Thermogelling hydrogels of poly(ε-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) and poly(ε-caprolactone-co-L-lactide)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone-co-L-lactide) aqueous solutions

Thermogelling poly(ε-caprolactone-co-D,L -lactide)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone-co-D,L -lactide) and poly(ε-caprolactone-co-L -lactide)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone-co-L -lactide) triblock copolymers were synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and D,L -lactide or L -lactide in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol). The polymerization reaction was carried out in 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene with Sn(Oct)₂ as the catalyst at various temperatures, and the yields were about 96%. The molecular weights and polydispersities (M_w/M_n) by gel permeation chromatography were in the ranges of 5140–6750 and 1.35–1.45, respectively. The differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the melting temperatures of the poly(ε-caprolactone) components were between 30 and 40 °C. By the subtle tuning of the chemical compositions and microstructures of these triblock copolymers, the aqueous solutions underwent sol–gel transitions as the temperature increased, with the suitable lower critical solution temperature in the range of 17–28 °C at different concentrations. Transesterification in the polymerization process generated the redistribution of sequences, which remarkably affected the sol–gel transition temperature. The amphiphilic copolymers formed micelles in aqueous solutions with a diameter of 62 nm and a critical micelle concentration of about 0.032 wt % at 20 °C. Micelles aggregated as the temperature increased, leading to gel formation. The sol–gel transition was studied, with a focus on the structure–property relationship. It is expected to have potential applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4091–4099, 2007     

Miscibility of poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) with poly(ethyl methacrylate): Existence of both UCST and LCST

A miscible homopolymer–copolymer pair viz., poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA)–poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) (SBA) is reported. The miscibility has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry. While 1 : 1 (w/w) blends with SBA containing 23 and 34 wt % styrene (ST) become miscible only above 225 and 185 °C respectively indicating existence of UCST, those with SBA containing 63 wt % ST is miscible at the lowest mixing temperature (i.e., T_g's) but become immiscible when heated at ca 250 °C indicating the existence of LCST. Miscibility for blends with SBA of still higher ST content could not be determined by this method because of the closeness of the T_g's of the components. The miscibility window at 230 °C refers to the two copolymer compositions of which one with the lower ST content is near the UCST, while the other with the higher ST content is near the LCST. Using these compositions and the mean field theory binary interaction parameters between the monomer residues have been calculated. The values are χ_ST‐BA = 0.087 and χ_EMA‐BA = 0.013 at 230 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 369–375, 2000     

Graft polymerization of allyl benzoate using poly(allyl benzoate-co-2,2′-azobis[N-(2-propenyl)-2-methylpropionamide]) as polymeric azo-initiator

2,2′-Azobis[N-(2-propenyl)-2-methylpropionamide] (APMPA), a diallyl azo-compound useful as an initiator at elevated temperatures, was copolymerized with allyl benzoate (ABz) at 60°C, providing poly(ABz-co-APMPA) which acts as a polymeric azo-initiator. The effectiveness of poly(ABz-co-APMPA) to give a novel graft copolymer was checked by polymerizing ABz at 120°C and, furthermore, by the polymerization of styrene accompanied by crosslinking through termination by bimolecular combination.     

Atypical transition temperature dependence of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) nanocomposites on the content of exfoliated montmorillonites

Exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT)/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and MMT/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide) [P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm)] nanocomposites were fabricated by soap‐free emulsion polymerization. Interestingly, as the content of MMT was increased from 0 to 10 wt %, the glass transition temperature of MMT/PNIPAAm was decreased from 145 to 122 °C, whereas that of the MMT/P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm) increased from 95 to 153 °C. Although the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32 °C for the MMT/PNIPAAm nanocomposites in aqueous solutions was slightly increased with the content of MMT, that of the MMT/P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm) was decreased from 70 to 65 °C. A mechanism that the hydrogen bonds between the amide groups of PNIPAAm were interfered by the exfoliated MMT nano‐platelets for the MMT/PNIPAAm nanocomposites and the preferred absorption of acrylamide units to the MMT nanoplatelets rather than N‐isopropylacrylamide in the MMT/P(NIPAAm‐co‐AAm) nanocomposites was suggested to interpret these unusual transition behavior. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 524–530, 2009     

The synthesis of poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) and poly[(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-co-(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)]

Poly(2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol), polyMVP, and poly[(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-co-(2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol)], poly(SSS/MVP), were synthesized by radical polymerization using Vazo-64 or tributylborane as initiator. Poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) and poly[(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-co-(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)] were obtained by demethylation of polyMVP and poly(SSS/MVP) using HBr and trimethylsilyl iodide, respectively. (Co)polymer structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. About 30 wt.-% gel formed in the polyMVP polymerizations, whereas only a small amount (0.5 mol-%) of gel formed in the copolymerizations.     

Synthesis and properties of the ionomer diblock copolymer poly(4‐vinylbenzyl triethyl ammonium bromide)‐b‐polyisobutene

A new amphiphilic diblock copolymer containing an ionomer segment, poly[(4‐vinylbenzyl triethyl ammonium bromide)‐co‐(4‐methylstyrene)‐co‐(4‐bromomethylstyrene)]‐b‐polyisobutene [poly(4‐VBTEAB)‐b‐PIB], was synthesized by the chemical modification of poly(4‐methylstyrene)‐b‐polyisobutene [poly(4‐MSt)‐b‐PIB]. First, the 4‐methylstyrene moiety in poly(4‐MSt)‐b‐PIB was brominated with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator at 60 °C in CCl₄, and then the highly reactive benzyl bromide groups were ionized by a reaction with triethylamine in a toluene/isopropyl alcohol (80/20 v/v) mixture at about 85 °C to produce the ionomer diblock copolymer poly(4‐VBTEAB)‐b‐PIB. The solubility of the ionomer block copolymer was quite different from that of the corresponding poly[(4‐methylstyrene)‐co‐(4‐bromomethylstyrene)]‐b‐polyisobutene {poly[(4‐MSt)‐co‐(4‐BrMSt)]‐b‐PIB}. Transmission electron microscopy observations demonstrated that all three diblock copolymers had microphase‐separation structures in which polyisobutene (PIB) domains existed in the continuous phase of the poly(4‐methylstyrene) segment or its derivative segment matrix. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis measurements showed that poly[(4‐MSt)‐co‐(4‐BrMSt)]‐b‐PIB had two glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's), ?56 °C for the PIB segment and 62 °C for the poly[(4‐MSt)‐co‐(4‐BrMSt)] domain, whereas poly(4‐VBTEAB)‐b‐PIB showed one T_g at ?8 °C of the PIB domain; T_g of the poly[(4‐vinylbenzyl triethyl ammonium bromide)‐co‐(4‐methylstyrene)‐co‐(4‐bromomethylstyrene)] domain was not observable because of the strong ionic interactions resulting in a higher T_g and a retention of modulus up to 124 °C. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2755–2764, 2003     

Polymer electrolyte membranes by in situ polymerization of poly(ethylene carbonate‐co‐ethylene oxide) macromonomers in blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene)

Salt‐containing membranes based on polymethacrylates having poly(ethylene carbonate‐co‐ethylene oxide) side chains, as well as their blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP), have been studied. Self‐supportive ion conductive membranes were prepared by casting films of methacrylate functional poly(ethylene carbonate‐co‐ethylene oxide) macromonomers containing lithium bis(trifluorosulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt, followed by irradiation with UV‐light to polymerize the methacrylate units in situ. Homogenous electrolyte membranes based on the polymerized macromonomers showed a conductivity of 6.3 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 at 20 °C. The preparation of polymer blends, by the addition of PVDF‐HFP to the electrolytes, was found to greatly improve the mechanical properties. However, the addition led to an increase of the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the ion conductive phase by ～5 °C. The conductivity of the blend membranes was thus lower in relation to the corresponding homogeneous polymer electrolytes, and 2.5 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 was recorded for a membrane containing 10 wt % PVDF‐HFP at 20 °C. Increasing the salt concentration in the blend membranes was found to increase the T_g of the ion conductive component and decrease the propensity for the crystallization of the PVDF‐HFP component. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 79–90, 2007     

Evaluation of piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymers for use in space environments. I. Temperature limitations

Smart materials, such as thin‐film piezoelectric polymers, are interesting for potential applications on Gossamer spacecraft. This investigation aims to predict the performance and long‐term stability of the piezoelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers under conditions simulating the low‐Earth‐orbit environment. To examine the effects of temperature on the piezoelectric properties of PVDF, poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene), and poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene), the d₃₃ piezoelectric coefficients were measured up to 160 °C, and the electric displacement/electric field (D–E) hysteresis loops were measured from ?80 to +110 °C. The room‐temperature d₃₃ coefficient of PVDF homopolymer films, annealed at 50, 80, and 125 °C, dropped rapidly within a few days of thermal exposure and then remained unchanged. In contrast, the TrFE copolymer exhibited greater thermal stability than the homopolymer, with d₃₃ remaining almost unchanged up to 125 °C. The HFP copolymer exhibited poor retention of d₃₃ at temperatures above 80 °C. In situ D–E loop measurements from ?80 to +110 °C showed that the remanent polarization of the TrFE copolymer was more stable than that of the PVDF homopolymer. D–E hysteresis loop and d₃₃ results were also compared with the deflection of the PVDF homopolymer and TrFE copolymer bimorphs tested over a wide temperature range. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1310‐1320, 2005     

Two‐sided comb poly(amic ester)–poly(propylene oxide) graft copolymers as porous polyimide precursors

New step‐growth graft block copolymers were synthesized. These two‐sided comb copolymers consisted of a poly(amic ester) (PAE) backbone and pendant poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) grafts. The copolymers were made via a macromonomer approach, in which the 4,6‐bischlorocarbonyl isophthalic acid bis[poly(propylene oxide)] ester macromonomer was synthesized through the reaction of hydroxyl‐terminated PPO oligomers with pyromellitic dianhydride and oxalyl chloride. This macromonomer was subsequently used in step‐growth polymerization with comonomers 4,6‐bischlorocarbonyl isophthalic acid diethyl ester, 2,5‐bischlorocarbonyl terephthalic acid diethyl ester, and 2,2‐bis[4‐ (4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane, and this yielded PPO‐co‐PAE graft copolymers. Accordingly, we report the synthesis and characterization of the PPO oligomer, the PPO macromonomer, and their corresponding PPO‐co‐PAE graft copolymers. Graft copolymers with PPO concentrations of 3–26 wt % were synthesized. These polymers were thermally cured to produce polyimide/PPO composites. The thermolysis of these polyimide/PPO composites yielded porous polyimide films with porosities ranging of 4–22.5%. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2266–2275, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable poly(L-aspartic acid-co-PEG)

The melt polycondensation reaction of the prepolymer prepared from N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L -aspartic acid anhydride (N-CBz-L -aspartic acid anhydride) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) using titanium isopropoxide (TIP) as a catalyst produced the new biodegradable poly(L -aspartic acid-co-PEG). This new copolymer had pendant amine functional groups along the polymer backbone chain. The optimal reaction conditions for the preparation of the prepolymer were obtained by using a 0.12 mol % of p-toluenesulfonic acid with PEG 200 for 48 h. The weight-average molecular weight of the prepolymer increased from 1,290 to 31,700 upon melt polycondensation for 6 h at 130°C under vacuum using 0.5 wt % TIP as a catalyst. The synthesized monomer, prepolymer, and copolymer were characterized by FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and UV spectrophotometers. Thermal properties of the prepolymer and the protected copolymer were measured by DSC. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the prepolymer shifted to a significantly higher temperature with increasing molecular weight via melt polycondensation reaction, and no melting temperature was observed. The in vitro hydrolytic degradation of these poly(L -aspartic acid-co-PEG) was measured in terms of molecular weight loss at different times and pHs at 37°C. This pH-dependent molecular weight loss was due to a simple hydrolysis of the backbone ester linkages and was characterized by more rapid rates of hydrolysis at an alkaline pH. These new biodegradable poly(L -aspartic acid-co-PEG)s may have potential applications in the biomedical field. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2949–2959, 1998     

Biosynthesis of High Quality Polyhydroxyalkanoate Co- and Terpolyesters for Potential Medical Application by the Archaeon Haloferax mediterranei

Summary : Haloferax mediterranei was investigated for the production of two different high-performance polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). A copolyester containing 6 mol-% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) was produced from whey sugars as sole carbon source. The maximum specific growth rate (µ_max.) and the maximum specific PHA production rate (q_{p max.}) were determined with 0.10 1/h and 0.15 1/h, respectively. The cells contained 72.8 wt.-% of P-(3HB-co-6%-3HV) which featured low melting points between 150 and 160 °C and narrow molecular mass distribution (polydispersity PDI = 1.5). Further, a PHA terpolyester with an increased 3HV fraction as well as 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) building blocks was accumulated by feeding of whey sugars plus 3HV - and 4HB precursors. Kinetic analysis of the process reveals a µ_max. of 0.14 1/h and a q_{p max.} of 0.23 1/h, respectively. The final percentage of P-(3HB-co-21.8%-3HV-co-5.1%-4HB) in biomass amounted to 87.5 wt.-%. Also this material showed a narrow molecular mass distribution (PDI = 1.5) and a high difference between the two melting endotherms of the material (between 140 and 150 °C) and the onset of decomposition at 236 °C. The accomplished work provides viable strategies to obtain different high-quality PHAs which might be potential candidates for application in the medical and pharmaceutical field.     

Thermal crosslinking of poly(methyl methacrylate) by reaction of methyl ester and quaternary ammonium salt and application to (meth)acrylate-based TPEs

Copolymers of N-vinylbenzyl N-methyl pyrrolidinium chloride (VBMPC) and methyl methacrylate, PVBMPC-co-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), were synthesized by free-radical copolymerization and proved to be prone to crosslinking as a result of the reaction of methyl ester groups with benzyl methyl pyrrolidinium chloride (BMPC) moieties at temperatures higher than 110 °C. When the VBMPC content was lower than 20 wt %, these copolymers were miscible with homo-PMMA. Blends of homo-PMMA and PVBMPC-co-PMMA fully could be cured above 150 °C, when the molecular weight of PMMA exceeded 10,000 and the VBMPC content of the copolymer was higher than 5 wt %. This reaction was carried out to crosslink selectively the PMMA microdomains of PMMA-b-poly(isooctyl acrylate) (PIOA)-b-PMMA (MIM) triblock copolymers to explain the mechanism for the mechanical failure of fully (meth)acrylic thermoplastic elastomers. Comparison of the ultimate tensile properties of MIM block copolymers, when the dispersed PMMA phases and PIOA matrix were crosslinked, led to the conclusion that the ductile failure of the hard PMMA microdomains rather than the elastic failure of the PIOA matrix was the reason for the mechanical failure of MIM triblocks. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4402–4411, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(ester‐carbonate)s by copolymerization of trans‐4‐hydroxy‐L‐proline with cyclic carbonate

The melt ring‐opening/condensation reaction of trans‐4‐hydroxy‐N‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L‐proline (N‐CBz‐Hpr) with cyclic carbonate [trimethylene carbonate (tri‐MC) or tetramethylene carbonate (tetra‐MC)] at a wide range of molar fractions in the feed produced new degradable poly(ester‐carbonate)s. The influence of reaction conditions such as polymerization time and temperature on the yield and inherent viscosity of the copolymers was investigated. The polymerizations were carried out in bulk at 140 °C with 1.5 wt % stannous octoate as a catalyst for 30 h. The poly(ester‐carbonate)s obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, and Ubbelohde viscometry. The copolymers synthesized exhibited moderate molecular weights with rather narrow molecular weight distributions. The values of the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymers depend on the molar fractions of cyclic carbonate. For the poly(N‐CBz‐Hpr‐co‐tri‐MC) system, with a decreased tri‐MC content from 93 to 16 mol %, the T_g increased from ?10 to 60 °C. Similarly, for the poly(N‐CBz‐Hpr‐co‐tetra‐MC) system, when the tetra‐MC content decreased from 80 to 8 mol %, the T_g increased from ?18 to 52 °C. The relationship between the poly(N‐CBz‐Hpr‐co‐tri‐MC) T_g and the compositions was in approximation with the Fox equation. In vitro degradation of these poly(N‐CBz‐Hpr‐co‐tri‐MC)s was evaluated from weight‐loss measurements. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1435–1443, 2003     

Adsorption of protein on the surface of thermosensitive poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres modified with the N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide and 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine moieties

A series of microspheres composed of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA), and/or 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), i.e., binary copolymer microspheres [poly(HPMA-co-MMA)_KPS and poly(HPMA-co-MMA)_ABIP] and ternary ones [poly(HPMA/MPC-co-MMA)_KPS and poly(HPMA/MPC-co-MMA)_ABIP], were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization using potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS) or 2,2′-azobis[2-(imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (ABIP) as initiators. The decrease in ζ-potential of the polymer microspheres is caused by the addition of the HPMA and/or MPC moieties. Equilibrium water content of poly(HPMA-co-MMA)_ABIP showed a remarkable swelling change with a change in response to temperature: the hydrated conformation at 28°C and the dehydrated one at above 40°C. The adsorption of protein on the polymer microspheres also changed in response to change in temperature. The ternary polymer microspheres effectively suppressed the adsorption both of Alb and Glo, less than binary ones. A series of polymer microspheres are expected to apply as a novel drug carrier with both thermosensitive and nonthrombogenic functions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3349–3357, 1997     

Effect of residual water and free volume on the glass‐transition temperature and heat capacity in polystyrene/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) structured latex films

The dynamic heat capacity and glass‐transition temperature of polystyrene (PS)/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) (VAc–BA) (50:50 w/w) structured latex films as a function of annealing time at 70, 77, and 85 °C were examined with modulated‐temperature differential scanning calorimetry. The PS and poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐n‐butyl acrylate) components were considered to be the cores and shells, respectively, in the structured latex. The dynamic heat capacity decreased with time. The glass‐transition temperatures of the PS and VAc–BA phases shifted to higher values after annealing. The results of thermogravimetry showed that there existed about 1.8% residual water in the films. The mean free volume and relative concentration of holes at room temperature (before and after annealing) and 85 °C, as a function of time, were obtained with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The PALS results indicated no significant change in free volume during annealing. It is believed that the loss, by diffusion, of residual water mainly caused a decrease in heat capacity and an increase in the glass‐transition temperatures. As little as 1.8% residual water in the structured latex films had a significant influence on the thermal properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1659–1664, 2001     

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Biosynthesis from Whey Lactose

Summary: The potential of three different microbial wild type strains as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producers from whey lactose is compared. Homopolyester and co-polyester biosynthesis was investigated by the archaeon Haloferax mediterranei and the eubacterial strains Pseudomonas hydrogenovora and Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava. H. mediterranei accumulated 50 wt.-% of poly-3-(hydroxybutyrate-co-6%-hydroxyvalerate) in cell dry mass from hydrolyzed whey without addition of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) precursors (specific productivity q_p: 2.9 mg/g h). Using P. hydrogenovora, the final percentage of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) amounted to 12 wt.-% (q_p: 0.03 g/g h); co-feeding of valeric acid resulted in the production of 12 wt.-%. P-3(HB-co-21%-HV) (q_p: 0.02 g/g h). With H. pseudoflava, it was possible to reach 40 wt.-% P-3 (HB-co-5%-HV) on not-hydrolyzed whey lactose plus valeric acid as 3HV precursor (q_p: 9.1 mg/g h); on hydrolyzed whey lactose without addition of valeric acid, the strain produced 30 wt.-% of PHB (q_p: 0.16 g/g h). The characterization of the isolated biopolyesters completes the study.     

Negative‐type photosensitive poly(phenylene ether) based on poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene ether), a crosslinker,and a photoacid generator

A negative‐type photosensitive poly(phenylene ether) (PSPPE) based on poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene ether) (PPE), a novel crosslinker 4,4′‐methylene‐bis [2,6‐bis(methoxymethyl)phenol] (MBMP) having good compatibility with PPE, and diphenylidonium 9,10‐dimethoxy anthracene‐2‐sulfonate (DIAS) as a photoacid generator (PAG) has been developed. This resist consisting of PPE (73 wt %), MBMP (20 wt %) and DIAS (7 wt %) showed a high sensitivity (D_0.5) of 58 mJ/cm² and a contrast (γ_0.5) of 9.5 when it was exposed to i‐line (365 nm wavelength light), postexposure baked at 145 °C for 10 min, and developed with toluene at 25 °C. A fine negative image featuring 6 μm line‐and‐space pattern was obtained on the film exposed to 300 mJ/cm² of i‐line by a contact‐printed mode. The resulting polymer film cured at 300 °C for 1 h under nitrogen had a low dielectric constant (ε = 2.46) comparable to that of PPE and a higher T_g than that of PPE. In addition, the cured PSPPE film was pretty low water absorption (<0.05%) as same as PPE. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4949–4958, 2008     

Healable network polymers bearing flexible poly(lauryl methacrylate) chains via thermo‐reversible furan‐maleimide diels–alder reaction

A new ATRP initiator containing two furyl rings, namely, bis(furan‐2‐ylmethyl) 2‐bromopentanedioate was synthesized starting from commercially available l ‐glutamic acid as a precursor. Well‐defined bisfuryl‐terminated poly(lauryl methacrylate) macromonomers with molecular weight and dispersity in the range 5000–12,000 g mol^?1 and 1.30–1.37, respectively, were synthesized employing the initiator by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Independently, 1,1′,1″‐(nitrilotris(ethane‐2,1‐diyl))tris(1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐dione) was synthesized as a tris‐maleimide counterpart for furan‐maleimide click reaction. Thermo‐reversible network polymer bearing flexible poly(lauryl methacrylate; (PLMA) chains was obtained by furan‐maleimide Diels–Alder click reaction of bisfuryl‐terminated PLMA with 1,1′,1″‐(nitrilotris(ethane‐2,1‐diyl))tris(1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐dione). The prepared network polymer showed retro‐Diels–Alder reaction in the temperature range 110–170 °C as determined from DSC analysis. The presence of low Tg (–40 °C) PLMA chains induced chain mobility to the network structure which led to the complete scratch healing of the coating at 60 °C in five days due to furan‐maleimide adduct formation. The storage modulus of the network polymer was found to be 3.7 × 10⁴ Pa at the constant angular frequency of 5 rad/sec and strain of 0.5%. The regular reversal of storage (G ′) and loss modulus (G ″) was observed with repeated heating (40 to 110 °C) and cooling cycles (110 to 40 °C) at constant angular frequency and strain. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2700–2712     

Effects of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) on the Physical Properties of Blended Molecules of Starch and Poly(Ethylene-co-Acrylate,Ammonium Salt)

Abstract

A mixture of starch (36%) poly(ethylene-co-acrylate, ammonium salt) (41%), water (12.5%), urea (8.4%), and poly(ethylene glycol) (M _n 4600) (2.1%) were converted to plastic test pieces by extruding (130°C), drying and grinding (25°C), and hot pressing (175°C). After equilibration at ?50% relative humidity and 25°C, the test pieces contained 3.5–4.6% moisture and 2.3% poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Among wheat, corn, potato, and rice starches, the wheat starch (WS) blend showed the highest Young's modulus (181.3 MPa), whereas the corn starch (CS) blend had a modulus and elongation that almost matched those of lowdensity polyethylene. When PEG was eliminated from the WS formulation, tensile strength remained constant, but Young's modulus doubled. The modulus decreased continually as test pieces absorbed water up to 27% moisture, but elongation and argon laser light transmittance were optimum at ?12% moisture. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that PEG formed a solid inclusion complex with amylose upon drying at 60°C, but no complex was detected in dilute alkali by optical rotation.     

Polyurethane elastomers based on amphiphilic poly(caprolactone)‐b‐poly(butadiene)‐b‐poly(caprolactone) triblockcopolyols

Hydroxyl‐terminated poly(butadiene) (HTPB; M_n = 2100 g mol⁻¹) was capped with 30 and 60 wt % of ɛ‐caprolactone to reach amphiphilic triblock copolymers in form of capped poly(butadiene) CPB. The former (CPB30; M_n = 3300 g/mol) is amorphous with a glass temperature of −56 °C. CPB60 (M_n = 4000 g mol⁻¹) is semi‐crystalline with a melting point of 50 °C and a glass transition at −47 °C. The CPBs, HTPB and polycaprolactone diol (M_n = 2000 g mol⁻¹) were used as soft segment components in the preparation of polyurethane elastomers (PUE), using a 1/1 mixture of an MDI prepolymer and uretonimine modified MDI, and hard phase components in form of 1,3‐propane diol, 1,4‐butane diol, and 1,5‐pentane diol. CPB‐based elastomers with 1,4 butane diol (8 wt %) show hard domains as fringed aggregates with a better connection to the continuous phase than the HTPB‐based PUE. The soft segment glass transition temperature (T_g) is at −28 °C for HTPB‐based PUE and at −43 °C for those of CPB. The tensile strength of the CPB30&60‐based PUE is found between 20 and 30 MPa at an elongation at break of 400% and 550%, respectively. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1162–1172