Investigations of the reactivity of “kick‐started” oxetanes in photoinitiated cationic polymerization

The ability of certain alkyl substituted epoxides to accelerate the photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of oxetane monomers by substantially reducing or eliminating the induction period altogether has been termed by us “kick‐starting.” In this communication, the rates of photopolymerization of several model “kick‐started” oxetane systems were quantified and compared with the analogous biscycloaliphatic epoxide monomer, 3,4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3′,4′‐epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate (ERL). It has been found that the “kick‐started” systems undergo photopolymerization at rates that are at least two‐fold faster than ERL. These results suggest that “kick‐started” oxetanes could replace ERL in many applications in which high speed ultraviolet induced crosslinking photopolymerizations are carried out. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 586–593     

Structural and phenomenological study on the cationic curing of mixtures of epoxy resin and 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐2‐one

Ytterbium and lanthanum triflates were used as initiators to cure a mixture of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐2‐one (DMTMC). The evolution of the curing was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared in the attenuated‐total‐reflection mode (FTIR/ATR). FTIR/ATR was used to monitor the competitive reactive processes and to quantify the evolution of the groups involved in the curing process. We observed the formation of a five‐membered cyclic carbonate, which remains unreacted at the chain ends because of an equilibrium process between the spiroortho carbonates that had formed as intermediate species and also the loss of CO₂, which was quantified by thermogravimetry. The kinetics were studied by DSC and analyzed by isoconversional procedures. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) experiments were used to evaluate the properties of the thermosets obtained. The phenomenological changes that take place during curing were studied and represented in a time‐temperature‐transformation (TTT) diagram. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4546–4558, 2006     

“Kick‐Starting” oxetane photopolymerizations

In the presence of small amounts of 2,2‐dialkyl‐, 2,2,3‐trialkyl‐, or 2,2,3,3‐tetraalkyl substituted epoxides such as isobutylene oxide, 1,2‐limonene oxide, and 2,2,3,3,‐tetramethyl oxirane, the photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of 3,3‐disubstituted oxetanes are dramatically accelerated. The acceleration affect was attributed to an increase in the rate of the initiation step of these latter monomers. Both mono‐ and disubstituted oxetane monomers are similarly accelerated by the above‐mentioned epoxides to give crosslinked network polymers. The potential for the use of such “kick‐started” systems in applications such as coatings, adhesives, printing inks, dental composites and in three‐dimensional imaging is discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2934–2946     

Renewable benzoxazine monomers from “lignin‐like” naturally occurring phenolic derivatives

The benzoxazines of three naturally occurring phenylpropanoid phenols: ferulic, coumaric, and phloretic acids, and their esters are described. Benzoxazines with conjugated unsaturated chains exhibit unusual poor thermal stability and degrade partially at the polymerization temperature making necessary the use of a catalyst (BF₃.Et₂O) to low the polymerization temperature and prevent degradation. Polybenzoxazines are prepared thermally and characterized by DSC and TGA techniques. The resulting materials have superior Tgs when compared with those prepared from an unsubstituted monofuctional benzoxazine due to the additional crosslinking through the ester and carboxylic moieties. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4894–4903     

New poly(ether‐ester) thermosets obtained by cationic curing of DGEBA and 7,7‐dimethyl‐6,8‐dioxaspiro[3.5] nonane‐5,9‐dione with several Lewis acids as initiators

Scandium, ytterbium, and lanthanum triflates and boron trifluoride monoethylamine were used as cationic initiators to cure a mixture 2:1 (mol/mol) of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 7,7‐dimethyl‐6,8‐dioxaspiro[3.5]nonane‐5,9‐dione (MCB). The evolution of the epoxy and lactone during curing and the linear ester groups in the final materials were evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared in the attenuated‐total‐reflection mode. The kinetic parameters of the curing process were calculated from DSC analysis applying isoconversional procedures. The shrinkage on curing and the thermal degradability of the materials on varying the initiator used were evaluated. The expandable character of MCB was confirmed. The materials obtained were more degradable than conventional epoxy resins due to the tertiary ester groups incorporated in the network by copolymerization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1229–1239, 2008     

Viscoelastic properties of blends of “entangled” polymers

The effect of molecular weight distribution on the viscoelastic properties of “entangled” polymers has been examined with blends of narrowly distributed polystyrene and broadly distributed polydimethylsiloxane. It is shown that blending laws established for nonentangled polymers do not apply to high molecular weight systems. The steady-state shear compliance of a blend is examined as a function of its molecular weight and the molecular weight of its components, and an approximation is given for the longtime viscoelastic response of entangled blends.     

Azide/Alkyne‐“Click”‐Reactions of Encapsulated Reagents: Toward Self‐Healing Materials

The successful encapsulation of reactive components for the azide/alkyne‐“click”‐reaction is reported featuring for the first time the use of a liquid polymer as reactive component. A liquid, azido‐telechelic three‐arm star poly(isobutylene) ( = 3900 g · mol⁻¹) as well as trivalent alkynes were encapsulated into micron‐sized capsules and embedded into a polymer‐matrix (high‐molecular weight poly(isobutylene), = 250 000 g · mol⁻¹). Using (Cu^IBr(PPh₃)₃) as catalyst for the azide/alkyne‐“click”‐reaction, crosslinking of the two components at 40 °C is observed within 380 min and as fast as 10 min at 80 °C. Significant recovery of the tensile storage modulus was observed in a material containing 10 wt.‐% and accordingly 5 wt.‐% capsules including the reactive components within 5 d at room temperature, thus proving a new concept for materials with self‐healing properties.

     

Fabrication and characterization of UV‐crosslinkable thermoresponsive composite fibers with magnetic properties

Crosslinking magnetic thermoresponsive composite (MTC) fiber mats were fabricated by electrospinning process and followed by UV curing. Thermoresponsive poly‐(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and magnetic Fe₃O₄ were firstly synthesized by redox‐initiated polymerization and co‐precipitation, respectively. A crosslinking agent (dipentaerythritol hexylacrylate) and photoinitiator for providing crosslinking ability were then mixed with PNIPAAm and Fe₃O₄ in ethanol as the electrospinning solution. After electrospinning and subsequent UV irradiation, the MTC fiber mats were thus obtained. Thermoresponsivity of the MTC fibers was measured by both DSC and swelling test. MTC fiber mat exhibited better water‐absorption capability and thermoresponsivity than corresponding film. Morphological analysis was observed by SEM and TEM, and the magnetic property was measured by SQUID. The thermoresponsive magnetic behavior of MTC fiber mat in water was observed under various temperatures and magnetic fields. Vitamin B₁₂ used as a model drug was loaded in the MTC fiber mats and the drug‐release behavior was then studied. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2152–2162     

Reduction of the shrinkage of thermosets by the cationic curing of mixtures of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 6,6‐dimethyl‐(4,8‐dioxaspiro[2.5]octane‐5,7‐dione)

Ytterbium and lanthanum triflates were used as initiators to cure mixtures of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 6,6‐dimethyl‐(4,8‐dioxaspiro[2.5]octane‐5,7‐dione) in several proportions. The evolution of the epoxy and 6,6‐dimethyl‐(4,8‐dioxaspiro[2.5]octane‐5,7‐dione) bands during curing and the linear ester groups in the final materials were evaluated with Fourier transform infrared in the attenuated‐total‐reflection mode. The use of a conventional cationic initiator, boron trifluoride monoethylamine, was also studied to test the advantages of lanthanide triflates. The shrinkage after curing and the thermal degradability of the materials with variations in the comonomer ratio and the initiator were evaluated and related to the chemical structure of the final network. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6869–6879, 2006     

Synthesis and study of novel polyol‐bound photosensitizers for cationic UV‐curable systems

Novel cationic intramolecular hydrogen abstraction photosensitizers (IHA‐PSs) based on a proposed intramolecular hydrogen abstraction photosensitization (IHAP) mechanism were synthesized and found to have a pronounced photosensitization effect in cycloaliphatic epoxide based cationic UV‐curable systems using sulfonium salt photoinitiators. A series of polyol‐based photosensitizers were synthesized with naphthalene attached. One photosensitizer, P‐Na, was found to have a more pronounced photosensitization effect in three different formulation systems, as revealed by real‐time Fourier transform infrared and differential photocalorimetry experiments. Such a phenomenon can be explained by a proposed facile IHAP mechanism, which is possible only with the unique molecular structure of P‐Na. The effect of P‐Na was further confirmed by comparison with two non‐polyol‐type photosensitizers. A designed IHA‐PS molecule was synthesized with the proposed principles ofthe IHAP mechanism, and it achieved a photosensitization effect similar to that of P‐Na with a much lower molecular weight and fewer hydroxyl groups per molecule. This further validated the proposed IHAP mechanism. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4435–4449, 2006     

Influence of lanthanide triflate compounds on formation of networks from DGEBA and γ‐butyrolactone

Diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was cured with γ‐butyrolactone (γ‐BL) using different lanthanide triflates as catalysts. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the different evolutions of the four elemental processes that took place during curing with lanthanum and ytterbium triflates. The greatest differences among the lanthanides were in oxophilicity and Lewis acidity. Differences in the coordination ability of the metal to the monomers were shown and according to the Pearson theory, were related to their different characteristics. Differences in the reactivity of the systems were related to the differences in the Lewis acidity of the initiators. The evolution of the contraction during curing using different lanthanide triflates was monitored by thermomechanical analysis. All systems showed that contraction took place in two stages and that there was an intermediate region, associated with gelation, with no contraction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3782–3791, 2004     

D‐π‐a‐type oxime sulfonate photoacid generators for cationic polymerization under UV–visible LED irradiation

Four D‐π‐A‐type nonionic oxime sulfonate photoacid generators (PAGs) have been designed and synthesized for use in light‐emitting diode (LED) excitable cationic photoinitiators, in which N,N‐diphenylamino was used as electron donor with trifluoroacetophenone‐based oxime sulfonates (trifluoromethanoesulfonate and p‐toluenesulfonate) as electron acceptor and substituted fluorene and biphenyl groups as the π‐conjugated systems. PAG‐Ben‐Tol (with biphenyl and p‐toluenesulfonate) and PAG‐Flu‐Tol (with fluorene and p‐toluenesulfonate) showed high quantum yields of photoacid generation (0.33–0.50) and very good thermal stability (over 250 °C). The absorbance spectra of these PAGs were consistent with the emission spectra of commercially gained UV–visible LED light sources. The potential of these PAGs for cationic photoinitiators was tested in two cationic monomer systems. These PAGs needed low light intensity and low concentration for photopolymerization with high conversions of monomer, for example, over 80%, gained at 3.0 mW cm⁻² from 365 to 470 nm LEDs. The photochemical mechanisms of these PAGs are comprehensively investigated and discussed in detail. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1146–1154     

Novel photocurable monomers: The synthesis of difunctional vinyl ethers with a phosphonate group and difunctional 1‐propenyl ethers with a phosphonate group and their photoinitiated cationic polymerization

Phosphorus‐containing vinyl ether monomers and 1‐propenyl ether monomers were prepared by the regioselective addition reaction of glycidyl vinyl ether (GVE) or 1‐propenyl glycidyl ether with diaryl phosphonates with quaternary onium salts as catalysts. The reaction of GVE with bis(4‐chlorophenyl) phenylphosphonate gave bis[1‐(4‐chlorophenoxy methyl)‐2‐(vinyloxy)ethyl]phenylphosphonate in a 68% yield. The structures of the resulting phosphorus‐containing vinyl ether monomers and 1‐propenyl ether monomers were confirmed by IR and ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analysis. Photoinitiated cationic polymerizations of the resulting phosphorus‐containing vinyl ether monomers and 1‐propenyl ether monomers were investigated with photoacid generators. The polymerization of vinyl ether groups and 1‐propenyl ether groups of the obtained monomers proceeded very smoothly with a sulfonium‐type cationic photoinitiator, bis[4‐(diphenylsulfonio)phenyl]sulfide‐bis(hexafluorophosphate), upon UV irradiation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3105–3115, 2005     

“Dumbbell”‐ and “Clackers”‐Shaped Dimeric Derivatives of Monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate

We designed, synthesized, and characterized two types of dimeric forms of monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate, namely, a “dumbbell”‐shaped dianion having a C?C bond and a “clackers”‐shaped monoanion having an iodonium linker. The unique architectures of these anionic molecules were established by X‐ray analysis. Spectroscopic analysis, DFT calculations, and reactivity experiments revealed high anionic and chemical stability of both anions, which are crucial properties for weakly coordinating anions.     

Copolymerization of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A with γ‐butyrolactone catalyzed by ytterbium triflate: Shrinkage during curing

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was cured with γ‐butyrolactone (γ‐BL) with ytterbium triflate as a catalyst. The curing was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermomechanical analysis. FTIR studies confirmed that four elemental reactions took place during the curing process: the formation of a spiroorthoester (SOE) by the reaction of DGEBA with γ‐BL, the homopolymerization of SOE, the homopolymerization of DGEBA, and the copolymerization of SOE and DGEBA. Moderate proportions of γ‐BL produced materials with higher glass‐transition temperatures, and the curing occurred with lower shrinkage after gelation because of the polymerization of SOE, with near‐zero shrinkage during the final stages of the curing. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2794–2808, 2003     

Synthesis of Large‐Area Three‐Dimensional Polyaniline Nanowire Networks Using a “Soft Template”

Summary: Three‐dimensional polyaniline (PANI) nanowire networks were synthesized in high yield using a “soft template” self‐assembled with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and oxalic acid. The PANI nanowire networks had diameters from 35–100 nm depending on synthesis conditions and/or procedures. The networks and the “cross‐linking points” were clearly observed by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A possible mechanism for the formation of three‐dimensional PANI nanowire networks is discussed.

FESEM image of PANI with three‐dimensional nanowire networks.