Densely crosslinked polycarbosiloxanes. II: Thermal and mechanical properties

The thermal and mechanical properties of two densely crosslinked polycarbosiloxane systems were investigated in relation to the molecular structure. The networks were prepared from functional branched prepolymers and crosslinked via a hydrosilylation curing reaction. The prepolymers having only vinyl functionalities (poly[phenylmethylvinyl]siloxanes) were crosslinked by using crosslinking agents with reactive silicon–hydrogen groups. In prepolymers having both silicon–vinyl and silicon–hydrogen groups (poly[phenylmethylvinylhydro)]siloxanes crosslinking took place intermolecularly. The thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer networks were found to be dependent on the phenyl  Si O_3/2 (branches) content in the prepolymer, the number of elastically effective crosslinks, the elastically effective network chain density and molecular weight between crosslinks, length of the chain segments introduced by the hydrosilylation crosslinking reaction, and the number of dangling ends. As a consequence of the dense crosslinking, the mechanical properties were also strongly dependent on the glass transition temperature. A tough–brittle transition was observed around the glass transition temperature of the polymer networks. The properties of the poly(phenylmethylvinylhydro)siloxane networks were found to be superior to those of the poly(phenylmethylvinyl)siloxane networks. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 1311–1331, 1997     

Benzil Photoperoxidations in Polymer Films and Crosslinking by the Resultant Benzoyl Peroxides in Polystyrene and Other Polymers

Benzil (BZ) can be converted almost quantitatively to benzoyl peroxide (BP) in aerated polymer films upon irradiation at >400 nm (i.e., the long-wavelength edge of the n→π* absorption band of BZ, where BP does not absorb). Here, we summarize results for the photoperoxidation of BZ structures with molecular oxygen, principally in glassy polymer matrices. Some of the polymers are doped directly with BZ or its derivatives, and others, contain covalently attached BZ pendant groups from which BP groups are derived. While the decomposition of low-molecular-weight BP doped into polymer films (such as those of polystyrene (PS)) results in a net decrease in polymer molecular weight, thermal decomposition of pendant BP groups is an efficient method for chain crosslinking. Crosslinking of PS films doped with a molecule containing two covalently linked BZ or BP groups proceeds in a similar fashion. Free radicals from the covalently attached BP allow grafting of new monomers, as well. Additionally, the use of radiation filtered through masks has been used to create patterns of polymers on solid surfaces. Crosslinking of photodegradable poly(phenyl vinyl ketone) with BP structures obtained by photoperoxidation of BZ structures for the preparation of photodegradable polymer networks is described as well. In sum, the use of BZ and BP and their derivatives offers simple and convenient routes for modifying polymer chains and, especially, for crosslinking them. Specific applications of each use and process are provided. Although applications with PS are featured here, the methodologies described are amenable to a wide variety of other polymers.     

Novel approach to the chemical modification of poly(vinyl alcohol): Phosphorylation

The chemical modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was performed through oxidation followed by nucleophilic addition. PVA was oxidized by KMnO₄ to form vinyl ketone units along the polymer backbone. The chemical modification of PVA was then conducted through the reaction of the carbonyl group of the vinyl ketone unit with 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO) as a nucleophile. Through this approach, the phosphorous DOPO group was attached onto the carbon atom of the polymer main chain rather than onto the pendent hydroxyl groups of PVA. The formed DOPO‐containing PVA showed improved thermal stability, organosolubility, and flame retardance. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1107–1113, 2003     

Role of minority structures and mechanism of peroxide crosslinking of polyethylene

Minority structures are considered to be defect structures that are formed during polyethylene (PE) preparation and during the crosslinking process in PE. The minority structures that play the predominant role in PE crosslinking are vinyl double bonds. Moreover, the decomposition of dicumyl peroxide in PE does not proceed according to first-order kinetics, but induced peroxide decomposition also takes part. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 675–688, 2004     

A study of the mechanism of photocrosslinking polymers by quinones

Photocrosslinking of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was studied in the solid state in the presence of various quinones. For the study of photocrosslinking mechanism, a PMMA film containing p-benzoquinone (Q) was irradiated with UV light (λ > 370nm) and then purified by reprecipitation. It was found that the reprecipitated polymer has quinone-type moieties, besides the hydroquinone-type moieties, chemically bound to the polymer chain. The reprecipitated polymer film also crosslinking efficiency was higher than that of PMMA film containing Q. It was concluded that the formation of quinone-type structure during irradiation played an important role in the photocrossing of PMMA containing Q.     

Effect of the polymer matrix on the formation of silver nanoparticles in polymer–silver salt complex membranes

When polymer–silver salt complex membranes were exposed to UV irradiation, the separation performances of both the permeance and selectivity for propylene–propane decreased, which was primarily attributed to the reduction of the silver ions in the membranes to silver nanoparticles. Here, the effect of the polymer matrix on the formation of silver nanoparticles in the polymer–silver salt complex membranes was investigated. This effect was assessed for the complexes of two kinds of silver salts (AgBF₄ and AgCF₃SO₃) with several polymeric ligands containing three different carbonyl groups, including poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) with an amide group, poly(vinyl methyl ketone) (PVMK) with a ketone group, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with an ester group. UV–vis spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images clearly indicated that the reduction rate of the silver ions has the following order in the various polymer matrices: PVP > PVMK > PMMA, whereas the size and the distribution of the nanoparticles exhibited the reverse order. The tendency to form silver nanoparticles was explained in terms of the differences between the comparative strengths of the interactions of the silver ions with the different carbonyl oxygens in the matrices, as well as that of the silver ions with counteranions, which was characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and FT‐Raman spectroscopy. It was concluded that when the concentration of free silver ions was low due to weak polymer–silver ion and strong silver ion–anion interactions, as found with PMMA, the reduction rate of silver ions to silver nanoparticles was slow. Therefore, the PMMA–silver complex membranes were less sensitive to decreases in separation performance upon UV irradiation than compared to the PVP membranes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1168–1178, 2006     

The effect of photocrosslinkable groups on thermal stability of bulk heterojunction solar cells based on donor–acceptor‐conjugated polymers

Three different types of photocrosslinkable groups into a low band‐gap donor–acceptor‐conjugated polymer, namely poly{benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐alt‐ thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene} (PBT), were developed to comparatively investigate the effect of the photocrosslinkable groups on the thermal stability of bulk heterojunction solar cells. Compared with vinyl groups, bromine‐ and azide‐ photocrosslinkable groups are more prompt for photocrosslinking to yield a denser crosslinking network, probably due to the different crosslinking mechanisms and reaction rates. In contrast to the reference device decreasing to less than 10% of its initial efficiency value after 80 h of annealing at 150 °C, a great improvement in the thermal stability of performance of all these crosslinked functional copolymers devices demonstrates that photocrosslinking can effectively improve the thermal stability of the active layer by suppressing [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl diffusion and phase separation. Furthermore, the solar cells with crosslinked bromine‐ and azide‐functionalized PBT polymers showed very thermally stable photovoltaic device performance by retaining 78 and 66% of their initial device efficiency, respectively, whereas vinyl‐functionalized PBT devices retained only 51% of its initial value after long‐time thermal annealing. This suggests that an appropriate crosslinking network with homogenous active morphology could dramatically enhance the device stability without sacrificing the performance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4156–4166     

The effect of ions irradiation on the thermal properties of poly(ether ether ketone)

The effect of irradiating amorphous poly (ether ether ketone), PEEK, with ions, 11 MeV proton (H⁺), and 25.6 MeV helium (He²⁺), has been investigated focusing on the changes in thermal properties. The extent of chain scission and crosslinking was evaluated using the Charlesby‐Pinner equation. Crosslinking increased the glass transition temperature (T_g) in line with the DiBenedetto equation from which the crosslinking constant for each ion was calculated. The effect of irradiation on the thermal degradation kinetics was studied in an argon atmosphere at a constant heating rate by mean of the Chang and the second Kissinger methods. Irradiation significantly reduced the thermal stability of the polymer and its service lifetime. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2212–2221, 2008     

IR laser ablative and conventional decomposition of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone): Different processes and different products

Pulsed IR laser ablation of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) results in the formation of CO, C₁-C₄ hydrocarbons, benzene, styrene and phenylacetylene and affords deposition of polymeric films that were examined by EDX-SEM, FTIR, UV and NMR spectroscopies and gel-permeation chromatography. It is revealed that the structure of the films is affected by laser fluence and their M_w distribution is almost identical to that of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone). The formation of the products is accounted for by cleavages of both polymer backbone and pendant group. Conventional heating of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) yields CO, formaldehyde, methanol and benzene as major volatile products and affords a solid fraction showing substantial fragmentation of the polymer. The different degradation products from both processes are ascribed to different modes of heating and to the wall effect.     

Fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone)s bearing pentafluorostyrene moieties prepared by a modified polycondensation

The polycondensation of decafluorobenzophenone with hexafluorobisphenol A was modified by the addition of a molecular sieve dehydrating apparatus to the refluxing reaction system. This modification promoted the polymerization and enabled the reactions to be conducted in milder conditions and completed in a shorter time, thereby depressing side reactions such as branching and crosslinking. The resulting fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone)s (FPAEK) were free of gel particles and possessed the designed molecular weights. This modified procedure was also suitable for introducing crosslinkable pentafluorostyrene (FSt) moieties into the polymers at the chain ends and/or inside the chain with the vinyl group of FSt being pendant. The resulting FSt containing fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone)s (FPAEK‐FSt) can then be thermally crosslinked at 100 °C in the presence of 1% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) or at 250 °C without any initiator. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of FPAEK increased with increasing molecular weight and leveled off at about 147 °C for the polymer with a number‐average molecular weight of 18,600 Da, whereas the values were not apparently affected by the addition of FSt units. However, crosslinking of the FPAEK‐FSt resulted in an approximate 30 °C increase of the T_g. Spin‐coating FPAEK‐FSt onto silicon wafers followed by crosslinking gave films with excellent thermal stability, physical strength, and adhesion to the substrate as well as good reproducibility in terms of film preparation and optical properties. The refractive index and birefringence of the films measured at a wavelength of 1.55 μm were 1.502 and 2.5 × 10^?3, respectively. © 2002 Government of Canada. Exclusive worldwide publication rights in the article have been transferred to Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4205–4216, 2002     

Characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers employing crosslinkers with nonsymmetric polymerizable groups

Crosslinking monomers have been developed with a combination of methacrylamide and methacrylate or vinyl ketone polymerizable groups that provide molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with improved binding and selectivity. The differential reactivity rates of the polymerizable groups prompted an investigation into the time‐dependent behavior of the crosslinkers, which suggests a new mechanism for MIP formation. The mechanism involves the formation of long sections of linear poly(vinyl ketone) with pendant methacrylamide groups that form a highly crosslinked network in a subsequent step. This has implications for the sequence morphology of polymers, affecting the structure and improving the binding properties of MIPs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3668–3675, 2004     

Photocrosslinking in dichromated poly(acrylic acid) during hologram recording and comparison with dichromated poly(vinyl alcohol)

Phototransformations involved in dichromated poly(acrylic acid) (DCPAA) were analyzed under irradiation conditions representative of hologram formation. It was shown that, in parallel to the reduction of chromium(VI) into chromium(III), the crosslinking of the matrix occurred through formation of covalent bonds between macromolecular chains. A comparison with dichromated poly(vinyl alcohol) (DCPVA) irradiated under the same conditions was also reported giving evidence for the crucial role played by the chemical structure of the polymeric matrix in the hologram formation. The combined approach based on the fate of both the absorbing species, chromium(VI) and the polymer allowed to completely elucidate the reactions taking place upon irradiation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 636–642, 2008     

Skewered reactions in free‐radical crosslinking (co)polymerizations of liquid polybutadiene as internal olefinic multivinyl crosslinker

As an extension of our continuing studies concerned with the mechanistic discussion of network formation in the free‐radical crosslinking (co)polymerization of multivinyl monomers, this work refers to the skewered reactions in the crosslinking (co)polymerizations of liquid polybutadiene rubber (LBR) as an internal olefinic multivinyl monomer or crosslinker, especially focused on the competitive occurrence of both addition or skewered reaction to internal carbon–carbon (CC) double bonds and abstraction reaction of allylic hydrogens in LBR by growing polymer radical. Thus, LBR is regarded as an internal olefinic multiallyl monomer‐linked allyl groups (? CH?CH? CH₂? ) with methylene units (? CH₂? ). First, gelation in the polymerization of LBR was explored in detail, especially at elevated temperatures. The occurrence of intermolecular crosslinking was easier in the order LBR > LBR containing 20 mol % of 1,2‐structural units > liquid polyisoprene rubber. Then, we pursued the polymerization of LBR using dicumyl peroxide (DCPO) as typical organic peroxide used at elevated temperatures. The primary cumyloxy radical generated by the thermal decomposition of DCPO may add to CC double bond or abstract allylic hydrogen or undergo β‐scission to generate a secondary methyl radical. The initiation by the cumyloxy radical was omitted. The ratio of allylic hydrogen abstraction to β‐scission reaction was estimated; thus, only 39% of cumyloxy radical was used for the allylic hydrogen abstraction reaction. The addition of methyl radical to CC double bond was clearly observed. Finally, we pursued the intermolecular and intramolecular skewered reactions in free‐radical crosslinking LBR/vinyl pivalate copolymerizations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Tailored rheology of a metallocene polyolefin through silane grafting and subsequent silane crosslinking

Polymer modification through silane grafting and its subsequent crosslinking allows the rheological properties of a polymer to be tuned from those of a viscous melt to those of a crosslinked elastic network. In this study, a metallocene polyolefin resin is grafted with vinyl trimethoxy silane (VTMS) using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as the initiator and is subsequently crosslinked in an oxidative environment. Dynamic rheological experiments are conducted to elucidate the effects of DCP and VTMS concentrations on the grafting and ensuing crosslinking processes. We find that the addition of VTMS alone to the polymer produces no grafting. In contrast, the presence of DCP by itself leads to direct crosslinking between polymer chains as suggested by an increase in elastic modulus and complex viscosity. Samples containing both DCP and VTMS undergo silane grafting, with the extent of grafting increasing with increasing DCP concentration. This conclusion is borne out by both rheological and Fourier transform infrared measurements. The grafted samples undergo silane crosslinking only in an oxidative environment and at temperatures equal to or greater than 190 °C. During crosslinking, the samples undergo a transition from a viscous melt with frequency‐dependent moduli to a gel exhibiting frequency‐independent moduli with the elastic modulus exceeding the viscous modulus. However, the kinetics of crosslinking and the extent of the modulus increase are a function of the DCP concentration, with both exhibiting a maximum at a specific DCP and VTMS combination. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2468–2479, 2000     

Photochemical behavior of poly(ethylacryloylacetate) and poly(acryloylacetone) films

Films of poly(ethylacryloylacetate) (PEAA) and poly(acryloylacetone) (PAA) were subjected to UV irradiation (λ = 254 nm) at room temperature. The photoinduced structure transfer from cis-enol onto a diketo forms has been investigated. The structure transfer caused by UV light was found to be slower than for the corresponding process in solution. The spectral investigations (UV, IR) showed reversible process of photoketonization. The results were analyzed in terms of the model for the participation of the trans-enol form in the process of the ketonization. Based on the results obtained, some general conclusions were made about the organization of the units in the polymer chain. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3683–3688, 1997     

Synthesis of star‐shaped poly(n‐butyl acrylate) oligomers with coumarin end groups and their networks for a UV‐tunable viscoelastic material

Solvent‐free isothermal tuning of viscoelasticity of polymer materials is important for an emerging photochemical molding technology and photoreversible adhesives. In this study we designed a four‐armed star‐shaped poly(butyl acrylate, BA) oligomer having four coumarin end groups. The irradiation of UV at the wavelength of 365 nm (UV₃₆₅) to the viscous poly(BA) oligomer under a solvent‐free condition produced a solid network material along with the progress of dimerization reaction with coumarin end groups. The subsequent irradiation of UV at the wavelength of 254 nm (UV₂₅₄) caused dimer dissociation reaction to attain change in the mixing degree of star and network architectures in the material. Moreover, viscoelasticity of the network material was tunable by repetitive UV₃₆₅ and UV₂₅₄ irradiations. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 9–15     

Monitoring polyolefin modification along the axis of a twin‐screw extruder. II. Maleic anhydride grafting

The physico‐chemical phenomena developing along the screw axis of a twin‐screw extruder during the grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) onto polyolefins [polyethylene (PE), ethylene–propylene rubber (EPM), and polypropylene (PP)] were investigated. For this purpose, sampling devices located along the extruder barrel were used to collect polymer samples that were subsequently characterized to follow the degrees of grafting and crosslinking or degradation. A similar evolution of MA grafting was observed regardless of the polyolefin type or MA and peroxide concentration when grafting was performed under identical conditions, that is, the same peroxide type and set temperature. A correlation between the MA grafting and the calculated peroxide decomposition was established. Chemical reactions occurred along the extruder axis until the peroxide was fully converted. More detailed quantitative measurements of the peroxide decomposition and MA grafting would allow the development of accurate process models. The final MA content depended on the polyolefin composition (PE > EPM ≫ PP). As expected for PE, crosslinking occurred in addition to grafting, but after a certain residence time, the PE network degraded. The PP viscosity reduction after MA grafting was due to the conversion of tertiary PP radicals into primary PP radicals after grafting. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3919–3932, 2000     

Hyperbranched polymers with maleic functional groups as radical crosslinkers

The crosslinking performance of the unsaturated hyperbranched polyester poly(allyloxy maleic acid‐co‐maleic anhydride) (MAHP) was investigated with copolymerizations of three different monomers: styrene, vinyl acetate, and methyl methacrylate. Both styrene and vinyl acetate afforded interpenetrating‐polymer‐network copolymer gels. The gels exhibited crosslink density gradients through the polymer matrices on a macroscopic level, and density maximums were concentrated around the MAHP moieties. The heterogeneity of the gels is briefly discussed in terms of a modified two‐phase model, where one phase consists of an elastic part of low crosslinking density and the other phase consists of an inelastic dendritic part with a highly condensed bond density. Unlike the two‐phase model developed by Choquet and Rietsch, the modified two‐phase model takes into account that both phases swell in good solvents. Unlike copolymerizations employing styrene or vinyl acetate, the copolymerization of MAHP with methyl methacrylate afforded noncrosslinked starbranched copolymers that consisted of a MAHP core from which long poly(methyl methacrylate) branches were protruding. The different behaviors of the copolymerizations of the three monomers used in this study can rationally be explained by their different reactivity ratios with maleic end groups of MAHP. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 964–972, 2001     

Influence of free and copolymerized triplet quenchers on the photolysis of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) in solution

The influence of free, diffusion-control quenchers of triplets (naphthalene, biphenyl, 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene) on the photolysis of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) in benzene solution has been investigated. The Stern-Volmer plots for quenching of main-chain scission were linear, and the quenching constants were independent of the macroviscosity of the solutions. Copolymers of vinyl phenyl ketone with 1-vinylnaphthalene and 2-vinylnaphthalene containing as much as 10% (by weight) vinylnaphthalene were prepared. The photolysis of the copolymers was compared with the photolysis of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) in the presence of free naphthalene. It was found that the quenching efficiency of found naphthalene units was about 21 times higher. The possibility of migration of the absorbed energy along the polymer chain is discussed. The relation between average-number molecular weight M _n and intrinsic viscosity [η] has been determined osmometrically. For unfractionated poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) in benzene at 30°C, the relation [η] = 2.82 × 10^?5 M _n^0.84 has been found.     

X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of oxygen‐containing polymer [poly(vinyl methyl ether), poly(vinyl methyl ketone), and poly(methyl methacrylate)] surfaces metalized by vacuum‐deposited nickel

Surfaces of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME), poly(vinyl methyl ketone) (PVMK), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were covered with different thicknesses of nickel with a metal‐vapor‐condensation method, and the metal–polymer interfaces were analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the very first steps of the metalization, it was found that a systematic degradation of the polymer surface occurs through CO or CO₂ losses, depending on the polymer functionalities. Then, at the interface with the polymer, the condensed metal reacts by oxidization with the oxygen atoms that are still available after the surface degradation. Nickel oxide is then formed at the interface, whatever the nature of the initial polymer functional group. These new oxide species are not chemically bonded to the polymer structure, and their formation is not affected by the type of bond existing between oxygen and carbon atoms in the original polymer. Finally, the accumulation of metal on the substrate induces an amorphization of the polymer carbon structure because thermal energy is transferred from the metal coating to the polymer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 82–94, 2002