Nanoparticle-reinforced associative network hydrogels

ABA triblock copolymers in solvents selective for the midblock are known to form associative micellar gels. We have modified the structure and rheology of ABA triblock copolymer gels comprising poly(lactide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(lactide) (PLA-PEO-PLA) through addition of a clay nanoparticle, laponite. Addition of laponite particles resulted in additional junction points in the gel via adsorption of the PEO corona chains onto the clay surfaces. Rheological measurements showed that this strategy led to a significant enhancement of the gel elastic modulus with small amounts of nanoparticles. Further characterization using small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering confirmed that nanoparticles increase the intermicellar attraction and result in aggregation of PLA-PEO-PLA micelles.     

Effects of added surfactants on thermoreversible gelation of associating polymer solutions

The influence of added surfactants on physical properties of associating polymer solutions was examined by a new statistical‐mechanical theory of associating polymer solutions with multiple junctions and by computer simulation. The sol–gel transition line, the spinodal line, and the number of elastically effective chains in the mixed networks were calculated as functions of the concentration of added surfactants. All of them exhibited nonmonotonic behavior as a result of the following two competing mechanisms. One was the formation of new mixed micelles by binding surfactants onto the polymer associative groups. These micelles serve as crosslink junctions and promote gelation. The other was the replacement of polymer associative groups in the already formed network junctions by added surfactants. Such replacement lowers connectivity of junctions and destroys networks. The critical micelle concentration was also calculated. The results are compared with the reported experimental data on poly(ethylene oxide)‐based associating polymers and hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 733–751, 2004     

聚偏氟乙烯凝胶电解质组成间相互作用及其凝胶化研究

通过冷却聚偏氟乙烯 (PVDF) 丙烯碳酸酯 (PC)或PVDF PC LiClO4的溶液 ,制备了数个聚合物凝胶 .实验表明 ,聚合物凝胶的凝胶化时间 (tgel)与凝胶温度、聚合物浓度有关 ,且强烈地依赖于体系中盐的浓度 ,因为盐会缩短体系的tgel.凝胶体系中LiClO4的存在提高了其凝胶熔融温度 (Tgm) ,LiClO4的含量越大 ,相应凝胶的Tgm 越高 .用DSC和落球法所测凝胶的Tgm 有较大的差别 .这说明凝胶中可能存在热稳定性好和热稳定性相对较差的两种不同结构部分 .FT IR的研究结果表明 ,凝胶电解质的各组成 (LiClO4,PC和PVDF)间存在较强的相互作用 .对含盐和不含盐的两类凝胶体系的对比研究表明 ,两者不同的凝胶化现象和Tgm 归因于盐与聚合物或溶剂间的络合作用     

物理老化对聚乳酸玻璃化转变行为的影响

为考察不同链结构的聚乳酸在物理老化过程中聚集态结构的变化 ,分别在 0℃、2 5℃、37℃对聚 (D ,L 乳酸 ) (PDLLA)、非晶态的低左旋度聚 (L 丙交酯 ) (l PLLA)和左旋聚 (L 丙交酯 ) (PLLA)进行长达 6个月的物理老化 ,用温度调制式差示扫描量热法 (MDSC)研究了它们在物理老化过程中的玻璃化转变行为的变化 .结果表明 ,PDLLA和l PLLA对物理老化十分敏感 ,在一定老化温度下 ,它们的玻璃化转变温度 (Tg)随老化时间延长向高温移动 ,老化过程中产生的非可逆热焓 (ΔHnon)逐渐增加 ,这种趋势在老化 1w内变化明显 ,随后趋缓 ;而老化温度越高 ,Tg 升高和ΔHnon增加的速率都越快 .不同温度下老化 ,PDLLA和l PLLA的ΔHnon 与老化时间的对数都有较好的线性关系 ,ΔHnon的变化速率对温度的倒数作图 ,l PLLA的斜率绝对值比PDLLA的略大 ,说明有较高立构规整性的分子链形成物理缠结需要较高的活化能 .PLLA由于结晶度高而非晶相含量较低 ,未观察到明显的玻璃化转变及其在物理老化过程中的变化 .     

Characterization of thermoreversible polymer gels by the degree of crystallinity by surface area

A characterization for crystalline junction polymer gels has been extended by introducing a new parameter which implies a measure of the number of the polymer molecules passing through the crystallizing junctions. The parameter has been considered in a theoretical gel melting relation derived by Takahashi, Nakamura, and Kagawa and a crystallite size distribution has also been considered. The equation obtained was examined on ethylene–propylene copolymer gels by using the previous data of melting temperatures determined from DSC, crystallite sizes from x-ray and DSC measurements, and reaction probabilities from ¹³C-NMR measurements. Consequently, the parameter was found to be helpful as one additional measure. Also, it was confirmed that the average crystallite sizes estimated in several different ways were all in good agreement with the conventional data. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the enthalpy of melting of poly(l-lactide)

Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) is an extensively employed biodegradable semicrystalline polymer with usage from implantable medical devices and drug release matrices to environmentally friendly packaging materials. Since the morphology and crystallinity considerably determine the application field, PLLA samples with a large variation in crystallinity (going from below 20% to over 70%) were prepared by different procedures. Subsequent differences in morphology, crystallinity and thermal properties were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The value of the enthalpy of melting of a perfectly (100%) crystalline PLLA was determined (ΔH_f = 115.7?J/g).     

Poly(L‐lactide) crystallization induced by multiwall carbon nanotubes at very low loading

Poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA)/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites were prepared by the solvent‐ultrasonic‐casting method. Only very low concentrations of MWNTs (<0.08 wt %) were added in the composites. Isothermal and nonisothermal crystalline measurements were carried out on PLLA/MWNT composites to investigate the effect of MWNTs on PLLA crystalline behavior. DSC results showed that the incorporation of MWNTs significantly shortened the crystalline induction time and increased the final crystallinity of the composite, which indicated MWNTs have a strong nucleation effect on PLLA even at very low concentrations. The nonisothermal crystallization measurements showed that the MWNTs greatly speed up crystallization during cooling. From isothermal crystallization results, both PLLA and PLLA/MWNT composites samples closely followed a relationship based on Lauritzen‐Hoffman theory, with the regime II to III transition shifting to lower temperature with increasing MWNT concentration. A double melting peak appeared in both nonisothermal and isothermal measurements. The conditions under which it appeared were found to closely depend on the regime II‐III transition temperature obtained from Lauritzen‐Hoffman theory. From the magnitude and position of melting peaks, it is proposed that the double melting peak is caused by a disorder‐order crystal phase transition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2341–2352, 2009     

Formation of junction zones in thermoreversible methylcellulose gels

To analyze the structure of junction zones formed in methylcellulose (MC) gel, the modified Eldridge–Ferry method was applied to phase diagrams for aqueous solutions of different molecular weight MCs derived from micro‐DSC, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and visual inspection. The results suggested that junctions in MC gels took thin, rodlike fringed‐micellar crystallites. The junction multiplicity s decreased from 4.3 for low‐temperature melting gels to 2.0 for high‐temperature melting gels. With increasing molecular weight, the number ζ of statistical units in a junction along a single chain increased from 27 to 54. Because the number depends sensitively on the enthalpy of bonding per mole of the repeat units of MC, our estimate is considered to give an upper bound to the junction length. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 943–946, 2001     

Relaxation phenomena in poly(vinyl alcohol)/fumed silica affected by interfacial water

Interaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with fumed silica was investigated in the gas phase and aqueous media using adsorption, broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC), infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and one-pass temperature-programmed desorption (OPTPD) mass-spectrometry (MS) methods. PVA monolayer formation leads to certain textural changes in the system (after suspension and drying) because of strong hydrogen bonding of the polymer molecules to silica nanoparticles preventing strong interaction between silica particles themselves. This strong interaction promotes associative desorption of water molecules at lower temperatures than in the case of silica alone. Interaction of PVA with silica and residual water leads to depression of glass transition temperature (T(g)). There are three types of dipolar relaxations at temperatures lower and higher than the T(g) value. A small amount of adsorbed water leads to significant conductivity with elevating temperature.     

Study of the segmental dynamics in semi-crystalline poly(lactic acid) using mechanical spectroscopies

The glass transition of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) occurs not far above typical service temperatures (room or body temperatures) which has consequences on the material properties during its use, such as damping or the occurrence of structural relaxation. This work aims at characterising the glass transition dynamics of a semi-crystalline PLLA using both dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermally stimulated recovery (TSR). The main viscoelastic parameters have been characterised at 1 Hz using DMA and the master curve obtained after isothermal experiments at different temperatures provided a full picture of the solid-state rheological behaviour throughout a wide frequency range. The activation energies calculated from the shift factors agree with the TSR ones, exhibiting a maximum near the T(g). Above the T(g), the results can be described with the WLF model. In the glassy state, the activation energy decreases with decreasing temperatures being always higher than the prediction of the Adam and Gibbs theory, at least down to temperatures 30 degrees C below the T(g). This suggests the existence of non-arrested degrees of freedom in the glassy state, being consistent with the existence of a significant degree of cooperativity in the TSR results.     

EPR spin probe study of polymer associative systems

Molecular dynamics of polyacrylamide gels, polymeric micelles and hydrogel of polyacrylic acid and macrodiisocyanate was investigated by the ESR spectroscopy of spin probes. The local mobility in network junction of polyacrylamide gels is found to be essentially slower than that in the micelles created by the low molecular weight detergents and does not depend on the amount and length of hydrophobic groups (C9 or C12) in the polymer chain. The immersion of 10-30 mol.% of ionic monomers into the polymer chain (sodium acrylate) influences insufficiently on the local mobility of network junctions. In aqueous solutions, polystyrene-block-poly-(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) block copolymers create polymeric micelles. The local mobility in the polystyrene core of the micelles is about twice as much as that in the solid polystyrene. Partially swellable polymer network in aqueous solutions was synthesized from polyacrylic acid and macrodiisocyanate. The local mobility in hydrophobic regions of the gel is substantially lower than that in the hydrophilic regions. It was concluded that the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and the local dynamics of them dictate practical application of the polymer associative systems.     

The enthalpy of dilution as a direct characteristic of the energy spectrum of intermolecular interaction in polymer solutions and gels

Calorimetric data on the concentration dependences of the enthalpy of dilution of polymer solutions are analyzed. The profiles of concentration dependences strongly depend on the nature of intermolecular interactions in polymer solutions and gels and on the specific features of their structure, including phase and relaxation states. Therefore, the concentration dependence of the enthalpy of dilution is treated as a spectral curve containing information on the energy state of the polymer solution and gel as a function of concentration. Theoretical models are considered that allow estimation of quantitative contributions from paired intermolecular and electrostatic interactions in solutions and contributions provided by the metastable state of a glassy polymer and by the presence of crystalline ordering.     

2-溴丙酰基末端对于PLLA成核行为影响的研究

通过研究2-溴丙酰基单封端的PLLA结晶行为,来探讨聚合物结晶过程中的端基效应.首先通过开环聚合的方法(ROP),以苯甲醇为引发剂,合成了聚(L-乳酸)(PLLA).再将PLLA自由末端的羟基转化为2-溴丙酰基,得到2-溴丙酰基单封端的PLLA-Br.研究表明,2-溴丙酰基末端引入后,聚合物链段运动能力受到抑制,PLL...     

侧链型偶氮聚合物液晶在不同温度条件下的光致取向

在高于和低于玻璃化转变温度 (Tg)的温度范围内 ,研究了聚甲基丙烯酸 ( 6 [4 ( 4 氰基偶氮苯 )苯氧基 ]己酯 ) (Poly( 6 [4 ( 4 cyanophenylazo)phenoxy]hexylmethacrylate) (PM6ABCN) )聚合物膜的光致取向行为 .实验结果表明 ,在温度低于Tg 时 ,实验温度对取向速率没有影响 ;高于Tg 温度时 ,取向的速率随温度升高而变大 ,取向过程的表观活化能为 3 2 76kJ mol.通过对Tg 温度以下的光致取向进行分析 ,对光致取向过程提出了一个新的微相模型 ,微相内的温度能够达到Tg 以上 ,而实验中控制的样品宏观温度不变 ;高于Tg 温度时的光致取向过程受到宏观温度的控制 ,其表观活化能远远小于热致的各向同性相I(Isotropicphase,I)到向列相N(Nematicphase,N)相转变表观活化能 ( 3 40 2kJ mol) ,表明光致取向过程对温度的依赖性较小     

甲壳型液晶高分子的一种非寻常热致液晶行为

根据液晶相的稳定性 ,热致性液晶有双向性和单向性之分 .前者在升温和降温过程中都能形成液晶 ,而后者只能在降温过程中形成液晶 .原因是单向性液晶的液晶相不稳定 ,清亮点Ｔｉ 低于熔点Ｔｍ .升温时 ,样品熔融后直接进入各向同性的熔体 ;降温时 ,由于结晶过程的过冷 ,冷结晶温度Ｔｃ 低于Ｔｉ,样品先从各向同性态进入液晶态 ,然后才结晶 .一般情况下 ,如果液晶化合物自身是非晶的 ,所形成的有序结构不会由于冷却而遭到破坏 .最近 ,我们在研究分子量和液晶基元末端长度对甲壳型液晶高分子液晶性影响的时候发现 ,聚 [2 ,5 双 ( 4′ 正己氧基…     

Competition between entropy and electrostatic interactions in a binary colloidal mixture of spheres and platelets

We describe the phase behavior of an aqueous mixture of discotic nanoparticles of laponite and spherical magnetic nanoparticles of maghemite. To obtain stable mixtures from a chemical point of view, the maghemite nanoparticles are first coated by a thin layer of silica in order to adapt their surface chemistry to that of laponite nanoparticles: this enables one to raise volume fractions of maghemite Phi mag in the laponite suspensions up to several percent. Although the system is out of equilibrium, a "fluid-solid" state diagram was established showing that the mixtures undergo a fluid-solid transition, similar to that of pure suspensions of laponite, over a given volume fraction of laponite Phi lap and over a given Phi mag. An increase in Phi mag shifts Phi lap toward the lower values. When a solid sample is just above Phi lap, the application of an external magnetic field gradient induces a solid-to-liquid transition if the sample is located not too far from Phi lap on the state diagram. The structure of the mixtures, determined either at small scale by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) or at intermediate scales by optical microscopy, shows that the solid samples are phase separated at a local scale: they are made of densely connected domains of laponite nanoparticles surrounding liquid pockets of maghemite nanoparticles. The size of the pockets grows with time. The magnetic liquid pockets are responsible for the rupture of the solid samples when an external magnetic field gradient is applied since their deformation induces local mechanical stress, internally damaging the network formed by the solid domains of laponite. The microscopic phase separation is the result of two opposite effects: (i) entropic effects that tend to phase separate the system macroscopically when the packing entropy overcomes the orientational entropy and (ii) long-range electrostatic repulsions that freeze the system.     

PLLA Based Composites with α-Tricalcium Phosphate and a PLLA-PEO Diblock Copolymer

Hybrid composites consisting of poly(L -lactide), PLLA, or blends of PLLA with a PLLA-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (15–30 wt%), COP, as a biodegradable polymeric matrix and of bioactive α-tricalcium phosphate, α-TCP, microparticles as dispersed phase (25–40 wt-%) were prepared by melt extrusion and their thermal, mechanical and degradation behaviour was investigated. SEM analysis of surfaces broken in liquid N₂ showed a good dispersion of α-TCP in the polymer matrix. A lowering of the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix and enhanced crystallization rates of PLLA, both from the melt and from the glassy state, were observed in the presence of COP. Ternary PLLA/COP/α-TCP composites containing about 10 wt-% of COP and 25–40 wt-% of α-TCP showed improved compressive strength and deformation at yield as compared to pure PLLA. Degradation experiments revealed that in simulated body fluid the presence of α-TCP particles promoted the formation of inorganic deposits of a poor crystalline apatitic phase on composite surfaces as compact sferoids.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(L‐lactic acid)–poly(ε‐caprolactone) multiblock copolymers by melt polycondensation

An Erratum has been published for this article in J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. (2004) 42(22) 5845 New multiblock copolymers derived from poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared with the coupling reaction between PLLA and PCL oligomers with ? NCO terminals. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹³C NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the copolymers and the results showed that PLLA and PCL were coupled by the reaction between ? NCO groups at the end of the PCL and ? OH (or ? COOH) groups at the end of the PLLA. DSC data indicated that the different compositions of PLLA and PCL had an influence on the thermal and crystallization properties including the glass‐transition temperature (T_g), melting temperature (T_M), crystallizing temperature (T_c), melting enthalpy (ΔH_m), crystallizing enthalpy (ΔH_c), and crystallinity. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was employed to study the effect of the composition of PLLA and PCL and reaction time on the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of the copolymers. The weight‐average molecular weight of PLLA–PCL multiblock copolymers was up to 180,000 at a composition of 60% PLLA and 40% PCL, whereas that of the homopolymer of PLLA was only 14,000. A polarized optical microscope was used to observe the crystalline morphology of copolymers; the results showed that all polymers exhibited a spherulitic morphology. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5045–5053, 2004     

Diffusion of poly (l-lactide) in activated metal organic frameworks; crystallization evidenced by ssNMR and subsequent shape memory effects

Shape-memory polymers are a class of materials that show dual or multi-shape competence. Here a solvent casting method was used to prepare composite films from Cu-BTC crystals in poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) to induce crystallization leading to a marked shape memory effect (SME). Extensive physico-chemical characterizations including solid-state NMR indicated that Cu-BTC triggered the crystallization of PLLA for ensuring the entropy needed for the shape memory behavior. The diffusion of polymeric chains inside pores of activated Cu-BTCs ensured interactions which increases the crystallinity as both simulation and experimental results show. Moreover, the segregation of Cu-BTC crystallites to small copper oxide particles due to the activation increases the volume of the crystalline region observed by microscopic images. We compared the identical features of composite prepared in the same method in where small molecule was encapsulated inside Cu-BTC with PLLA/5 wt% Cu-BTC; we were able to show that having the sharp transition of elastic to rubbery state in the vicinity of cold crystallization temperature in PLLA/5 wt% Cu-BTC provides Cu-BTC crystallites to act as netpoints. Moreover, the reinforcement accompanied by increased toughness demonstrates the combination of improved mechanical properties as well as SME of polymers which rarely have attained.     

光学纯度对聚左旋乳酸结晶与熔融行为的影响

通过示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和广角X射线衍射仪(WAXD)研究了聚左旋乳酸(PLLA)的光学纯度(91.6%、93.3%、94.0%、97.0%、98.4%)对聚乳酸结晶和熔融行为的影响。 在非等温结晶过程中,随着光学纯度的提高,聚乳酸的结晶峰值温度、熔点、熔融焓均提高。 在等温结晶过程中,PLLA的半结晶时间(t_1/2)随着光学纯度的增加而减少,在结晶温度100~110 ℃区间内半结晶时间均达到最小值;含有不同光学纯度PLLA的Avrami指数n≈3,表明光学纯度的变化不能改变聚乳酸以三维球晶生长的异相成核机理。 随着光学纯度的增加,聚乳酸δ-晶型转变为α-晶型的临界温度升高。 聚乳酸的结晶和熔融行为对光学纯度具有依赖性。