Synthesis,characterization, and properties of colorless rigid-rod poly(benzobisthiazole) derived from bicyclo[2.2.2]octane

Polycondensation in polyphosphoric acid of 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzene dithiol dihydrochloride with bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, as well as the corresponding dimethyl ester or diacid chloride, led to rigid-rod benzobisthiazole polymers. Colorless and soluble polymers with intrinsic viscosities as high as 30.6 dL/g (methanesulfonic acid, 30°C) were obtained. The ultraviolet-visible spectrum of a polymer film cast from methanesulfonic acid under reduced pressure displayed no absorptions in the visible range (400–900 °m). The polymer was thermooxidatively stable up to 420°C in air as determined by thermogravimetric analysis. Fibers spun from a lyotropic polyphosphoric acid solution exhibited a tensile strength of 300–450 Ksi, a modulus of 26 Msi, and a compressive strength of 53 Ksi. Wide-angle X-ray scattering patterns of polymer fibers indicated a 3-dimensional crystal structure rather than a nematic liquid crystal structure. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Multidimensional benzobisoxazole rigid-rod polymers. II. Processing,characterization, and morphology

A high-torque rheometer was used to facilitate the polycondensation of 4-[5-amino-6-hydroxybenzoxazol-2-yl]benzoic acid (ABA) with trimesic acid and 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(4-carboxylatophenyl)adamantane to yield two- and three-dimensional benzobisoxazole polymers, respectively. Although the resultant polymer dopes exhibited improved homogeneity compared to polymer dopes previously prepared in glassware, improved polymer solution viscosities were not achieved. Fibers spun from the two- and three-dimensional polymers did not show a significant increase in compressive strength compared to fibers of the linear or one-dimensional benzobisoxazole polymer derived from the homopolymerization of ABA. Morphological studies of the polymer fibers and films by wide-angle X-ray scattering and scanning electron microscopy strongly indicated more lateral disorder and a more isotropic character for the three-dimensional structures compared to the one-dimensional structures. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3457–3466, 1997     

Absorbable biopolymers derived from dimer fatty acids

A new class of aliphatic copolyanhydrides was synthesized from nonlinear hydrophobic dimers (FAD) of erucic acid and sebacic acid which possessed the desired physico-chemical and mechanical properties for use as a carrier for drugs. The polymers were synthesized by melt condensation to yield film-forming polymers with molecular weights of 250,000. The copolymer composition was determined by ¹H-NMR and gravimetric methods. In vitro degradation studies showed that these polymers degrade following a first-order kinetics with a rapid degradation in the first 10 days leaving a residue which is mostly the FAD comonomer. The drug release from the polymer also followed a first-order kinetics which correlates with the degradation process of the polymer. Drugs like carboplatin, methotrexate, tetracycline, and gentamicin were released in vitro for over 2 weeks and in some cases over 6 weeks. In vivo biocompatibility tests in rats and rabbits in the brain, muscle, and subcutaneously, demonstrated their toxicological inertness and biodegradability. The 1 : 1 copolymer of FAD : SA was selected as a carrier for various applications including a gentamicin-releasing implant which is now undergoing human clinical trials for the treatment of osteomyelitis. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

New polymer syntheses. XIX. Syntheses of aromatic polyesters from phenoxyterephthalic acid

The synthesis of bisphenol-A phenoxyterephthalate was chosen as model system to find the optimum method for polycondensations of aryloxyterephthalic acids. It is demonstrated that phenoxyterephthalic acid or its acid chloride may cyclize at temperatures above 180°C yielding anthrone-3-carboxyclic acid which causes termination steps. The highest yield and molecular weight was obtained by interfacial polycondensation of phenoxyterephthaloylchloride.     

New polymer syntheses XII. Polyketones based on diarylidenecycloalkanones

Two new series of polyketones containing diarylidene links was synthesized by the Friedel-Crafts polymerization of diarylidenecyclopentanone or diarylidenecyclohexanone with aromatic diacid chlorides, azodibenzoyl chlorides, or aliphatic diacid chlorides. The resulting polymers had inherent viscosities in the range 0.76-1.18 dl/g and showed poor solubilities to common organic solvents excepts strong acids. The thermal stabilities of these polymers were evaluated and correlated to their structural units by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), DTG and DSC measurements. The TGA data revealed 10% weight losses at 190-300 °C. Moreover, the crystallinity of some polymers were tested by X-ray analyses and the UV-visible spectra showed characteristic absorption bands in the range 240-350 nm.     

New polymer syntheses. 60. Thermostable polymers of 2-(hydroxyaryl)benzoxazole-5-carboxylic acids

Tristrimethylsilyl-3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid was condensed with various aromatic acetoxy carboxylic acid chlorides in Marlotherms-S® at 20–350°C. Under these conditions formation of an amide group, ring closure to benzoxazole groups and polycondensation occur step by step in a “one-pot procedure”. The crude polyesters were hydrolyzed to yield pure 2-(hydroxyaryl) benzoxazole-5-carboxylic acids which were acetylated and polycondensed. The pure polyesters obtained in this way were characterized by viscosity and DSC measurements, WAXS-powder patterns, and thermogravimetric analyses. The polyester of 2-(4-hydrophenyl) benzoxazole-5-carboxylic acid has a degree of crystallinity > 90% and a short term in thermostability in air up to 500°C.     

New polymer syntheses 22. LC-poly(esterimide)s derived from trimellitic acid, ω-amino acids and hydroquinone or 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl

Diacids with variable spacer length were prepared by condensation of trimellitic anhydride and ω-amino acids. From these diacids, homopolyesters were prepared by thermal condensation with the acetates of hydroquinone or 4,4′-dihydroxy biphenyl and a series of copolyesters containing 4-hydroxy benzoic acid. The same LC poly(ester imide)s could also be prepared in a “one-pot procedure” from trimellitic anhydrid, lactams, and bisphenol acetates. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) traces of most poly(ester imide)s exhibit two endotherms representing the solid → LC phase transition (Tm₁) and the LC phase → isotropic melt transition (Tm₂). Observation under the polarizing microscope and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements suggest that the LC phase formed immediately above the melting points (Tm₁) have a smectic character. Poly(ester imide)s of 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl possess higher melting points and a broader temperature range of the LC phase than those of hydroquinone. The copolyesters possess a nematic melt over a broad temperature range. Thermomechanical analyses under low pressure (0.05 kg/mm²) gave heat distortion temperatures close to the melting points (Tm₁), and under high pressure (1 kg/mm²), values between Tm₁ and the glass transition temperatures (T_g). Thermogravimetric measurements indicate that processing from the melt is feasible up to temperatures around 340°C.     

Confinement effects on the structure and dynamics of polymer systems from the mesoscale to the nanoscale

In this article, we review some of our recent progress in experimental and simulation methods for generating, characterizing, and modeling polymer microparticles and nanoparticles in a number of polymer and polymer‐blend systems. By using instrumentation developed for probing single fluorescent molecules in micrometer‐sized liquid droplets, we have shown that polymer particles of nearly arbitrary size and composition can be made with a size dispersion that is ultimately limited by the chain length and number distribution within the droplets. Depending on the timescale for solvent evaporation—a tunable parameter in our experiments—the phase separation of otherwise immiscible polymers can be avoided by confinement effects, and homogeneous polymer‐blend microparticles or nanoparticles can be produced. These particles have tunable properties that can be controlled by the simple adjustment of the size of the particle or the relative mass fractions of the polymer components in solution. Physical, optical, and mechanical properties of a variety of microparticles and nanoparticles, differing in size and composition, have been examined with extensive classical molecular dynamics calculations in conjunction with experiments to gain deeper insights into the fundamental nature of their structure, dynamics, and properties. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1571‐1590, 2005     

New polymer syntheses. CIX. Biodegradable,alternating copolyesters of terephthalic acid,aliphatic dicarboxylic acids,and alkane diols

Copolyesters with an alternating sequence of terephthalic acid and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids were prepared with three different methods. First, dicarboxylic acid dichlorides were reacted with bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)terephthalate (BHET) in refluxing 1,2‐dichlorobenzene. Second, the same monomers were polycondensed at 0–20 °C in the presence of pyridine. Third, dicarboxylic acid dichlorides and silylated BHET were polycondensed in bulk. Only this third method gave satisfactory molecular weights. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry revealed that the copolyesters prepared by the pyridine and silyl methods might have contained considerable fractions of cyclic oligoesters and polyesters despite the absence of transesterification and backbiting processes. The alternating sequences and thermal properties were characterized with ¹H NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurements, respectively. In agreement with the alternating sequence, all copolyesters proved to be crystalline, but the crystallization was extremely slow [slower than that of poly(ethylene terephthalate)]. A second series of alternating copolyesters was prepared by the polycondensation of silylated bis(4‐hydroxybut‐ yl)terephthalate with various aliphatic dicarboxylic acid dichlorides. The resulting copolyesters showed significantly higher rates of crystallization, and the melting temperatures were higher than those of the BHET‐based copolyesters. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3371–3382, 2001     

New polymer syntheses. XCVI. Star-shaped LC-polyesters derived from β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Star-shaped polyesters were prepared by polycondensation of tetraacetoxyspirobis(indane) and a 1 : 1 mixture of silylated β-(4-acetoxyphenyl)propionic acid and silylated 4-acetoxybenzoic acid. The lengths of the star arms were systematically varied, and the influence of the star center on the stability of the nematic phase was studied. It was found that on the average more than 10 monomer units per star arm are required to stabilize a homogeneous LC-phase. Furthermore, a second class of star-shaped polyesters consisting of β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (HPPA), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA) was prepared. This ternary copolyester proved to reduce the crystallinity but to stabilize the LC-character. A homogeneous nematic melt was obtained with 6 monomer units per star arm. This interpretation is based on optical microscopy which provides a static picture of the biphasic situation. Therefore, a preliminary study of the melt rheology was included, which proved that the typical LC-character of the melt was detectable ateven shorter star arms due to the shear orientation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1387–1395, 1998     

Ionic solid-state dimers and polymers derived from imidazolium dicarboxylic acids

A series of imidazolium dicarboxylic acids have been prepared from the reaction of the 1,3‐bis(carboxymethyl)imidazolium zwitterion with the Brønsted acids HX (X=F, Br, Cl, ClO₄). The structures of these acids have been established in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which revealed that the cations and anions form strong hydrogen bonds through O? H???X interactions, leading to the formation of dimeric and polymeric networks. These acids react with elemental zinc and cobalt to form stable polymeric coordination complexes, some of which have also been characterised by X‐ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyimides from imidazole-blocked 2,5-bis[(n-alkyloxy)methyl]-1,4-benzene diisocyanates and pyromellitic dianhydride

From imidazole-blocked 2,5-bis[(n-alkyloxy)methyl]-1,4-benzene diisocyanates and pyromellitic dianhydride a series of new rigid-rod polyimides (C_n-PY-PI; n = 4, 6, 8) having linear and flexible (alkyloxy)methyl ((SINGLE BOND)CH₂OC_nH_{2n + 1}; n = 4, 6, 8) side chains were prepared and characterized and their properties were measured and discussed with regard to effects of side chains. Incorporation of the side chains onto the rigid main chain greatly enhanced the solubility and fusibility of the polymers, and melting point of C₈-PY-PI was determined to be 277°C. The UV-VIS absorption behavior was independent of side-chain length. TGA thermograms revealed a two-step pyrolysis behavior, in which the side chains split off separately at lower temperatures. X-ray diffractograms showed that all the polyimides are crystalline at room temperature. Sharp reflections in small-angle region obviously indicated the presence of a layered crystal structure. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

New polymer syntheses 16. LC-copolyesters of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid and 4-hydroxy benzoic acids

The polycondensation of 3-(4-hydroxy phenyl)-propionic acid, 4-Hypp, by means of acetanhydride or acetylchloride was conducted either in the presence or in the absence of a liquid reaction medium. DSC measurements, polarizing microscope, and X-ray diffraction studies indicate poly(4-Hypp) possesses at about 215°C a reversible first order transition between two solid phases. Copolyesters containing various mole ratios of 4-Hypp and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, 4-Hybe, were prepared by bulk condensation with acetanhydride at 320°C. At 4-Hypp/4-Hybe ratios less than 1.0:1.5 the reaction product was heterogeneous, containing crystals of pure poly(4-Hybe). Neither increasing the reaction time nor the variation of the transesterification catalyst resulted in an entirely homogeneous copolyester. However, for 4-Hypp/4-Hybe ratios greater than 1.0:1.5, ¹³C NMR spectra indicate perfectly random sequences. Also, terpolyesters containing 3-chloro-4-hydroxy- or 3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxy-benzoic acid were heterogeneous with less than 30 mol % 4-Hypp. DSC measurements revealed for all polyesters a glass transition in the range of 55–78°C. Temperature dependent X-ray diffraction studies confirm that the solid phase is a s.c. LC-glss. Correspondingly low heat distortion temperatures were found by thermomechanical analyses. The copolyesters display under the polarizing microscope LC-phase up to temperatures of 450–480°C, where rapid thermal degradation prevents further investigations. In the case of the 4-Hypp/4-Hybe 1:1 copolyester, the LC-phase extends over a temperature range of about 400°C. TGA measurements indicate beginning thermal degradation at temperatures between 350 and 380°C.     

Study of spatial inhomogeneity in inverted all‐polymer solar cells: Effect of solvent and annealing

The efficiency optimization of bulk heterojunction solar cells requires the control of the local active materials arrangement in order to obtain the best compromise between efficient charge generation and charge collection. Here, we investigate the large scale (10–100 μm) inhomogeneity of the photoluminescence (PL) and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) in inverted all‐polymer solar cells (APSC) with regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT):poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) active blends. The morphology and the local active polymer mixing are changed by depositing the active layer from four different solvents and by thermal annealing. The simultaneous PL and EQE mapping allowed us to inspect the effects of local irregularities of active layer thickness, polymer mixing, polymer aggregation on the charge generation and collection efficiencies. In particular, we show that the increase of the solvent boiling point affects the EQE non‐uniformity due to thickness fluctuations, the density non‐uniformity of rrP3HT aggregate phase, and the blend components clustering. The thermal annealing leads to a general improvement of EQE and to an F8BT clustering in all the samples with locally decrease of the EQE. We estimate that the film uniformity optimization can lead to a total EQE improvement between 2.7 and 6.3 times. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 804–813