stars and networks differ from those of linear chains, and the difference is attributed mainly to entropic effects.     

Synthesis of functionalized asymmetric star polymers containing conductive polyacetylene segments by living anionic polymerization

Novel 3-arm ABC, 4-arm ABCD, and 5-arm ABCDE asymmetric star polymers comprising the conductive polyacetylene precursor, poly(4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide) (PMePVSO), and other segments, such as polystyrene, poly(alpha-methylstyrene), poly(4-methoxystyrene), poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene), and poly(4-methylstyrene), were synthesized by the methodology based on living anionic polymerization using DPE-functionalized polymers. This methodology involves the addition reaction of a DPE-functionalized polymer to a living anionic polymer followed by the living anionic polymerization of MePVSO initiated from the in situ formed polymer anion with two, three, or four polymer segments. The resultant asymmetric star polymers possessed predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.03), and desired compositions as confirmed by SEC, 1H NMR, SLS, and elemental analysis. After thermal treatment, the PMePVSO segment in the star polymer could be completely converted into a conductive polyacetylene segment, evident from TGA and elemental analysis. These asymmetric star polymers are expected to exhibit interesting solution properties and unique microphase-separated morphological suprastructures with potential applications in nanoscopic conductive materials. Moreover, this methodology can afford the target asymmetric star polymers with arm segments varying in a wide range and enables the synthesis of more complex macromolecular architectures.     

Bcc and Fcc transition metals and alloys: a central role for the Jahn-Teller effect in explaining their ideal and distorted structures

Transition metal elements, alloys, and intermetallic compounds often adopt the body centered cubic (bcc) and face centered cubic (fcc) structures. By comparing quantitative density functional with qualitative tight-binding calculations, we analyze the electronic factors which make the bcc and fcc structures energetically favorable. To do so, we develop a tight-binding function, DeltaE(star), a function that measures the energetic effects of transferring electrons within wave vector stars. This function allows one to connect distortions in solids to the Jahn-Teller effect in molecules and to provide an orbital perspective on structure determining deformations in alloys. We illustrate its use by considering first a two-dimensional square net. We then turn to three-dimensional fcc and bcc structures, and distortions of these. Using DeltaE(star), we rationalize the differences in energy of these structures. We are able to deduce which orbitals are responsible for instabilities in seven to nine valence electron per atom (e(-)/a) bcc systems and five and six e(-)/a fcc structures. Finally we demonstrate that these results account for the bcc and fcc type structures found in both the elements and binary intermetallic compounds of group 4 through 9 transition metal atoms. The outline of a theory of metal structure deformations based on loss of point group operation rather than translational symmetry is presented.     

Crystallization and morphology of star-shaped polyethylenoxyde-b-polycaprolactone under high pressure carbon dioxide

Atomic force microscopy（AFM）,wide-angle X-ray diffraction（WAXD） and differential scanning calorimetry are used to analyze the crystallization morphology and melting behavior of 4-arm PEO-b-PCL under high-pressure CO₂.It is demonstrated that CO₂ has certain effect on the melting and crystallization behavior of the samples.After crystallization under CO₂ at 4 MPa,spherulites with concentric ring-banded structure are formed which are composed of crystals with periodic thickness variation,and the band distance decreases with increasing treatment pressure.Due to the plasticization effect of CO₂,depression of the melting temperature is observed with sorption of CO₂ in polymers.     

Structural effect of linear and star‐shaped poly(L‐lactic acid) on physical properties

The linear and star‐shaped poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) with similar molecular weight were prepared and their physical properties such as thermal properties, rheological properties, and crystallization behavior in quiescent and dynamic states were compared. The differential scanning calorimetry showed that the linear PLLA gave higher glass transition, melting, and crystallization temperatures than the star‐shaped one. In dynamic crystallization, the linear PLLA gave longer induction time and longer overall crystallization time than the star‐shaped one, although the former gave higher rate of crystallization in quiescent crystallization. However, wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometer(WAXD) analysis revealed that the linear and star‐shaped PLLA developed the same crystal structure and application of shear had little effect on crystal structure. As predicted, the linear PLLA gave higher crystallinity than the star‐shaped PLLA. In the dilute solutions, the linear PLLA exhibited higher intrinsic viscosity than the star‐shaped one. In the concentrated solutions, the star‐shaped PLLA gave higher values of dynamic viscosity, storage, and loss moduli than the linear one. Further, the former exhibited more noticeable shear thinning behavior and greater dependence of rheological properties on temperature than the latter. For both PLLA melts, the modified Cole–Cole plot gave slope less than 2. Of two PLLA polymers the star‐shaped PLLA gave smaller slope than the linear one. In addition, the former showed greater change of the slope with temperature than the latter. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 939–946, 2004     

Synthesis of heteroarm star polymers comprising poly(4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide) segment by living anionic polymerization

<正>A series of 3-arm ABC and AA'B and 4-arm ABCD,AA'BC and AA′A″B heteroarm star polymers comprising one poly(4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide) segment and other segments such as polystyrene,poly(α-methylstyrene), poly(4-methoxystyrene) and poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene) were synthesized by living anionic polymerization based on diphenylethylene(DPE) chemistry.The DPE-functionalized polymers were synthesized by iterative methodology,and the objective star polymers were prepared by two distinct methodologies based on anionic polymerization using DPE-functionalized polymers.The first methodology involves an addition reaction of living anionic polymer with excess DPE-functionalized polymer and a subsequent living anionic polymerization of 4-methylphenyl vinyl sulfoxide(MePVSO) initiated from the in situ formed polymer anion with two or three polymer segments.The second methodology comprises an addition reaction of DPE-functionalized polymer with excess sec-BuLi and a following anionic polymerization of MePVSO initiated from the in situ formed polymer anion and 3-methyl-1,1-diphenylpentyl anion as well.Both approaches could afford the target heteroarm star polymers with predetermined molecular weight,narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n1.03) and desired composition,evidenced by SEC,~1H-NMR and SLS analyses.These polymers can be used as model polymers to investigate structure-property relationships in heteroarm star polymers.     

聚合物晶态结构研究的新进展

本文综述了近年来国际上对晶态聚合物结构研究的几个活跃问题,内容包括高分子折叠链,结晶-非晶中间层,晶态聚合物的形变机理,聚合物附生结晶。并简要介绍了各种实验技术及方法在这方面的研究结果。     

Molecular simulation of cross-nucleation between polymorphs

Recent experiments report that an early nucleating crystalline structure (or polymorph) may nucleate another polymorph. We use molecular dynamics simulations to model this phenomenon known as cross-nucleation. We study the onset of crystallization in a liquid of Lennard-Jones particles cooled at a temperature 22% below the melting temperature. We show that growth proceeds through the successive cross-nucleation of the metastable hexagonal close-packed (hcp) polymorph on the stable face-centered cubic (fcc) polymorph and of the stable fcc polymorph on the metastable hcp polymorph. This finding is in agreement with the experimental results which demonstrated that the cross-nucleation of a stable polymorph on a metastable polymorph is just as likely as the cross-nucleation of a metastable polymorph on a stable polymorph. We then extend our findings established in the case of the homogeneous crystal nucleation to a situation of practical interest, i.e., when a seed of the stable polymorph is used. By studying the crystal growth from the (111) plane of a perfect fcc crystal, we show that, again, growth proceeds through the cross-nucleation of the hcp and fcc structures.     

Crystalline Morphology and Crystallization Kinetics of Melt-miscible Crystalline/Crystalline Polymer Blends of Poly（vinylidene fluoride） and Poly（butylene succinate-co-24mol% hexamethylene succinate）

Poly（vinylidene fluoride） （PVDF） and poly（butylene succinate-co-24 mol% hexamethylene succinate） （PBHS）, both crystalline polymers, formed melt-miscible crystalline/crystalline polymer blends. Both the characteristic diffraction peaks and nonisothermal melt crystallization peak of each component were found in the blends, indicating that PVDF and PBHS crystallized separately. The crystalline morphology and crystallization kinetics of each component were studied under different crystallization conditions for the PVDF/PBHS blends. Both the spherulitic growth rates and overall isothermal melt crystallization rates of blended PVDF decreased with increasing the PBHS composition and were lower than those of neat PVDF, when the crystallization temperature was above the melting point of PBHS component. The crystallization mechanism of neat and blended PVDF remained unchanged, despite changes of blend composition and crystallization temperature. The crystallization kinetics and crystalline morphology of neat and blended PBHS were further studied, when the crystallization temperature was below the melting point of PBHS component. Relative to neat PBHS, the overall crystallization rates of the blended PBHS first increased and then decreased with increasing the PVDF content in the blends, indicating that the preexisting PVDF crystals may show different effects on the nucleation and crystal growth of PBHS component in the crystalline/crystalline polymer blends.     

微凝胶胶体晶体研究进展

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)微凝胶粒子是一种软的胶体粒子.和单分散的SiO_2、PS、PMMA等硬的胶体粒子一样,单分散的PNIPAM微凝胶粒子也可以自组装成为高度有序的胶体晶体.微凝胶粒子软物质的特性及其对外部刺激的响应性赋予其不同于硬球的组装行为.微凝胶胶体晶体的高度有序结构及其刺激响应性使其在诸多领域有重要用途.本文分别介绍了三维及二维微凝胶胶体晶体组装的研究进展,并对已开发的基于微凝胶胶体晶体的应用进行了总结.