Rigid backbone polymers. XI. Solution phase-viscosity relationship

Using combined results of isothermal viscosity measurements and cross-polarized light microscopy on four polyisocyanate/solvent systems, the following were demonstrated: (a) an anisotropic phase appears, associated with a shoulder in the viscosity curve, at a concentration v lower than the peak viscosity at v; (b) the inversion from anisotropic inclusions in an isotropic matrix to isotropic inclusions in an anisotropic matrix, occurs at concentrations v > v and (c) the attainment of a single phase, microscopically anisotropic, occurs at v > v; where the viscosity is decreasing but has not yet reached its minimum. When the experiments were repeated with changes in temperature, the following were observed: (a) within each single phase the viscosity drops with increased temperature; (b) in the biphasic range, the total viscosity η⁰ remains about constant in the concentration range ≤ and increases with temperature in the range v > v; (c) in the interval v > v of the biphasic range, at constant temperature an increase in concentration decreases η⁰, and at constant concentration, a decrease in temperature lowers η⁰. Qualitative explanations of the observations are proposed.     

Studies of polar and nonpolar probes in the determination of infinite-dilution solubility parameters

Partial molar heats of mixing ΔH and Flory-Huggins χ parameters have been determined for a series of polar and nonpolar organic probes in the polymer systems polychloroprene, poly(butadiene-acrylonitrile) (34 wt. % acrylonitrile), poly(ethylene-vinylacetate) (40 wt. % vinylacetate) and cis-1,4-polybutadiene in the range 65–85°C. Using the Flory-Huggins χ parameters, infinite-dilution solubility parameters δ were calculated for the polymers at 75°C to be 8.8 ± 0.2 for polychloroprene 10.0 ± 0.3 for poly(butadiene-acrylonitrile), 8.3 ± 0.2 for poly(ethylene-vinylacetate) and 7.9 ± 0.1 for polybutadiene. These δ values are in good agreement with literature δ₂ values. δ values were also calculated using only polar or nonpolar probes. The change in δ as the set of probes changed was negligible, leading to the conclusion that Hanson's three-dimensional solubility parameter concept may not be applicable to the infinite-dilution case.     

Dynamic x-ray diffraction studies of high-density polyethylene

Dynamic x-ray diffraction is conducted to explore the structural origin of the α and β mechanical dispersions of a melt-crystallized high-density polyethylene. It is shown that the real component of the strain orientation coefficient for the crystal c axis C decreases with increasing frequency at a rate which decreases with decreasing temperature. Values of C for the c axis are positive, C for the a axis negative, and C for the b axis close to zero, suggesting that the predominant relaxation process is crystal rotation about the b axis. The activation energy found from Arrhenius plots of C corresponds to that of the α₁ mechanical dispersion. The dynamic birefringence in this region is dominated by the contribution from crystal orientation changes. At low temperatures, the imaginary component KC of the strain-optical coefficient of the crystal phase approaches zero, while KC of the amorphous phase exhibits a somewhat broad dispersion peak corresponding to the β birefringence dispersion. This suggests that the principal contribution to the β birefringence dispersion arises from the amorphous phase, probably owing to the amorphous orientation process. Contrary to the case of low-density polyethylene, the dynamic crystal lattice deformation and compliance functions reveal distinct frequency dispersions corresponding to the α₁ and α₂ mechanical processes. The α₁ lattice dispersion is thought to be associated with the α₁ crystal orientation dispersion, while the α₂ lattice dispersion is believed to be the inherent one arising from the onset of intracrystalline chain motions.     

Relationship of stress to uniaxial strain in crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) over the full range from large compressions to high elongations

Experiments on inflated sheets of crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) covering a sixfold range of compression are combined with measurements in elongation conducted on specimens from the same sample to obtain the relationship of stress to strain over a 24-fold range in the extension ratio λ₁. With increase in λ the reduced force [f] ≡ f(λ₁ – λ)^?1 rises to a maximum near λ = 1.2–1.4, then decreases very slowly with further increase in λ. The form of the relationship of [f] to λ confirms recent theory.     

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization with triarylsulfonium salts

Triarylsulfonium salts Ar₃S⁺MX with complex metal halide anions such as BF, AsF, PF, and SbF are a new class of highly efficient photoinitiators for cationic polymerization. In this article we describe several synthetic routes to the preparation of these compounds along with their physical and spectroscopic properties. Mechanistic studies have shown that when these compounds are irradiated at wavelengths of 190–365 nm carbon–sulfur bond cleavage occurs to form radical fragments. At the same time the strong Br??nsted acid HMX_n, which is the active initiator of cationic polymerization that takes place in subsequent “dark” steps, is also produced. A study of the parameters that affect the photolysis of triarylsulfonium salts is reported with a measurement of the absolute quantum yields. The cationic polymerizations of four typical monomers—styrene oxide, cyclohexene oxide, tetrahydrofuran, and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether—with triarylsulfonium salt photoinitiators are described.     

Atomic integrals containing rrr with λ, μ, ν ≥ −2

In this paper, the efficient evaluation of the atomic integrals I =∫rrrrrre^{?αr1?βr2?γr3}dτ with one or two factors r is described. These integrals are necessary for a lower-bound calculation for Li-like systems using the method of variance minimization or Temple's formula. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

SCF and MC–SCF Study of CO2 with bond angle variation

Multiconfiguration (MC ) SCF calculations are reported for CO₂ for bond angles between 60° and 180°. The ground state configuration is found to be …?5a4b∣b∣a for small bending angles and …?6a3b∣b∣a for large bending angles, the change in ground state character occurring at a bond angle of about 100°. The force constant for bending obtained from the MC –SCF function is about 8.0% lower than the corresponding SCF value, and in considerably better agreement with experiment.     

Photoinduced electron transfer from polystyrene pendant tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) complex to methylviologen

The characteristics of the photoinduced electron transfer reaction from polystyrene pendant tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) complex [Ru(bpy)] to methylviologen (MV²⁺) were studied. The rate constant k₁ from the excited state of the complex, Ru(bpy), to MV²⁺ were determined for both the polymeric and monomeric complexes from the lifetime τ of Ru(bpy) and the quenching rate of Ru(bpy) by MV²⁺. The polymer pendant Ru(bpy) showed three kinds of τ components ranging from 7 to 474 ns, in contrast to the monomeric complex, which showed one component of 350 ns. The k₁ values for both complexes were almost the same, on the order of 10⁸ L/mol s. The photoinduced electron transfer from solid-phase Ru(bpy) to liquid-phase MV²⁺ was realized by utilizing the polymer complex, and the solid–liquid interphase reaction system is discussed.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran in solution: THF-CH3NO2 system

Polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) in CH₃NO₂ solvent was initiated with 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium cations with AsF and SbF anions, as well as with esters of FSO₃H and CF₃SO₃H acids. Polymerization shows in this solvent a living feature: values of k_p (determined directly from the semilogarithmic kinetic plots) were the same for all of the listed above initiators; thus k_p is the same for AsF, CF₃SO, FSO, and SbF anions. The identity of the k_p values for complex and noncomplex (ester-forming) anions comes from the fact that in CH₃NO₂ solvent equilibrium between macroesters and macroion pairs is shifted almost completely (K_e = 33.0 at 25°C and |THF|₀ = 7.0M) to the macroions side. Dissociation constants of the polytetrahydrofuranium ion pairs (CF₃SO and SbF anions) were measured (e.g., K_D = 2 × 10^?3 M at 25°C and |THF|₀ = 7.0M; i.e., at D = 22.8, ΔH_D = ?3.8 ± 6 kcal mole; ΔS_D = ?25 ± 2 eu). On the basis of the known values of K_D, and therefore dissociation degrees α, rate constants of propagation on the free and paired THF cations (k and k) were determined for a large range of degrees of dissociation (α from 0.15 to 0.52). The rate constants k and k were found to be the same within an experimental error of measurements (± 15% of the value of k_p). Apparently, the polytetrahydrofuranium cations are highly solvated or even separated from their anions by molecules of THF itself. At these conditions the reactivities of the solvated “free” and solvated (or separated) paired cations became undistinguishable.     

A thermodynamic approach to the stress-induced crystallization in cross-linked rubbers

The thermodynamic treatment of crystallization phenomena in a prestretched rubber was undertaken. Emphasis was put on defining conditions for the thermodynamic stability of the extendedor folded-chain crystal structure. The extended-chain structure is found to be stable thermodynamically at temperatures higher than the isotropic melting point of un-cross-linked polymer T in the stretched state, while the folded chain one is not. Below T, the stretch ratio of the network structure determines which crystal structure is more stable. The relation among the critical stretch ratio for the extended/folded crystalline structure transition, temperature, and molecular weight is also discussed. The crystallinity predicted by this work becomes zero at a temperature of T, the isotropic melting point of a cross-linked system. The value of T decreases with increasing cross-link density, and this is consistent with the experimental data reported in the literature.     

Internal field of polymer crystals: Polarizability tensor of the methylene group from the birefringence of paraffin crystal

Using the concept of a point dipole lattice, it is shown that the internal field of induced dipoles can be calculated for crystals comprised of simple chain molecules. The only structure which must be taken into account accurately is that of the chain molecule itself. From the calculations, reliable values of the polarizability tensor of the CH₂ unit are deduced from the birefringence of the paraffin crystal. In addition, it is shown that birefringence measurements provide a method for demonstrating the consistency of polarizability data so that no detailed structural information is needed. For the CH₂ unit, it is found by both methods that α^∥ ? α^? = ? 0.63 with respect to the chain direction [the units of polarizability α are 10^?24 cm³ (cgs)]. The most probable anisotropies for the bond polarizabilities are α ? α = 0.30, α ? α = ? 0.62.     

19F-NMR-spektroskopischer Nachweis und Berechnung der statistischen Bildung der gemischten Clusteranionen [(Mo6BrCl)F]2−, n = 0 – 8

¹⁹F NMR Spectroscopic Evidence and Calculation of the Statistical Formation of Mixed Cluster Anions [(Mo₆Br Cl )F ]^2?, n = 0 – 8 The complete system of the innersphere mixed clusters (Mo₆BrCl)⁴⁺ is formed by exchange of innersphere bound Clⁱ against outersphere bound Br^a on tempering the solid [(Mo₆Cl)Br] at 500°C for 16 h. After conversion with conc. HCl into (H₃O)₂[(Mo₆BrCl)Cl] and precipitation of the outer Cl^a with AgBF₄ in ethanol, treatment with tetrabutylammonium(TBA)fluoride yields (TBA)₂ [(Mo₆BrCl)F], a mixture of 22 different species. According to the sets of chemical equivalent fluorine atoms in total 55 ¹⁹F nmr signals are expected, which are really observed in the high resolution 1D-¹⁹F-nmr spectrum. Using increments of chemical shifts, peak intensities and multiplet structures as well as the 2D-¹⁹F/¹⁹F-COSY spectrum the complete and unambiguous assignment of all resonances is achieved. From the measured integral intensities the distribution of the different compounds is determined, revealing statistical formation of the geometrical isomers.     

Influence of torsional stiffness upon temperature response of a polymeric chain

The influence of torsional stiffness upon the temperature dependence of the mean square end-to-end polymer chain distance 〈r〉 was studied parametrically for six different polymer chain models. The equations for 〈r〉, expressed in terms of the torsional potential energy, were differentiated with respect to temperature and the resulting equations were evaluated numerically. The magnitudes and locations of the secondary barrier heights, angular location and magnitudes of the energy minima, angular location of the maximum barrier U₀, spacing of the extrema, and the number of extrema were all found to play a significant role in the value of the predicted thermal expansion coefficients. The coefficients were also found to critically depend upon the relative energy ratio and were usually a highly nonlinear function of this ratio. Transitions between positive and negative values of the thermal expansion coefficients were found to exist and to depend upon the torsional potential shape, energy ratio, and the polymer chain model.     

Interaction of monovalent and divalent counterions with some carboxylic polysaccharides

Eleven samples of carboxylic polysaccharides were studied. The activity coefficients γ have been measured for monovalent (Na⁺) and divalent (Ca²⁺) counterions. There is no specific influence of the structure of the chain on γ values. Agreement with theoretical values confirms the rigidity of the chain; for low charge density, the theoretical treatment seems to be incorrect. Selectivity is discussed in term of selectivity coefficient K and free energy of exchange ΔG; ΔG is linearly related to the charge density but K which characterizes the competition of the two counterions is sensitive to the nature of the chain. The carboxymethylamyloses present a larger selectivity whose origin is not discussed here. The last point treated is the intrinsic constant of dissociation of polyacids. The pK₀ values are practically independent of the nature of the polyelectrolyte and of the charge density; the values are close to the pK₀ of monomeric unit and are not affected by the position of ? COOH in the anhydroglucose ring.     

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization by dialkylphenacylsulfonium salts

Dialkylphenacylsulfonium salts in which the anions are of the general type BF, AsF, PF, and SbF are a new class of useful photoinitiators for cationic polymerization. On irradiation these salts underwent reversible ylid formation with the simultaneous generation of strong Br?nsted acids. The photoinitiated cationic polymerization of a number of monomers with dialkylphenacylsulfonium salts demonstrated the utility of these new photoinitiators.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran in solution. THF–CH2Cl2 and THF–CH2Cl2/CH3NO2 systems

Cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) in CH₂Cl₂ solvent and in mixed CH₂Cl₂/CH₃NO₂ solvent was initiated with 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium cations with AsF and SbF anions. Dissociation constants of the polytetrahydrofuranium ion pairs into ions were measured (e.g., K_D = 1.5 × 10^?5M at 25°C and [THF]₀ = 7.0M; CH₂Cl₂ solvent) and were found to be more than 100 times lower than in CH₃NO₂ solvent at the same [THF]₀ and temperature. The rate constants k and k, measured for degrees of dissociation ranging from 0.03 to 0.35 in CH₂Cl₂, were the same within an experimental error of measurements (±15% of the value of k_p). Dependence of k( = k = k) on the dielectric constant was a monotonous function in three different solvents, namely, CCl₄, CH₂Cl₂, and CH₃NO₂, which covered a large range of dielectric constants of the medium (from D = 5 to D = 22) and degrees of dissociation of the macroion pairs, α (from 0.03 to more than 0.70). Thus a decrease in the dielectric constant increases the rate constant k in the whole range of studied polarities of the medium. This result confirms an earlier conclusion that the rate constant of propagation does not depend on the state of aggregation of ions and k = k.     

Conformational Analysis and Chromic Acid Oxidation. Oxidation Rates and Equilibrium Constants of Epimeric Alcohols

The linear free energy relationship of Sicher for relative reactivity towards chromic acid oxidation (ΔΔG) as a function of thermodynamic stability (ΔG) has been reexamined with 23 pairs of epimeric alcohols. The plot of ΔG vs. ΔG has a slope of 0.8, a correlation coefficient of 0.97 and a standard deviation of 0.23 kcal/mol on ΔΔG_Ox. The limitations of the relationship and the exceptions are discussed.     

Polymerization of D-α-methylbenzyl methacrylate by n-butyllithium and the tacticity and optical rotation of the polymer

D -α-Methylbenzyl methacrylate, [α] = +51.3° (neat), was polymerized by n-butyllithium in toluene–tetrahydrofuran mixtures of various solvent ratios at ?78°C. The polymers obtained were converted into poly(methyl methacrylate)s, which were analyzed for tacticity by high resolution NMR spectroscopy. A linear relationship was obtained between the optical rotation and the isotacticity of poly(D -α-methylbenzyl methacrylate). The extrapolation of the data gave +120° and +99° for [α] of the fully isotactic and syndiotactic polymers, respectively. The copolymerization of the D - and L -isomers in toluene gave copolymers which were less isotactic than the homopolymer of the D -isomer. The optical rotation of the copolymer was proportional to the excess of one isomer in the polymer.     

Gamma radiation-initiated polymerization of styrene at high pressure. III. Emulsion polymerization with anionic emulsifiers

Values calculated for the activation volume for chain propagation, ΔV, for the polymerization of styrene in emulsions under a variety of conditions agree closely with that previously obtained in pure styrene (ΔV = ?18.6 cm³ mol^?1). The rate of initiation of emulsion polymerization by radicals produced in the water phase was independent of pressure; therefore ΔV is zero. This differs from initiation in pure styrene which is slightly retarded by pressure (ΔV = 2.0 cm³ mol^?1). The activation energy for the reaction in emulsion, as in pure monomer, decreases slightly with pressure. Chain transfer to monomer occurs to a much greater extent in emulsions than in pure monomer under similar temperature and pressure conditions. Values for the dependence of the polymerization rate on the initiator (i.e., the irradiation dose rate) and emulsifier concentration are consistent with Smith–Ewart, Case II kinetics.