Polymers on snow: Toward skiing faster

In this study, small-scale model skis running down a Nordic ski track were used to investigate the tribological properties of polymer ski soles of a wide range of chemical compositions and surface structures on snow at temperatures of −2 to −4 °C. It was found that ski soles consisting of smooth hydrophilic films of an arithmetical mean surface roughness of less than 0.2 μm experience a considerably higher friction with snow than flat hydrophobic films indicating that for such soles, capillary bridging of the lubricating water film between the snow and the ski base is the dominating friction mechanism. An optimum surface roughness of the ski soles was detected —in the range of 0.2–1 μm. At this surface roughness, sliders are always fast, essentially independent of chemical composition of the ski sole and surface topology. At higher surface roughness, it was found that friction between polymer and snow increases again, especially for structured surfaces that are not aligned in the gliding direction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1543–1551, 2010     

Acyclic Triene Metathesis Polymerization with Chain‐Stoppers: Molecular Weight Control in the Synthesis of Branched Polymers

The synthesis of branched macromolecules from renewable resources via olefin metathesis is described. We observed that it is possible to control the molecular weight during the acyclic triene metathesis (ATMET) of a triglyceride by the application of methyl acrylate as a chain stopper for this straightforward one step one pot polymerization. The resulting branched materials were characterized by GPC, NMR as well as ESI‐MS and the combination of these techniques provided valuable insights into the polymer structure as well as occurring side reactions during this olefin metathesis polymerization reaction.

     

Simulation of Chain Organization in Encapsulated Polymers

Summary : The dimensional and structural properties of polymers confined into a cavity are computed by the Monte Carlo method as a function of the chain stiffness. The reduction of the size ratio <R² > / < R> close to 2, distinctive of compact spheres, is observed at squeezing of chains into a capsule. The plots of the static structure factor S(q) computed for stiff chains show characteristic humps attributed to the toroidal structure. The orientation correlation function is found to be a very sensitive indicator of the globule – toroid transition in encapsulated chains. Evidence is presented that the toroidal morphology is formed in stiff polymers when the capsule radius approaches the chain persistence length (D ∼ P).     

Polymers with Cycloaliphatic Units in the Chain

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of some polycondensation polymers (poly- and copolyamides, polyesters) which contain cycloaliphatic units in their chains. Syntheses were carried out by a low-temperature polycondensation technique (interfacial and solution), and also by the Yamazaki method in NMP-pyridine solution using triphenylphosphite as the catalyst. The products obtained were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and x-ray diffraction. Thermoanalytical data have shown very good thermal properties for all products, but especially for the aromatic cycloaliphatic polyamides which were stable up to 400°C.     

主链含吡啶环的聚合物

介绍了国内外有关主链含吡啶环聚酰胺、聚酰亚胺、聚苯并咪唑、聚吡咙、聚酯以及聚氨酯等芳杂环或杂链高分子的研究，特别着重于含吡啶环的二元酚、二元酸、二元胺、四元胺类单体以及主链含吡啶环聚合物的分子设计、合成反应、结构与性能表征等。     

Ordered Organization of Long Chain Polymers: Advances and Challenges

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science -     

Toward Main Chain Metallo‐Terpyridyl Supramolecular Polymers: “The Metal Does the Trick”

Metallo‐supramolecular chemistry offers possibilities for the construction of stimuli‐responsive polymeric materials where the environment can have a large impact on the reversibility and strength of interactions between the individual components. The potential of manipulating the strength of the intermolecular non‐covalent bonds can result in impressive modifications of the metallo‐supramolecular structure and, subsequently, produces changes in the properties of the designed material. The present feature article provides an overview on recent developments in the field of metallo‐polymerization of chelating terpyridyl and analogues ligands. Synthetic strategies are described followed by a discussion regarding the characterization and the application of the reviewed metallo‐supramolecular structures, mainly based on terpyridines.

     

Living Cationic Polymerization Toward Macromolecular Design: Synthesis of End-Functional Multiarmed Polymers

A series of multiarmed polymers with terminal functional groups have been synthesized on the basis of living cationic polymerizations of vinyl ethers and p-alkoxystyrenes. The syntheses were performed by two methods, one via living polymerizations with new multifunctional initiating systems followed by endcapping of the resultant multifunctional living polymers, and the other using designed silyl enol ethers as multifunctional terminators (coupling agents) that combine two to four end- functionalized linear living polymers. These two methodologies thus led to telechelic and 3- or 4-arm star polymers and macromonomers with hydroxyl, acetate, methacrylate, and styryl end functionalities.     

Hierarchy of Asymmetry in Chiral Supramolecular Polymers: Toward Functional,Helical Supramolecular Structures

The formation of helical structures through the supramolecular polymerization of a variety of self-assembling units is reviewed. These scaffolds are usually obtained by efficient transfer or amplification of chirality phenomena, in which the starting self-assembling molecules possess different elements of asymmetry, such as point or axial chirality. Relevant examples of helical supramolecular structures investigated under thermodynamic control are reviewed, and the helical outcome of remarkable examples of chiral entities obtained through kinetic control are also highlighted. Finally, selected examples of flexible macroscopic chirality and catalysis are described to illustrate the applicability of helical aggregates.     

Viscometric Estimation of Unperturbed Chain Dimensions of Polymers

A new expression is proposed to determine the unperturbed dimensions of coil-like polymers viscometrically by use of the Flory and Kratky expression. The unperturbed dimensions so estimated are compared with the results obtained by using different expressions available in the literature. The results are comparable even for stiff chain polymers. The data obtained under theta conditions also fit this expression very well. The effect of molecular weight, its distribution, and that of the solvent has also been studied. It is concluded that the unperturbed dimensions are independent of molecular weight and solvent but depend on the heterogeneity of the system.     

高聚物的物理老化和链的凝聚缠结

本文基于高聚物在物理老化和拉伸变形过程中构象弛豫行为的实验结果,进一步阐明了高分子链局部凝聚缠结的观点。     

共轭高分子链构象和溶液聚集结构研究进展

共轭高分子具有优异的光电性质和可加工性,被广泛用于有机光电器件的制备。共轭单元的存在使得此类高分子具有更刚性的主链结构。由于较强的分子间相互作用,共轭高分子容易在溶液中形成组装结构。共轭高分子的链构象、组装体结构、薄膜形貌和光电性能之间的联系研究成为了本领域的研究热点。然而,共轭高分子在可见光区存在较强的吸收效应,用传统的光散射技术对共轭高分子溶液的研究充满挑战。本文总结了近年来对于共轭高分子链刚性的研究,并从分子尺度上讨论了链结构与光学、电学性能间可能存在的关联;进一步阐述了共轭高分子溶液聚集的形成和演化,总结了溶液聚集与成膜过程中影响场效应迁移率的因素。试图在不同尺度上讨论共轭高分子的微观结构与宏观性能之间的关系。     

Single‐Chain Folding of Synthetic Polymers: A Critical Update

The current contribution serves as a critical update to a previous feature article from us (Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2012 , 33, 958−971), and highlights the latest advances in the preparation of single chain polymeric nanoparticles and initial—yet promising—attempts towards mimicking the structure of natural biomacromolecules via single‐chain folding of well‐defined linear polymers via so‐called single chain selective point folding and repeat unit folding. The contribution covers selected examples from the literature published up to ca. September 2015. Our aim is not to provide an exhaustive review but rather highlight a selection of new and exciting examples for single‐chain folding based on advanced macromolecular precision chemistry. Initially, the discussion focuses on the synthesis and characterization of single‐chain folded structures via selective point folding. The second part of the feature article addresses the folding of well‐defined single‐chain polymers by means of repeat unit folding. The current state of the art in the field of single‐chain folding indicates that repeat unit folding‐driven nanoparticle preparation is well‐advanced, while initial encouraging steps towards building selective point folding systems have been taken. In addition, a summary of the—in our view—open key questions is provided that may guide future biomimetic design efforts.

     

柔性链高聚物的单分子链玻璃体和单晶*

本文综述了高分子单链颗粒的制备方法, 包括极稀溶液喷雾法、表面扩张膜法、冷冻干燥法、微乳液聚合法等。介绍和讨论了单链和寡链聚苯乙烯玻璃体微球的性质以及聚环氧乙烷、全同立构聚苯乙烯、顺-1, 4-聚丁二稀、反-1, 4-聚异戊二烯单链单晶电子显微镜和选区电子衍射观察的最新结果。     

含偶氮基团的侧链液晶高分子的研究进展

综述了含偶氮基团的侧链液晶高分子的制备方法及其在可逆光信息存储与非线性光学领域的应用。     

Chain Dynamics of Polymers with Highly Flexible Side Groups

Summary: The relaxation behaviour of poly(5-acryloxy-5-methyl-2,3-dioxacyclohexne), poly(2,3-dichlorobenzyl methacrylate) and poly(3-chlorobenzyl methacrylate) was thoroughly studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy with the aim of investigating how the chemical structure affects the response of polymers to electric perturbation fields over a wide temperature window. Retardation spectra calculated from dielectric isotherms utilizing linear programming regularization parameter techniques were used to deconvolute strongly overlapped absorptions. Special attention is paid to both the splitting region and the fitting of the Williams ansatz to the experimental results. Attempts are made to explain the molecular origin of the relaxations observed in the retardation spectra of the polymers.     

Active Metal Template Synthesis and Characterization of a Nanohoop [c2]Daisy Chain Rotaxane

Molecules and materials that demonstrate large amplitude responses to minor changes in their local environment play an important role in the development of new forms of nanotechnology. Molecular daisy chains are a type of a mechanically interlocked molecule that are particularly sensitive to such changes in which, in the presence of certain stimuli, the molecular linkage enables muscle-like movement between a reduced-length contracted form and an increased-length expanded form. To date, all reported syntheses of molecular daisy chains are accomplished via passive-template methods, resulting in a majority of structures being switchable only through the addition of an exogenous stimuli such as metal ions or changes in pH. Here, we describe a new approach to these structural motifs that exploits a multi-component active-metal template synthesis to mechanically interlock two pi-rich nanohoop macrocycles into a molecular daisy chain that undergoes large conformational changes using thermal energy.     

Unusual temperature dependence of salt effects for "on water" Wittig reaction: hydrophobicity at the interface

An unusual variation with temperature of the salt effects in aqueous Wittig reaction is observed, suggesting that hydrophobic acceleration of reactions comprising "on water" reactants is fundamentally different from that for reactions with small non-polar solutes.