Summary: We show that small quantities of dibenzylidene sorbitol dispersed in poly(ε‐caprolactone) provide a self‐assembling nanoscale framework to yield high levels of crystal orientation. During modest shear flow of the melt, the additive forms highly extended nanoparticles which adopt a preferred alignment with respect to the flow field and, on cooling, polymer crystallisation is directed by these particles. We speculate that atomistic level epitaxy is unlikely to be the only directing influence.
SAXS pattern of PCL/DBS in the melt at 80 °C and subjected to a shear flow of 10 s−1 for 1 000 shear units. The flow direction is vertical. 相似文献
Crystallization of poly(2‐isobutyl‐2‐oxazoline) and poly(2‐nonyl‐2‐oxazoline) is found to occur by room temperature annealing below the upper critical solution temperature in ethanol–water solvent mixtures. Both polymers produce similar self‐assembled structures (see image), resembling the previously reported crystalline hierarchical structures obtained from hot aqueous poly(2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazoline) solutions above the lower critical solution temperature. These observations suggest that the crystallization induced self‐assembly process is a rather general phenomenon occurring for semicrystalline polymers in liquid–liquid two phase systems.
Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) was synthesized by the RAFT method in the presence of 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) chain transfer agent using different [GMA]/[CPDB] molar ratios. The living radical polymerization resulted in controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersity indices (PDI) of ≈1.1. The polymerization of pentafluorostyrene (PFS) with PGMA as the macro‐RAFT agent yielded narrow PDIs of ≤1.2 at 60 °C and ≤1.5 at 80 °C. The epoxy groups of the PGMA block were hydrolyzed to obtain novel amphiphilic copolymer, poly(glyceryl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(pentafluorostyrene) [PGMA(OH)‐b‐PPFS]. The PGMA epoxy group hydrolysis was confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. DSC investigation revealed that the PGMA‐b‐PPFS polymer was amorphous while the PGMA(OH)‐b‐PPFS displayed a high degree of crystallinity.
Microgel rings have been fabricated on a glass surface by a micro‐transfer technique. The polymer melt is transferred to the substrate surface in a confined space with a picoliter volume along the boundary of the polymeric stamp. The surface of the polymer features is smoothened by surface tension in an annealing cycle, which results in isotropic rings. After cross‐linking, the microgels respond swiftly when immersed in water. Asymmetric rings are also obtained by tilting the substrate. The microgels can detach from the substrate to form a suspension of the rings. Conjugated rings have also been fabricated by supplementing functional molecules into the poly(ethylene glycol) network.
Rapidly shrinking poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels are prepared by crosslinking with self‐assembled nanogels that consist of cholesteryl‐ and methacryloyl‐substituted pullulan (CHPMA). The CHPMA nanogel (Rh = 26.4 nm) was used as a crosslinker for a hydrophilic nanodomain. Transmission electron microscopy images of the nanogel‐crosslinked PNIPAM hydrogel reveal a well‐defined nanoporous structure. The nanogel‐crosslinked PNIPAM hydrogel shows rapid shrinking based on its structure. The shrinking half‐time was ≈2 min, which is about 3 400 times faster than that of a PNIPAM hydrogel crosslinked by methylene(bisacrylamide).
Macroporous temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels were prepared by a novel phase‐separation technique to improve the response properties. In comparison with a conventional PNIPA hydrogel prepared in water, these macroporous hydrogels, prepared by polymerization in aqueous sucrose solutions, have higher swelling ratios at temperatures below the lower critical solution temperature and exhibit much faster response rates to temperature changes.
Scanning electron microscopy image of the surface of a PNIPA hydrogel, prepared in 1.50 M aqueous sucrose solution. 相似文献
A new synthesis of amphiphilic biodegradable copolymers consisting of hydrophobic poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) backbone and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) units as side chains is described. Poly[(3‐hydroxyoctanoate)‐co‐(3‐hydroxyundecenoate)] (PHOU) was first methanolyzed and its unsaturated side chains were quantitatively oxidized to carboxylic acid. Esterification with propargyl alcohol led to an alkyne‐containing “clickable” PHA in 71% conversion. Its reactivity was successfully demonstrated by grafting azide‐terminated PEG chains of 550 and 5 000 g · mol−1, respectively. All products were fully characterized using GPC, 1H, and COSY NMR.
The use of poly(lactide)‐based materials is, in part, limited by their physical and mechanical properties. This article reviews the methods that have been employed to enable enhancement of the materials properties through synthetic manipulation of the polymer structure including block copolymer synthesis and modification of the lactide monomer structure, focusing on the application of ring‐opening polymerization. In turn the effect of these structural modifications on the properties of the resultant materials are reported.
A novel approach is employed to produce core–corona nanospheres, which introduces a stereoregular hydrophilic part to an amphiphilic block copolymer. The resultant morphology is reported using isotactic‐poly(methacrylic acid)‐block‐poly(butyl acrylate). Infrared spectroscopy revealed a supramolecular interaction, and X ray diffraction revealed the crystallization of the outer isotactic‐poly(methacrylic acid) part. The nanostructure, which looks like a nanosized ‘grape’, was formed when nanospheres and nanofibers coexisted simultaneously and partially fused.
2,5‐Bis(chloromethyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole was synthesized and dehydrohalogenation of this model compound was investigated under various base conditions. The formation of an intermediate with quinodimethane‐type structure is suggested for reaction in EtONa/EtOH. Polymerization of this intermediate proceeds via an anionic mechanism to form poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2,5‐diyl‐1,2‐vinylene). Polymerization at a toluene/water interface results in shorter polymerization times, milder conditions, higher molecular weights, higher yields and fewer defects in the polymer as compared to the corresponding polycondensation route.
The phase diagram of a series of poly(1,2‐octylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (POO–PEO) diblock copolymers is determined by small‐angle X‐ray scattering. The Flory–Huggins interaction parameter was measured by small‐angle neutron scattering. The phase diagram is highly asymmetric due to large conformational asymmetry that results from the hexyl side chains in the POO block. Non‐lamellar phases (hexagonal and gyroid) are observed near fPEO = 0.5, and the lamellar phase is observed for fPEO ≥ 0.5.
This paper aims to report the fabrication of biodegradable thin films with micro‐domains of cylindrical nanochannels through the solvent‐induced microphase separation of poly(L ‐lactide)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(L ‐lactide) (PLA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PLA) triblock copolymers with different block ratios. In our experimental scope, an increase in each of the block lengths of the PLA and PEG blocks led to both a variation in the average number density (146 to 32 per 100 µm2) and the size of the micro‐domains (140 to 427 nm). Analyses by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy indicated that the hydrophilic PEG nanochannels were dispersed in the PLA matrix of the PLA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PLA films. We demonstrated that the micro‐domain morphology could be controlled not only by the block length of PEG, but also by the solvent evaporation conditions.
Summary: A comparison between the crystal structure of isotactic cis‐1,4‐poly(1,3‐pentadiene) previously predicted by molecular mechanics calculations and that successively determined by other authors by experimental data is reported. The agreement between the two structures is very good as far as the space group, the unit cell parameters and the conformation of the polymer chain are concerned. The mode of packing of the chains proposed in the experimental crystal structure is very similar to that found as relative minimum in the previous energy calculations. The coexistence, in different amounts, of these two modes of packing is suggested by the analysis of the simulated X‐ray spectra and by the results of new energy calculations.
A mode of packing of chains of isotactic cis‐1,4‐poly(1,3‐pentadiene). 相似文献
The free volume in thin films of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamid) end‐capped with n‐butyltriocarbonate (nbc‐PNIPAM) is probed with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The PALS measurements are performed as function of energy to obtain depth profiles of the free volume of nbc‐PNIPAM films. The range of nbc‐PNIPAM films with thicknesses from 40 to 200 nm is focused. With decreasing film thickness the free volume increases in good agreement with an increase in the maximum swelling capability of the nbc‐PNIPAM films. Thus in thin hydrogel films the sorption and swelling behavior is governed by free volume.
A PFS/PLA block copolymer was studied to probe the effect of strong surface interactions on pattern formation in PFS block copolymer thin films. Successful synthesis of PFS‐b‐PLA was demonstrated. Thin films of these polymers show phase separation to form PFS microdomains in a PLA matrix, and ultrathin films (<5 nm) formed SINPATs on silicon and mica. The SINPATs consisted of strongly surface‐adsorbed PLA blocks on top of which the PFS blocks dewetted into sphere‐like features. The lateral spacing between these features was regular, and was typically much larger than the length scale associated with regular block copolymer phase separation.
Summary: Tetraaniline‐block‐poly(L ‐lactide) diblock oligomers are synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization. The diblock oligomers cast from an L ‐lactide selective solvent (chloroform) show spherical aggregates for the leucoemeraldine state, and ring‐like structures that are composed of much smaller spherical aggregates for the emeraldine state. The formation mechanisms of the two different surface morphologies are discussed in detail.
Surface morphology changes induced by oxidation of the aniline segment of tetraaniline‐block‐poly(L ‐lactate) and drying effects. 相似文献
Summary: A chiral, regioregular poly[3‐(4‐alkoxyphenyl)thiophene] has been prepared and studied. Films prepared by fast evaporation of the solvent, consist of random‐coils, while films prepared by slow evaporation are composed of chirally aggregated, coplanar strands. Heat treatment transforms the random‐coils into aggregated films via an intermediate state, which was characterized as chiral, coplanar, unaggregated polymer strands.
Overview of the possible aggregation processes. 相似文献
A new 2‐oxazoline monomer with a protected thiol group, 2‐[2‐(4‐methoxybenzylsulfanyl)ethyl]‐2‐oxazoline, MOB‐SOx , was synthesized from commercially available compounds. MOB‐SOx and 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) were simultaneously polymerized yielding well defined copolymers with narrow molar mass distributions and target polymer chain length. The copolymerization was initiated by N‐methyl‐2‐methyl‐2‐oxazolinium triflate ( MeOxOTf ). After quantitative deprotection, poly(2‐oxazoline) with pendant thiol groups was obtained. The thiol groups were quantitatively added to the double bond of N‐phenyl‐acrylamide ( PhA ) and benzylmaleimide ( BzM ). Graft copolymers were obtained by reaction of those SH containing polymers with poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline)s bearing acrylamide ( PMeOx 10 A ) and maleimide ( PMeOx 10 M ) as terminal reactive groups.
Summary: New polymer gelators consisting of poly(propylene glycol) or poly(ethylene glycol) and L ‐lysine‐based low‐molecular‐weight gelators have been developed. These polymer gelators were synthesized according to a simple procedure with high reaction yield, and formed organogels in many organic solvents. The organogelation mechanism was proposed from the transmission electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy studies.
Structures of the polymer gelators synthesized here. 相似文献
Novel poly(arylene ether ketone) polymers with fluorophenyl pendants and phenoxide‐terminated wholly sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers are prepared via Ni(0)‐catalyzed and nucleophilic polymerization, respectively, and subsequently used as starting materials to obtain graft‐crosslinked membranes as polymer electrolyte membranes. The phenoxide‐terminated sulfonated moieties are introduced as hydrophilic parts as well as crosslinking units. The chemical structure and morphology of the obtained membranes are confirmed by 1H NMR and tapping‐mode AFM. The properties required for fuel cell applications, including water uptake and dimensional change, as well as proton conductivity, are investigated. AFM results show a clear nanoscale phase‐separation microstructure of the obtained membranes. The membranes show good dimensional stability and reasonably high proton conductivities under 30–90% relative humidity. The anisotropic proton conductivity ratios (σ⟂/||) of the membranes in water are in the range 0.65–0.92, and increase with an increase in hydrophilic block length. The results indicate that the graft‐crosslinked membranes are promising candidates for applications as polymer electrolyte membranes.
