Polymerization by oxidation coupling. I. A study of the oxidation of 2,6-diphenylphenol to poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene ether)

The synthesis of poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene ether), by the oxidative coupling of 2,6-diphenylphenol has been studied. Procedures were found which demonstrated that polymers of very high molecular weight \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \left( {\overline M _n > 200{\rm 000; }\left[ \eta \right]_{{\rm CHCl}_{\rm 3} }^{25^\circ {\rm C}} > 1.1{\rm }{{{\rm dl}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\rm dl}} g}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} g}} \right) $\end{document} could be made with a copper-amine catalyst system. A low nitrogen-to-copper ratio (1 N atom/Cu atom) was necessary to obtain the very high molecular weights under the conditions of these reactions. A variety of amines formed active catalysts; the effectiveness of mono- and bis- primary, secondary, and tertiary amines were compared. Effects of the type of copper halide, reaction temperature, desiccants, addition rates of 2,6-di-phenylphenol, and solvents were also examined. Samples of polymer were isolated at different times during the polymerization. Measurements of viscosity, osmotic pressure, light scattering, gel permeation, phenolic hydroxyl groups, and nitrogen content were made on various samples over a range of intrinsic viscosities of 0.05–0.59 dl/g. A very narrow molecular weight distribution was found for all samples. Hydroxyl endgroup analyses indicated that the concentration of phenolic endgroups per mole of polymer does not change during the polymerization. The presence of some side reactions is indicated by nitrogen analyses. The relationships between the intrinsic viscosity in chloroform at 25°C and M?_n and M?_w are: log [η] = ?3.97 + 0.72₇ log M?_n and log [n] = ?3.56 + 0.62₄ log M?_w.     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride with organolithium compounds. V. Fractionation and solution properties of high molecular weight poly(vinyl chloride)

A sample of high molecular weight poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was fractionated by classical precipitation fractionation and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) on a preparative scale. The fractions thus obtained were characterized by light scattering, viscometry, and by the GPC method. The measured weight-average molecular weights M?_w, intrinsic viscosity [η], and polydispersity index M?_w/M?_n values were used for the determination of the Mark-Houwink equation, [η] = KM^a, for PVC in cyclohexanone (CHX) at 25°C valid for molecular weights from 100,000 to 625,000.     

Polymerization by oxidative coupling. IV.. Synthesis and properties of poly(2-methyl-6-phenylphenylene ether)

Copper-amine catalyst systems which polymerize 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol to high molecular weight polymer are described. With CuCl and N,N,N ′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-butanediamine (TMBD), an intrinsic viscosity of 1.56 dl/g was obtained. Faster rates of polymerization resulted with a CuBr-TMBD catalyst. Catalysts from other tertiary amines and mixtures of tertiary amines also produced high polymer. Pyridine and diethylamine catalyst were less active. Samples of polymer were isolated at different stages of the polymerization. Measurements of viscosity, osmotic pressure, light scattering, gel permeation, hydroxyl groups, nitrogen content, and chemical reactivity were made on the samples. Below a molecular weight value of M?_n 60,000, M?_n/M?_w was 2.0. At higher molecular weights, there was a broadening in molecular weight distribution. No major change in the molar concentration of the “;head” endgroups with increasing molecular weight was detected by infrared analysis. However, nitrogen analyses, chemical reactivity studies, and the M?_n/M?_w ratio suggested the chemical nature of the “head” end had changed. The relationships between intrinsic viscosity in chloroform at 25°C and M?_n and M?_w for unfractionated polymer samples are log [η] = ?4.26 + 0.84 log M?_n and log [η] = ?3.86 + 0.70 log M?_w.     

Separation of dextrans by gel permeation chromatography

The role of the intrinsic viscosity [η] as separation parameter in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was studied for dextrans (from Leuconostoc mesenteroids B512) dissolved in water with deactivated silicagel (Porasil) as the column-filling material. For that purpose specific viscosities of dextran fractions eluted by GPC were measured as a function of the elution volume v. Provided that the elution volumes are corrected for zonal spreading, they are related to the intrinsic viscosities in an unambiguous way, probably reflecting a unique relationship between degree of branching and molecular weights. This was further investigated by developing an iteration method to prepare two calibration curves γ(v) and g(v), respectively, relating ln[\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\left[ {\bar \eta } \right]$\end {document}] and InM (M is the molecular weight) to v. It required that the weight-average molecular weight M _w, the number-average molecular weight M _n, and the average intrinsic viscosity [\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\left[ {\bar \eta } \right]$\end {document}] for a number of dextran samples (broad distributions) be previously known. The calibration curves found lead to consistent values of the above-mentioned averages. Moreover, they allow-establishment of the [\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\left[ {\bar \eta } \right]$\end {document}]-M relationship over the range 5000 < M < 500,000.     

Vapor-liquid equilibria for polyisobutylene solutions

Vapor sorption isotherms in binary solutions of polyisobutylene (PIB), (M_η = 4.7 × 10⁶ g/mol) in hydrocarbons (cyclopentane; cyclohexane; n-heptane; 2,2-dimethyl butane; and 2,2,4-trimethyl pentane) and chlorinated methanes [carbon tetrachloride (CCI₄) and chloroform (CHCI₃)] have been determined at 23.5°C using the piezoelectric sorption method. The polymer-solvent interaction parameter χ obtained agrees with previously published values determined by using gas-liquid chromatography and a quartz-helix vapor sorption apparatus. The Flory theory of corresponding-states has been applied to the experimental results through the χ parameter and affords a good prediction of the concentration dependence of χ for solutions of chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, n-heptane, and 2,2-dimethyl butane in PIB. The experimental values of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ [\partial (a_1 /\psi _1 )/\partial a_1 ]_{T,P} $\end{document} for the PIB solutions are constant over the measured concentration range, for example \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ [\partial (a_1 /\psi _1 )/\partial a_1 ]_{T,P} $\end{document} = ?4.1 for CCI₄, ?3.65 for CHCI₃, ?3.0 for 2,2-dimethyl butane and n-heptane, ?2.7 for 2,2,4-trimethyl pentane, ?2.7 for cyclohexane, and ?1.7 for cyclopentane, where a₁ is the solvent activity and ψ₁ is the solvent segment fraction. The correlations between the values of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ [\partial (a_1 /\psi _1 )/\partial a_1 ]_{T,P} $\end{document} and the theories of Guggenheim, Miller, Huggins, and Flory are discussed.     

Determination of molecular weight distribution of cellulose by conversion into tricarbanilate and fractionation

Two samples of cellulose (molecular weight 2.97 × 10⁵ and 1.25 × 10⁵) were transformed into carbanilates (CTC) which were then fractionated by the elution method at a constant composition of the acetone-water elution mixture with the column temperature gradually increasing from ?30°C to 30°C, and by the GPC method in acetone and tetrahydrofuran. Tetrahydrofuran appeared to be a more suitable solvent. The molecular weights of fractions obtained by the elution fractionation were determined by the light-scattering method in tetrahydrofuran. The width of fractions was determined by the GPC method (average M _w/M _n = 1.37); the [η] values and the Mark-Houwink constants (K = 5.3 × 10^-3, a = 0.84) for tetrahydrofuran at 25°C were determined. The calibration curve for the GP method was constructed by means of the fractions thus obtained; it was demonstrated that the universal calibration curve according to Benoit can also be used. It was demonstrated that the molecular weight distribution of cellulose can be conveniently determined by conversion into CTC followed either by the elution fractionation (for preparative purposes) or by fractionation by the GPC method (for analytical purposes).     

Synthesis and characterization of multiarm star-branched polyisobutylenes: Effect of arm molecular weight

A series of star-branched polyisobutylenes with varying arm molecular weights was synthesized using the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane/TiCl₄/pyridine initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a core-forming comonomer (linking agent). The resulting star-branched polymers were characterized with regard to the weight-average number of arms per star molecule (N̄_w) and dilute solution viscosity behavior. As the molecular weight of the arm (M̄_{w, arm}) was increased, dramatically longer star-forming reaction times were needed to produce fully developed star polymers. It was calculated that N̄_w varied from 50 to 5 as the M̄_{w, arm} was increased from 13,000 to 54,000 g/mol. The radius of gyration, R_g, of the star polymers was observed to increase as M̄_{w, arm} was increased. The solution properties of the star polymers were evaluated in heptane using dilute solution viscometry. It was determined that the stars had a much higher [η] compared to the respective linear PIB arms, but a much lower [η] compared to a hypothetical linear analog of an equivalent molecular weight. The dependence of [η] on temperature for the stars and linear arms was very small over the temperature range 25 to 75°C, with only a very slight decrease with increasing temperature. [η]_star was also determined to increase with increasing M̄_{w, arm}, but decrease with increasing M̄_{w, star}. The branching coefficient, g′, calculated for the stars at 25°C, increased as N̄_w decreased and agre ed well with literature values for other star polymer systems. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3767–3778, 1997     

Generalized Universal Molecular Weight Calibration Parameter in GPC

Abstract

In this report we show by experimental and theoretical investigations that the commonly used GPC universal calibration parameter, the intrinsic viscosity multiplied by the weight average molecular weight ([η] M^w) is incorrect. The error which can arise by using [η] M to calculate the molecular weight across the GPC chromatogram for nonuniformly branched polymers [poly(vinyl acetate) and low density polyethylene] and copolymers with compositional drift, could be very large. We also show conclusively that the number average molecular weight M_n is the correct average to use for the universal calibration parameter. We therefore recommend that our general universal Calibration parameter [η] M_n be used for calculating the molecular weight across the chromatogram for all polymer systems (linear and branched homopolymers, copolymers with or without compositional drift and for polymer blends).     

Gel-permeation chromatography: X. Molecular weight detection by low-angle laser light scattering

Effluent from a gel-permeation chromatographic column has been simultaneously and continuously monitored with a differential refractometer and a low-angle laser light-scattering (LALLS) photometer. This provides a true and direct determination of molecular weight distribution rather than through a calibration method as obtained by conventional GPC techniques. Computer assisted data reduction provides a rapid determination of M?_w, M?_n, M?_z, M?_w/M?_n, as well as a plot of molecular weight distribution. Samples of very narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) polystyrene from Pressure Chemicals Co. and relatively wide MWD samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) in chloroform have been characterized.     

Studies of branching in polyvinyl acetate

Batch polymerizations of vinyl acetate were conducted at 60°C and 72°C, and rate constants for branching were established from the variation of M?_n and M?_w with extent of conversion. The calculated branching densities (branch points per polymer molecule) are slightly higher at 72°C for all conversions. Selected samples were saponified and reacetylated to determine the amount of branching through the acetate group. Changes in M?_n, M?_w, and [η] indicate 63%, 75%, and 70%, respectively, of saponificable branches. These percentages are independent of branching density in the original polymer. Molecular weights extrapolated to zero conversion appear to be unchanged by saponification and reacetylation, showing that short chain branching through the acetate group is absent, or at least very infrequent.     

Characterization of Branched Poly (vinyl Acetate) by GPC and Low Angle Laser Light Scattering Photometry

Abstract

Poly (vinyl acetate), PVAC, synthesized by bulk polymerization over a range of initiator concentrations ([AIBN] = 10^?5 to 4 × 10^?3 g-mole/1), temperatures (50°C, 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C) and conversion levels (3 to > 90%) were characterized using low angle laser light scattering (LALLS) photometry to measure M_w of the whole polymers. A number of these samples were characterized using GPC with a differential refractive index (DRI) and LALLS detector to measure the molecular weight distribution (weight fraction versus M_w). M_w for PVAC samples synthesized at suitably low initiator levels at various conversions were found to agree with classical light scattering measurements after Graessley.

An electronic device and a technique which optimizes the sensitivity and the signal-to-noise ratio of the LALLS photometer throughout the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the GPC chromatogram were devised. These considerably simplify the operation of the LALLS for both offline and online operation with GPC.

Most importantly it was unambiguously shown that the commonly used universal calibration parameter (UCP) with GPC, [n]M_w, is incorrect for polymers with molecules having the same hydrodynamic volume but different molecular weights, i. e., those with only chain branching (LCB), copolymers with compositional drift, and polymer blends. The correct UCP was found to     

Mark-Houwink relations for linear polyethylene in 1-chloronaphthalene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene

The parameters in the Mark-Houwink relationship, [η] = K′M?_v^a, for linear polyethylene in 1-chloronaphthalene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at 130°C have been estimated. They were found by measuring the limiting viscosity numbers of a series of fractions with molecular weights ranging from less than 10,000 to almost 700,000. The results are for 1-chloronaphthalene, [η] =0.0555 M?_v^0.684 (with a standard error of 0.0064 in K′ and 0.010 in a) and for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, [η] = 0.0392M?_v^0.725 (with a standard error of 0.00703 in K′ and 0.015 in a), where [η] is expressed in ml/g. The unperturbed end-to-end distance calculated from the viscosity-molecular weight data agrees with the theoretically expected value.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyaryloxyphosphazenes

The synthesis, dilute solution characterization, and thermal analysis of seven polyaryloxyphosphazenes are described. Synthesis is accomplished by the ring-opening polymerization of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene at 245°C, followed by reaction of polydichlorophosphazene with sodium aryloxide salts in solution at 115°C. Polymers prepared and characterized have the general structure [(ArO)₂PN]_n, with Ar = C₆H₅, m- and p-CH₃C₆H₄, m- and p-ClC₆H₄, p-C₂H₅C₆H₄, or p-CH₃OC₆H₄. Elemental and infrared analyses show these polymers are essentially free of reactive chlorine sites. All the polymers displayed high intrinsic viscosities [η] > 1 dl/g, in tetrahydrofuran or chloroform. Closer examination of the dilute solution properties of two polyaryloxyphosphazenes revealed high molecular weights (M?_w> 6 × 10⁵) and broad molecular weight distributions (M?_w/M?_n > 4.7). The experimental values for the Z-average radii of gyration, 〈S²〉_z^1/2, characterized at near theta conditions, are larger than the calculated values for a freely rotating chain, which suggests that these polymers are relatively linear and not highly branched. Thermal analysis revealed second-order glass transitions between ?37 and +13°C and first-order endothermic transitions between 43 and 160°C for the different polymers. Although crystalline structure can persist above this first-order transition, this temperature can be regarded as a melting temperature or softening temperature at which films can be molded. Decomposition temperatures, measured in argon and oxygen, ranged from 250°C to 400°C.     

Universal Calibration and Molecular Weight Averages in Gel Permeation Chromatography Illustrated by Cellulose Nitrate and Poly(oxypropylene)

Abstract

The nature of the averaging process in the analysis of gel permeation chromatograms was examined for cases where the molecules in the detector cell of the apparatus were of different molecular weight and of the same molecular weight. When the molecules have the same molecular weight, the hydrodynamic volume (1), [?]M, averaged across a chromatogram was found to become KM^a+1 for any molecular weight average at the elution volume corresponding to that average. [η] is intrinsic viscosity, M is molecular weight, and K and a are the appropriate Mark-Houwink constants. Thus when size separation is by molecular weight, the universal GPC calibration functions include KM_n ^a+1 where M_n is the number average molecular weight.

Cellulose nitrate and poly(oxypropylene) were analyzed using three sets of columns and two GPC instruments. KM_n ^a+1, KM_w ^a+1, and [η]M_w were found to represent the hydrodynamic volume since these functions fell on the universal calibration plot for nearly nono-disperse polystyrene standards. The function [η]M_n was displaced from the polystyrene universal calibration plot by factor which equaled M_w/M_n. The slopes and intercepts of the universal calibration plots were found to be completely consistent with the slopes and intercepts of the molecular weight calibration plots showing that the Mark-Houwink constants were correct. Intrinsic viscosity - molecular weight relations were presented for 12.0–12.6%N cellulose nitrate and for low molecular weight poly(oxypropylene), the latter relation being a correction of that of Sholtan and Lie (18).     

Synthesis of soluble,thermosetting polymides derived from 1,4-phenylenebis(phenylmaleic anhydride) and aromatic diamines

The dianhydride monomer 1,4-phenylenebis(phenylmaleic anhydride) was polymerized with various aromatic diamines in a one-step solution polymerization to afford high molecular weight, soluble polyimides containing backbone phenylmaleimide structures. The polymides were soluble in amide solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and tetrahydrofuran at 25°C at a concentration of 15% (w/v), displayed molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n) of 2.0–2.2 as determined by absolute GPC and showed T_g values of 240°C and above as measured by differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, polyimide thermosets were prepared from these materials by thermal cure at 350–360°C. The crosslinked polyimides displayed T_gs 20–25°C higher than their soluble precursors, and chloroform extraction indicated gel fractions ranging from 74–100% after cure. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fundamental studies on cationic polymerizations: Molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of polyisobutylenes produced by γ-irradiation (free ions) and chemical catalysis (ion pairs)

The molecular weights (M?_n, M?_v, and M?_w) and molecular weight distributions of polyisobutylenes synthesized by γ-irradiation in the range 29 to ?78°C have been determined. The plots of log M?_n, log M?_v, and log M?_w versus 1/T are linear and parallel (E_M? = ?6.3₆ ± 0.5), and M?_w/M?_n ≈ 3.0 ± 0.5 over this temperature range. The viscosity-average molecular weights of polyisobutylenes obtained by γ-irradiation were compared with those of polymers prepared by BF₃, EtAlCl₂, and AlCl₃. It is found that, at the same polymerization temperature, the M?_v of radiation-induced polyisobutylenes, which propagate by free carbonium ions, is significantly higher than those synthesized by the Lewis acids, which probably propagate via ion pairs. The implications of these findings are discussed, and it is concluded that the counterion in the proximity of the growing cation impedes propagation to a greater extent than it does the competing process of chain transfer to monomer.     

Aromatic poly(amic acids): Fundamental structural studies

Aromatic poly(amic acids) derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4′,-diaminodiphenyl ether were characterized by dilute solution techniques. Number-average molecular weights M?_n of 13 samples ranged from 13,000 to 55,000 (DP 31–131). Weight-average molecular weights M?_w of 21 samples ranged from 9,900 to 266,000. The ratio M?_w/M?_n was between 2.2 and 4.8. Heterogeneous polymerization yielded higher molecular weight polymer than homogeneous polymerization. The molecular weight could be varied systematically by control of stoichiometric imbalance. Use of very pure monomers and solvent gave polymers of relatively high number-average molecular weight (～50, 000) and the most probable molecular weight distribution M?_w/M?_n = 2. Impure monomers and/or solvent resulted in lower number-average molecular weight (M?_n ? 20,000–30,000) and wider distributions (M?_w/M?_n = 3–5). The Mark-Houwink relation obtained was [η] = 1.85 × 10^?4M?_w^0.80 The exponent is characteristic of moderately extended solvated coils. The unperturbed chain dimensions (r₀² /M)^1/2 were 0.848 A., and the steric factor σ was 1.24 which is close to the limiting value of unity for an equivalent chain with free internal rotations. The sedimentation constant–molecular weight relation was S₀ = 2.70 × 10^?2M?_w^0.39. This exponent is consistent with the Mark-Houwink exponent.     

Hydrodynamic radius and intrinsic viscosity of polystyrene in the crossover region from θ to good-solvent conditions

The radius of gyration R_g, the hydrodynamic radius R_h, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] have been measured for polystyrene in cyclohexane (at the θ temperature and 44.5°C), 2-butanone (at 30°C), and toluene (at 30°C) in the molecular weight range 2.38 × 10⁵ ≤ M_w ≤ 5.47 × 10⁶ to elucidate the excluded-volume effects on dynamical behavior in dilute polymer solutions in the crossover region from θ to good-solvent conditions. The results are compared with theoretical predictions of current thermal blob theories and the Pade approximant theory of Tanaka. It is found that the ratio of R_h/R_g decreases with an increase in the excluded-volume effect, following the prediction of the simple blob theory, but that its magnitude is about 15% higher than the theoretical value. Experimental variation of [η] with R_h and/or R_g lies in between predictions of the scaling law and the Pade approximant. The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficient is also compared with predictions of current theories.     

Molecular weight analysis of pitches and polymeric pitches by gel-permeation chromatography

The technique of gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) has been developed as a method for measuring molecular weight distribution in pitch materials. Molecular weight calibration data were obtained from measurements made on GPC fractions collected from a standard pitch. By solubilization of the polymeric portion of pitch through a reduction with lithium in ethylenediamine, the molecular weight range for analysis was extended to in excess of 3000. Mass spectroscopy has been used to further analyze some of the GPC fractions. The GPC calibration data can be employed, with the aid of computer analysis, to determine quantitatively number-average molecular weights M?_n weight-average molecular weights M?_w, and molecular weight distribution D (= M?_w/M?_n) in pitch materials.     

On the solution characterization of an all-aromatic liquid-crystalline copolyester

Solution characterization of the thermotropic liquid–crystalline copolyester synthesized from terephthalic acid, phenyl hydroquinone, and (1-phenylethyl) hydroquinone (2 : 1 : 1) has been performed. Viscometry, size exclusion chromatography, and light scattering have been carried out under the optimal conditions found for measurement: 85°C in a 50/50 mixture by weight of phenol/1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. The absolute weight-average molecular weight from light-scattering measurements served for calibration of indirect methods of charac-terization (e.g., the limiting viscosity number [η] is related to the molecular weight by [η] = 5.10 × 10^?4 M_w^0.72), and the molecular weight per unit chain length, $ \bar M_L * $, from light scattering and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is found to be 28 Å^?1, consistent with theoretical expectations. The calculated persistence length q is 28 Å. Moreover, the meth-odology of SEC characterization enables the kinetics of solid-state postpolymerization of this liquid-crystalline copolyester to be studied. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.