Self-crosslinkable polymers. I. Copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate with 2-vinylpyridine and 2-vinyl-5-ethylpyridine

A soluble and self-crosslinkable linear copolymer with pendant epoxy and pyridyl groups was obtained from glycidyl methacrylate (M₁) and 2-vinylpyridine (M₂) or 2-vinyl-5-ethylpyridine (M₂) by the action of azobisisobutyronitrile. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined in tetrahydrofuran at 60°C: r₁ = 0.510, r₂ = 0.620 with 2-vinylpyridine and r₁ = 0.57, r₂ = 0.62 with 2-vinyl-5-ethylpyridine. These were consistent with the calculated values with the reported Q and e values for these monomers. The intrinsic viscosities of the copolymers with 2-vinylpyridine and with 2-vinyl-5-ethylpyridine were found to be 0.17–0.19 and 0.26–0.38, respectively, in tetrahydrofuran at 30°C; they were independent of the copolymer composition. The copolymers were amorphous, had no clear melting points, and became insoluble crosslinked polymers under heating without further addition of any curing agents.     

On the copolymerization model and microstructure of methyl acrylate - styrene radical copolymer. Influence of ZnCl2

Bulk radical copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MeA, M₁) with styrene (St, M₂) in presence and absence of ZnCl₂ as complexing agent was studied. ¹H-NMR spectra were used to establish copolymer composition and sequence distribution. The methoxy group signal was observed to be split due to pentads, but the analysis of sequence distribution is possible only at triad level. Both composition and sequence distribution data confirmed that bulk radical copolymerization respects quite well the terminal addition model; the values of r₁ = 0.14 ± 0.02 (from composition data) and r₁ = 0.25 ± 0.03 (from sequence distribution data) and r₂ = 0.83 ± 0.10 (from composition data) were found. The presence of ZnCl₂ increases the probability of alternating addition, e.g., for [ZnCl₂]/[MeA] = 0.2, r₁ = 0.03 ± 0.02 and r₂ = 0.17 ± 0.03. The radical copolymer obtained in bulk in the absence of ZnCl₂ presents a coisotactic configuration with σ = 0.75 ± 0.03, but the presence of the complexing agent reduces the probability of coisotactic addition, e.g., for [ZnCl₂]/[MeA] = 0.2, σ = 0.52 ± 0.03.     

FREE RADICAL COPOLYMERIZATION AND KINETIC TREATMENT OF CYCLOHEXENE WITH N-PHENYLMALEIMIDE

The copolymerization of cyclohexene (M₁) and N-phenylmaleimide (M₂) in chloroform with 2,2'-azo-bis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator was investigated. The copolymerization of N-phenylmaleimide with cyclohexene in chloroform proceeded in a homogeneous system to give an alternating copolymer over a wide range of the comonomer composition in the feed. The kinetic parameters, such as reactivity ratio, overall activity energy and the effect of comonomer composition on the initial copolymerization rate (R_p) were determined. The bimolecular termination of the copolymerization was proved. A kinetic treatment based on the model of mechanism was proposed and used to test the copolymerization of cyclohexene and N-phenylmaleimide and to quantitatively estimate the k₂₁/k₁₂ value.     

The temperature dependence of the monomer reactivity ratios in the copolymerizations of styrene with halostyrenes

Styrene (M₁) has been copolymerized with o-, m- and p-halostyrenes (M₂) at temperatures between 40 and 110°C, using azoisobutyronitrile as initiator; the halostyrenes were labelled with ¹⁴C in the β-position. The compositions of the copolymers were determined by liquid scintillation counting. Since [M₁] ? [M₂], a simplified form of the copolymer composition equation was used to determine reactivity ratios r₁: account was taken of the isotope effect resulting from the labelling in the β-position. Arrhenius parameters of r₁ were found; they show that polar effects predominate in determining the magnitude of r₁. Steric effects, which counteract the polar effects, are small.     

二烷基锡聚合物的研究——Ⅲ.顺丁烯二酸二丁基锡酯与丙烯酸甲酯、丙烯酸丁酯的共聚合

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used for initiator in copolymerization of dibutyltin maleate (DBTM, M₂) with methyl acrylate (MA, M₁) in benzene and the reactivity ratios of copolymerization r1 and r2 were found to be 12.67 and 0.03, respectively. But in copolymerization of DBTM (M₂) with butyl acrylate (BA, M₁) r1 and r2 were 11.1 and 0> respectively. The cc-polymerization conditions, such as amount of initiator, ratios of monomers and addition method of initiator were examined. Copolymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR,IR,elemental and TG analyses. MA-DBTM copolymer is a white and brittle solid, while BA-DBTM copolymer is a transparent elastomer at room temperature.     

Organotin polymers—III: Copolymerization and terpolymerization of tributyltin acrylate with methyl methacrylate,propyl methacrylate,butyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile

Copolymerizations of tri-n-butyltin acrylate (M₁) with (a) methyl methacrylate (M₂), (b) propyl methacrylate (M₃), (c) butyl methacrylate (M₄) and (d) acrylonitrile (M₅) in solution at 70 using AIBN as initiator led to monomer reactivity ratios as follows: (a) r₁ = 0.401 and r₂ = 2.199, (b) 0.323 and 1.713, (c) 0.196 and 1.65, and (d) 0.243 and 1.008. The variation of the average copolymer composition with conversion for two copolymers from M₁ with M₂ and M₄ were calculated and verified experimentally. Four terpolymer compositions involving M₁ and M₅ with M₂ or M₄ were prepared and the terpolymer compositions were calculated on the basis of tin and nitrogen analyses. The variations of instantaneous and average terpolymer composition with conversion fit satisfactorily the experimental results over a wide range of conversion.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. X. Anionic copolymerization with methyl isocyanate

Anionic copolymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde (M₁) with methyl isocyanate (MeI, M₂) was studied with use of benzophenone–dilithium complex as initiator at ?78°C. The values of monomer reactivity ratio were determined to be r₁ = 8.3 ± 0.3 and r₂ = 0.01 ± 0.01. The structure of resulting copolymer was investigated by means of NMR analysis. The MeI unit is presumed to enter the copolymer chain through its C?N opening.     

Copolymerization of 2-Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate with Alkyl Met hacrylates

2-Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (2-HPMA) has been copolym-erized with ethyl methacrylate (EMA), n-butyl methacrylate (BMA), and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) in bulk at 60°C using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The copolymer composition has been determined from the hydroxyl content. The reactivity ratios have been calculated by the Yezrielev, Brokhina, and Raskin method. For copolymerization of 2-HPMA (M₁) with EMA (M₂), the reactivity ratios are r₁ = 1.807 ± 0.032 and r₂ = 0.245 ± 0.021; with BMA (M₂) they are n = 2.378 ± 0.001 and r₂ = 0.19 ± 0.01; and with EHMA the values are r₁ = 4.370 ± 0.048 and r₂ = 0.103 ± 0.006. Since reactivity ratios are the measure of distribution of monomer units in copolymer chain, the values obtained are compared and discussed. This enables us to choose a suitable copolymer for synthesizing thermoset acrylic polymers, which are obtained from cross-linking of hydroxy functional groups of HPMA units, for specific end-uses.     

Copolymerization of 2-Hydtoxypropyl Methacrylate with Alkyl Methacrylates

2-Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (2 HPMA) has been copolym-erized with ethyl methacrylate (EMA), n-butyl methacrylate (BMA), and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) in bulk at 60°C using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The copolymer composition has been determined from the hydroxyl content. The reactivity ratios have been calculated by the YBR method. For copolymerization of 2-HPMA (M₁) with EMA (M₂), the reactivity ratios are: r₁=1.807 ± 0.032, r₂=0.245 ± 0.021; with BMA (M₂) they are r₁=2.378 ± 0.001, r₂=0.19 ± 0.01; and with EHMA the values are r₁=4.370 ± 0.048, r₂=0.103 ± 0.006. Since the reactivity ratios are the measure of distribution of monomer units in a copolymer chain, the values obtained are compared and discussed. This enables us to choose a suitable copolymer for synthesizing thermoset acrylic polymers, which are obtained from cross-linking of hydroxy functional groups of HPMA units, for specific end uses.     

The temperature dependence of the monomer reactivity ratios in the copolymerization of styrene with phenyl and tert-butyl cinnamates

Styrene (M₁) has been copolymerized with the phenyl and tert-butyl esters (M₂) of [carboxyl-¹⁴C]cinnamic acid at temperatures between 40 and 130°, using azoisobutyronitrile as initiator. The compositions of the copolymers have been determined by liquid scintillation counting; since [M₁] ? [M₂], a simplified form of the copolymer composition equation could be used for determining the reactivity ratio r₁ graphically. Arrhenius parameters have been derived; the energies of activation favour cross propagation whereas the frequency factors favour self propagation. Although the latter effect slightly predominates, there is no evidence of significant steric factors; similar behaviour was observed when cinnamic acid and its methyl and ethyl esters were copolymerized with styrene. However, a comparison of the Arrhenius parameters and the Taft substitution constants shows that polar effects, and not steric effects, are responsible for controlling the individual reactivity differences within the ester series.     

Living Carbocationic Copolymerizations. V. Synthesis of Isobutylene/p-Methylstyrene Copolymers with the Constant Copolymer Composition Technique in the Leidenfrost Reactor

Abstract

Living copolymerization of the isobutylene (IB)-p-methylstyrene (pMeSt) monomer pair in combination with the constant copolymer composition (CCC) technique produces high molecular weight ( M _n ≈ 100,000 g·mol^?1) and narrow molecular weight distribution ( M _w/ M _n ≈ 1.45) compositionally uniform IB/pMeSt copolymer molecules in the industrially important IB/pMeSt = 97–99/3–1 mol% composition range. Syntheses were carried out with TiCl₄ coinitiator in n-butyl chloride homogeneous solution at ?85°C by the use of the Leidenfrost reactor (i.e., by direct cooling of the charge with liquid nitrogen). In order to carry out the CCC technique it was necessary to obtain reliable copolymerization reactivity ratios. These investigations led to r_IB = 0.5 ± 0.1 and r _pMeSt = 10 ± 4. The attainment of CCC and living copolymerization conditions has been quantitatively demonstrated by dedicated diagnostic plots. Specifically, the attainment of CCC conditions was proven by the analysis of composite rate plots (comonomers input and corresponding copolymer formed versus time) and composition plots (comonomer composition in feed and copolymer formed versus weight of copolymer formed, W _p), and living copolymerization was proven by linearly ascending number-average molecular weight of copolymer ( M _n) versus W _p plots starting at the origin.     

Silyl enol ethers as monomer. I. Radical copolymerizability of α-trimethylsilyloxystyrene

α-Trimethylsilyloxystyrene (TMSST), the silyl enol ether of acetophenone, was not homopolymerized either by a radical or a cationic initiator. Radical copolymerization of TMSST with styrene (ST) and acrylonitrile (AN) in bulk and the terpolymerization of TMSST, ST, and maleic anhydride (MA) in dioxane were studied at 60°C and the polymerization parameters of TMSST were estimated. The rate of copolymerization decreased with increased amounts of TMSST for both systems. Monomer reactivity ratios were found as follows: r₁ = 1.48 and r₂ = 0 for the ST (M₁)–TMSST (M₂) system and r₁ = 0.050 and r₂ = 0 for the AN (M₁)–TMSST (M₂) system. The terpolymerization of ST (M₁), TMSST (M₂), and MA (M₃) gave a terpolymer containing ca. 50 mol % of MA units with a varying ratio of TMSST to ST units and the ratio of rate constants of propagation, k₃₂/k₃₁, was found to be 0.39. Q and e values of TMSST were determined using the values shown above to be 0.88 and ?1.13, respectively. Attempted desilylation by an acid catalyst for the copolymer of TMSST with ST afforded polystyrene partially substituted with hydroxyl groups at the α-position.     

Copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate with alkyl acrylate monomers

A newer approach to obtaining acrylic thermoset polymers with adequate hydrophilicity required for various specific end uses is reported. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was copolymerized with n-butyl acrylate (n-BA), isobutyl acrylate (i-BA), and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) in bulk at 60°C. with benzoyl peroxide as free radical initiator. The copolymer composition was determined from the estimation of epoxy group. Reactivity ratios were calculated by the Yezrielev, Brokhina, and Roskin method. For copolymerization of GMA (M₁) with n-BA (M₂) the reactivity ratios were r₁ = 2.15 ± 0.14, r₂ = 0.12 ± 0.03; with i-BA (M₂) they were r₁ = 1.27 ± 0.06, r₂ = 0.33 ± 0.031; and with 2-EHA (M₂) they were r₁ = 2.32 ± 0.14, r₂ = 0.13 ± 0.009. The reactivity ratios were the measure of distribution of monomer units in a copolymer chain; the values obtained are compared and discussed.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XVIII. Monomer-isomerization copolymerizations of 4-phenyl-2-butene with 4-methyl-2-pentene and 3-heptene with Ziegler-Natta catalyst

4-Phenyl-2-butene (4Ph2B) undergoes monomer-isomerization copolymerization with 4-methyl-2-pentene (4M2P) and 2-and 3-heptene (2H and 3H) with TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst at 80°C to produce copolymer consisting exclusively of 1-olefin units. For comparison the copolymerization of 4-phenyl-1-butene (4Ph1B) with 4-methyl-1-pentene (4M1P) and 1-heptene (1H) was carried out under similar conditions. The composition of the copolymers obtained from these copolymerizations was determined from the ratios of optical densities D₁₃₈₀ and D₁₆₀₀ of infrared (IR) spectra of their thin films. The apparent monomer reactivity ratios for the monomer-isomerization copolymerization of 4Ph2B with 4M2P, 2H, and 3H in which the concentration of olefin monomer in the feed was used as internal olefin and those for the copolymerization of 4Ph1B with 4M1P and 1H were determined as follows: 4Ph2B(M₁)-4M2P(M₂); r₁ = 0.90, r₂ = 0.20, 4Ph1B(M₁)-4M1P (M₂); r₁ = 0.40, r₂ = 0.70, 4Ph2B(M₁)-2H(M₂); r₁, = 0.45, r₂ = 1.85, 4Ph2B(M₁)-3H(M₂); r₁ = 0.50, r₂ = 1.20, 4Ph1B(M₁)-1H(M₂); r₁ = 0.55, r₂ = 0.75. The difference in monomer reactivity ratios seemed to originate from the rate of isomerization from 2- or 3-olefins to 1-oletins in these monomer-isomerization copolymerizations.     

The effect of substituents in the ring on the reactivity of styrenes in copolymerization

Styrene (M₁) has been copolymerized with o-, m- and p-methyl-styrenes and p-methoxystyrene (M₂) at temperatures between 40 and 110°, using azoisobutyronitrile as initiator; the substituted styrenes were labelled with ¹⁴C in the β-position. The compositions of the copolymers were determined by liquid scintillation counting. Since [M₁] ? [M₂], a simplified form of the copolymer composition equation was used to determine reactivity ratios r₁. Arrhenius parameters of r₁ were found; they show that polar effects predominate when p-methoxystyrene copolymerizes whereas steric effects predominate for o-methylstyrene. Both polar and steric effects are very small for m-methylstyrene; for p-methoxystyrene, the predominance of polar and steric effects varies with the temperature. Values of (E₁₁ ? E₁₂) show good correlation with Hammett substituent constants.     

Thermal and optical properties of highly fluorinated copolymers of methacrylates

Copolymers of pentafluorophenylhexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (FPPMA) with trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) were prepared in THF solution and in bulk using azobisisobutyronitrile as a free radical initiator. The monomer reactivity ratios of TFEMA (M₁) and FPPMA (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.55 and r₂ = 0.07. The refractive indices of poly(TFEMA) and poly(FPPMA) are very similar as 1.435 and 1.430, respectively, at 532 nm, and the copolymer films were transparent. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the copolymers were in the range of 80–90°C and showed a negative deviation from the Gordon–Taylor equation. The thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) was increased with the content of FPPMA in copolymers. Low water absorption for 1:1 FPPMA/TFEMA copolymer was detected. Copolymers of FPPMA with hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFPMA) were also prepared. The monomer reactivity ratios of HFPMA (M₁) and FPPMA (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.43 and r₂ = 0.10. The T_gs of the copolymers were in the range of 88–95°C and showed also a negative deviation from the Gordon–Taylor equation. T_g and T_d of the copolymers were increased with the content of FPPMA. The refractive index of poly(HFPMA) (1.384 at 532 nm) is much lower than that of FPPMA homopolymer, but copolymer films obtained were clear and transparent. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Free Radical Copolymerization of N‐(4‐Carboxyphenyl)maleimide with Hydropropyl Methacrylate

Abstract

The free radical copolymerization of N‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)maleimide (CPMI) (M₁) with hydropropyl methacrylate (HPMA) (M₂) was carried out with 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as an initiator in ethyl acetate at 75°C. The composition of copolymer prepared at low conversion was determined by elemental analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios were found to be r ₁?=?0.31 and r ₂?=?1.11 as determined by the YBR equation. The number‐average molecular weight and polydispersity were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Furthermore, the solvent effect on this copolymerization system was also investigated. The resulting copolymer was characterized by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The thermal stability of copolymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that the copolymer shows step‐by‐step degradation, the initial decomposition temperature (T _i), and final decomposition temperature (T _f) increased with increasing the component of CPMI in copolymer.     

Graft polymers with macromonomers. II. Copolymerization kinetics of methacrylate-terminated polystyrene and predicted graft copolymer structures

Copolymerization studies of methacrylate-terminated polystyrene macromonomers (M₁) with several comonomers (M₂) verified the modified kinetic scheme and permitted prediction of graft polymer compositions and structures. Instantaneous and cumulative copolymer compositions, average graft distributions, and grafts per molecule are predicted from FORTRAN IV or BASIC programs. The r₂ relative reactivity ratios determined from styrene copolymerization (0.61) or from low conversion acrylic monomer in aqueous suspension (～0.4) had good agreement with literature values (about 0.6 and 0.4, respectively). Decreased macromonomer reactivity determined at high acrylic monomer conversions was attributed to phase separation phenomena. The Macromers also exhibited lower reactivity than predicted when copolymerized with acrylic monomers in DMSO/benzene solutions (r₂ ～ 0.8).     

Alternating copolymerization of bis(hexafluoroisopropyl) fumarate with styrene and vinyl pentafluorobenzoate: Transparent and low refractive index polymers

Bis(hexafluoroisopropyl) fumarate (BHFIPF) did not homopolymerize with free radical initiators. However, BHFIPF yielded alternating copolymers with styrene in bulk with Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator. The monomer reactivity ratios of BHFIPF (M₁) and styrene (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.00 and r₂ = 0.02. BHFIPF also copolymerized with vinyl pentafluorobenzoate (VPFB) in bulk and in pentafluoroisopropanol solution to produce an alternating copolymer. The reactivity ratios of BHFIPF (M₁) with VPFB (M₂) were r₁ = 0.00 and r₂ = 0.05 in bulk and r₁ = 0.01 and r₂ = 0.11 in pentafluoroisopropanol, respectively. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the BHFIPF‐styrene and BHFIPF‐VPFB copolymers were 107 and 86 °C, respectively. The BHFIPF‐styrene copolymer was thermally stable, and the thermal degradation temperature (T_d) was 400 °C, whereas the T_d of BHFIPF‐VPFB copolymer was 240 °C. The films obtained by casting from tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions of these copolymers were flexible and transparent. Their refractive indices were 1.4048 for the BHFIPF‐styrene copolymer, and 1.3980 for the BHFIPF‐VPFB copolymer at 633 nm, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Olefin copolymerization with metallocene catalysts. II. Kinetics,cocatalyst, and additives

The kinetics of ethylene/propylene copolymerization catalyzed by (ethylene bis (indeyl)-ZrCI₂/methylaluminoxane) has been investigated. Radiolabeling found about 80% of the Zr to be catalytically active. The estimates for rate constants at 50°C are k₁₁ = 1104 (M_s)^?1, k₁₂ = 430 (M_s)^?1, k₂₂ = 396 (M_s)^?1,k₂₁ = 1020 (M_s)^?1, and k^A_tr,1 + k^A_tr.2 = 1.9 × 10^?3 s^?1. Substitution of trimethylaluminum for methylaluminoxane resulted in proportionate decrease in polymerization rate. The molecular weight of the copolymer is slightly increased by loweing the [Al]/[Zr] ratio, or addition of Lewis base modifier but at the expense of lowered catalytic activity and increase in ethylene content in the copolymer. Lowering of the polymerization temperature to 0°C resulted in a doubling of molecular weight but suffered 10-fold reduction in polymerization activity and increase of ethylene in copolymer.