Synthesis and mechanochemical properties of biobased ABCBA-type pentablock copolymers comprising poly-d-lactide (A), poly-l-lactide (B) and poly(1,2-propylene succinate) (C)

The ABCBA pentablock copolymers (p-d -l -PPS) comprising poly(d -lactide) (PDLA: A), poly(l -lactide) (PLLA: B) and poly(propylene succinate) (PPS: C) were successfully synthesized by two-step ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of d - and l -lactide using a dihydroxy-terminated PPS as a macro-initiator. The pentablock copolymers revealed the high stereocomplex (sc) crystallinity, thermal stability and elastomeric property in their solution-cast films. It was found that the T_g was found to be proportional to the PPS content, whereas the T_m was proportional to their average block length. The thermal resistivity of the copolymer films was found to be as high as 202°C owing to their sc formation. The copolymers also showed improved stereocomplexibility compared to the enantiomeric mixtures of triblock copolymers (PLLA-PPS-PLLA and PDLA-PPS-PDLA) having similar PLLA and PDLA chain lengths. These pentablock copolymers can afford thermoplastic elastomers or flexible plastic materials having a 100% bio-based content, showing high heat-resistive property.     

Poly(propylene isophthalate), poly(propylene succinate), and their random copolymers: Synthesis and thermal properties

Poly(propylene isophthalate) (PPI), poly(propylene succinate) (PPS), and poly(propylene isophthalate/succinate) (PPI‐PPS) random copolymers were synthesized and characterized in terms of chemical structure and molecular weight. The thermal behavior was examined by TGA and DSC. All the polymers showed a good thermal stability. At room temperature, they appeared as semicrystalline materials, except 20PPI‐PPS and 30PPI‐PPS: the main effect of copolymerization was a lowering in the amount of crystallinity and a decrease of T_m with respect to homopolymers. A crystalline phase of PPI and PPS was evidenced at high content of PI or PS units, respectively. Amorphous samples were obtained after melt quenching and an increment of T_g, with the increment of PI units, was observed. This behavior was explained as due to the presence of stiff phenylene groups. The Wood equation described well T_g‐composition data. Lastly, the presence of a rigid‐amorphous phase was evidenced in copolymers, differently from the two homopolymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 310–321, 2007.     

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

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

One-pot,one-step,and selective terpolymerization of ethylene oxide,propylene oxide,and COS to copoly(thioether)s with tunable thermal properties

Facile construction of sulfur-rich polymers using readily available raw chemicals is an area aggressively pursued but challenging. Herein we use common feedstocks of ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), and carbonyl sulfide (COS) to synthesize copoly(thioether)s which are traditionally produced from unpleasant and difficult to store episulfides. In this protocol, the EO/COS coupling selectively generates a pure poly(ethylene sulfide) (PES) with melting temperature (T_m) values up to 172°C and high yields up to 98%. The EO/PO/COS terpolymerization leads to the incorporation of soft poly(propylene sulfide) (PPS) and hard PES segments together, affording a random PES-co-PPS copoly(thioether) with the complete consumption of EO and PO. Additionally, by simply varying the EO/PO feeding ratio, the obtained copoly(thioether)s possess tunable thermal properties, T_m values in the range of 76–144°C, and excellent solubility. These copolymerizations are conducted in one-pot/one-step at industrially favored reaction temperatures of 100–120°C using catalysts of common organic bases, suggesting a facile and practical manner. Especially, the copoly(thioether) exhibits high refractive indices up to 1.68 owing to its high sulfur content, suggesting a broad application prospect in optical materials.     

Synthesis of copolymers of poly(ether sulfone ether ketone ketone) and poly(ether ketone diphenyl ketone ether ketone ketone) by electrophilic Friedel–Crafts solution polycondensation

A new monomer, 4,4′‐bis(4‐phenoxybenzoyl)diphenyl(BPOBDP), was synthesized via a two‐step synthetic procedure. A series of novel poly(ether sulfone ether ketone ketone)/poly(ether ketone diphenyl ketone ether ketone ketone) copolymers were prepared by electrophilic Friedel–Crafts solution copolycondensation of isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) with a mixture of 4,4′‐diphenoxydiphenylsulfone (DPODPS) and 4,4′‐bis(4‐phenoxybenzoyl)diphenyl (BPOBDP), in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride and N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE). The copolymers with 10–50 mol% DPODPS are semicrystalline and have remarkably increased T_gs over commercially available PEEK and PEKK. The copolymers with 40–50 mol% DPODPS had not only high T_gs of 170–172°C, but also moderate T_ms of 326–333°C, which are extremely suitable for melt processing. These copolymers have tensile strengths of 96.5–108.1 MPa, Young's moduli of 1.98–3.05 GPa, and elongations at break of 13–26% and exhibit excellent thermal stability and good resistance to acidity, alkali, and common organic solvents. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable block copolymers of ϵ-caprolactone and D,L-lactide initiated by potassium poly(ethylene glycol)ate

Poly(D ,L -lactide)–poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–poly(D ,L -lactide) block copolymer (PLA–PCL–PEG–PCL–PLA) was prepared by copolymerization of ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL) and D ,L -lactide (D ,L -LA) initiated by potassium poly(ethylene glycol)ate in THF at 25°C. The copolymers with different composition were synthesized by adjusting the mole ratio of reaction mixture. The resulted copolymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR, DSC, and GPC. Efforts to prepare copolymers with the corresponding structure of PCL–PLA–PEG–PLA–PCL and D ,L -lactide/ϵ-caprolactone random copolymers were not successful. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of cyclic polysulfides: Controlled ring‐expansion polymerization of cyclic tetrathioester with thiirane

We synthesized cyclic tetrathioesters containing thioester moieties at the o‐position (o‐CTE) and m‐position (m‐CTE) of an aromatic skeleton. The reaction of phenoxy propylenesulfide (PPS) with o‐CTE and m‐CTE was examined using tetrabutylammonium chloride as a catalyst in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, yielding the corresponding cyclic polysulfides poly[o‐CTE(PPS)_n] with M_n's = 37,000–54,000 at 34–61% yields and poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] with M_n's = 46,600–107,200 at 63–>99% yields. Although the molecular weights of poly[o‐CTE(PPS)_n] could not be controlled, those of poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] could be controlled by the feed ratios of PPS and reaction temperature. Furthermore, the glass transition temperature (T_g) and thermal decomposition temperature (T_dⁱ) of poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] increased with decreasing molecular weights. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 857–866     

Synthesis and characterization of ABA-type block copolymer of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with poly(ethylene glycol): Bioerodible copolymer

ABA-type block copolymers of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with poly(ethylene glycol) (M_n 6820), PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC, were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-dioxan-2-one (trimethylene carbonate) in the presence of poly-(ethylene glycol) with stannous octoate catalyst, and the copolymers with various compositions were obtained. The PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC copolymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The intrinsic viscosities of resulting copolymers increased with the increase of 1,3-dioxan-2-one content in feed while the molar ratio of monomer over catalyst kept constant. It has been observed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the PTMC segments in copolymers, recorded from differential scanning calorimetry, was dependent on the composition of copolymers. The melting temperature (T_m) of PEG blocks in copolymer was lower than that of PEG polymer, and then disappeared as the length of PTMC blocks increased. The results of dynamic contact angle measurement clearly revealed that the hydrophilicity of resulting copolymers increased greatly with the increase of PEG content in copolymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 695–702, 1998     

Synthesis and Enzymatic Degradation of Nylon 66 Copolymers with Poly(Ethyleneglycol)s

Abstract

Nylon 66 (N66) copolymers were prepared by melt polycondensation of adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine with 5–80 mol% poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), where the molecular weight (MW) of PEG was 200–1000. The reduced specific viscosity of the copolymers was increased by the copolymerization. The crystallinity and melting temperature (T _m) of N66 components decreased with increasing PEG content, but T _m depression of copolymers at the same mole content decreased with increasing MW of PEG, suggesting that the copolymer structures are not of the random type but of the block type at the higher MW of PEG. The water absorption increased with increasing PEG content, and its increase was much higher at the higher MW of PEG. The enzymatic degradation was estimated by the weight loss of copolymer films in the buffer solution with and without a lipase at 37°C. The weight loss was enhanced appreciably by the presence of a lipase, and increased abruptly at higher PEG content, which was correlated to water absorption and the concentration of ester linkages. The enzymatic degradation of these N66 copolymers was much higher than that of previously reported PET copolymers with PEG. The abrupt increase of weight loss by alkali hydrolysis was fairly comparable to that of water absorption.     

Oxyethylene copolymers with chloromethyl and (alkylthio)methyl or (alkylsulfonyl)methyl side groups: Syntheses and Tg/composition relationships

New classes of copolymers, poly[oxy(chloromethyl)ethylene]/poly[oxy-((alkylthio)methyl)ethylene] copolymers (CE-ATEs), poly[oxy((alkylthio)methyl)-ethylene]s (ATEs), poly[oxy(chloromethyl)ethylene]/poly[oxy((alkylsulfonyl)meth-yl)ethylene] copolymers (CE-ASEs), and poly[oxy((alkylsulfonyl)methyl)ethylene]s (ASEs) have been made for the first time. The thioether-containing polymers (CE-ATEs and ATEs) were synthesized by reacting poly[oxy(chloromethyl)ethylene] (CE, poly(epichlorohydrin)) with different amounts of sodium alkanethiolates. The sulfone-containing polymers (CE-ASEs and ASEs) were synthesized by oxidizing the CE-ATEs and ATEs using m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The Fox equation, a linear relationship, fit the T_g/composition data for most CE-ATEs. The T_g's of the CE-ASEs showed positive deviations from those calculated using the Fox equation. The Johnston equation, in which steric and/or polar interactions between dissimilar monomeric units are considered by using T_gAB (the T_g of the AB or BA dyad), fit the T_g/composition data for all copolymers in this study. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36 : 495–504, 1998     

Hydrolyzable poly(ester-urethane) networks from L-lysine diisocyanate and D,L-lactide/ϵ-caprolactone homo- and copolyester triols

Bioabsorbable poly(ester-urethane) networks were synthesized from ethyl 2,6-diisocyanatohexanoate (L -lysine diisocyanate) (LDI) and a series of polyester triols. LDI was synthesized by refluxing L-lysine monohydrochloride with ethanol to form the ester, which was subsequently refluxed with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane to yield a silazane-protected intermediate. This product was then phosgenated using triphosgene. Polyester triols were synthesized from D,L-lactide, ?-caprolactone, or comonomer mixtures thereof, using glycerol as initiator and stannous octoate as catalyst. Polyurethane networks were cured using [NCO]/[OH] = 1.05 and stannous octoate (0.05 wt %) for 24 h at room temperature and pressure and 24 h at 50°C and 0.1 mm Hg. LDI-based polyurethane networks were totally amorphous and possessed very low sol contents. Networks based on poly (D,L-lactide) triols were rigid (T_g ∽ 60°C) with ultimate tensile strengths of ～ 40–70 MPa, tensile moduli of ～ 1.2–2.0 GPa, and ultimate elongations of ～ 4–10%. Networks based on ?-caprolactone triols were low-modulus elastomers with tensile strengths and moduli of ～ 1–4 MPa and ～ 3–6 GPa, respectively, and ultimate elongations of ～ 50–300%. Networks based on copolymers displayed physical properties consistent with monomer composition and were tougher than the networks based on the homopolymers. Tensile strengths for the copolymers were ～ 3–25 MPa with ultimate elongations up to 600%. Hydrolytic degradation under simulated physiological conditions showed that D ,L -lactide homopolymer networks were the most resistant to degradation, undergoing virtually no change in mass or physical properties for 60 days. ?-Caprolactone-based networks were resistant to degradation for 40 days, and high-lactide copolymer-based networks suffered substantial losses in physical properties after only 3 days. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High‐molecular‐weight poly(1,2‐propylene succinate): A soft biobased polyester applicable as an effective modifier of poly(l‐Lactide)

Poly(1,2‐propylene succinate) (PPS) having high molecular weight can be synthesized by multi‐step melt‐polycondensation of succinic acid (SA) and 1,2‐propylene glycol (PG) with various catalysts. The first step is noncatalytic esterification/oligomerization of the two monomers, followed by the second step of catalytic melt‐polycondensation. In this step, co‐catalyst systems of Zn(AcO)₂/Ge(OBu)₄ and Zn(AcO)₂/Ti(BuO)₄ are effective for obtaining PPS having middle molecular weights (>10.0 kDa). This middle‐molecular‐weight PPS is chain‐elongated in the third‐step polycondensation with Zn(AcO)₂ as the catalyst to obtain a molecular weight reaching 120 kDa. As verified by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra combined with two‐dimensional experiments, PPS has a ω‐bis‐hydroxy structure where the PG units leave the secondary hydroxyl terminals in larger ratio than the primary hydroxyl terminals. The PPS polymers are amorphous in nature, showing T_g around −4 °C. PPS can be solution‐ and melt‐blended with poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA). By melt‐blending a high‐molecular‐weight PPS in an amount of 7.5–15 wt %, the modulus of the PLLA films decreases below 2000 MPa and the tear strength increases twice, supporting the effectiveness of PPS polymer in imparting flexible nature to PLLA. PPS polymers can therefore be applicable as elastomeric or flexible plastic modifiers having a 100 % biobased content. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1795–1805     

Segmented block copolymers based on poly(propylene oxide) and monodisperse polyamide‐6,T segments

Polyether(ester amide)s with poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and monodisperse poly(hexamethylene terephthalamide) segments were synthesized, and their structure–property relations were investigated. The length of the amide segments was varied from diamide to tetraamide to hexaamide segments, and therefore the number hydrogen bonds per amide segment increased from two to four to six. PPO was end‐capped with 20 wt % ethylene oxide and had number‐average molecular weights of 1000, 2300, and 4000 g/mol (including ethylene oxide tips). The morphology of the poly‐ether(ester amide)s was studied with transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, the thermal properties were studied with differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and the tensile properties were studied with dumbbell samples. The elastic behavior of the block copolymers was investigated with tensile and compression tests. These segmented copolymers had two sharp transitions: a glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the PEO–PPO–PEO phase [where PEO is poly(ethylene oxide)] and a melting temperature (T_m) of the amide segments. The amide segments crystallized in nanoribbons with a high aspect ratio 1000. T_m increased with the amide segment length and with decreasing PEO–PPO–PEO content (solvent effect). The modulus increased strongly with the amide content. This modulus increase could be described by the Halpin–Tsai fiber composite model. Increasing the amide segment length surprisingly also improved the elasticity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4769–4781, 2006     

Crystallization Behaviors and Regime Kinetics Analysis of Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lactide)-poly(butylene adipate)-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lactide) Based Multiblock Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

Poly(L-lactide)-based (PLLA) poly(ester-urethane)s are particularly relevant and gain significant attention due to their environment-friendly degradability and elastomeric shape memory capability. The tensile properties, resilience and degradation are strongly affected by their crystallization. This work was to investigate crystallization behaviors of the poly(L-lactide)-poly(butylene adipate)-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-PBAPLLA) based thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (PLAEUs) we synthesized previously. Dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM) in combination with Avrami, Jezioney and Hoffman-Weeks models were used to analyze the impact of the PLLA block length on the crystallization temperature T_c, degree of crystallinity X_c, nucleation and spherulite growth mode and crystallization regime kinetics of the PLAEUs. The results indicate the low melting point poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) block resides in the amorphous domains while the PLLA block resides in both crystalline and amorphous phases. The X_c of the PLAEUs increase with the increased length of the PLLA block (i.e. higher content of PLLA block). The analyses with Avrami and Jezioney models show the PLAEU copolymers follow a disc-like spherulite growth. The covalently bonded PBA block decreases both nucleation velocity and spherulite growth rate in the isothermal crystallization. Such an impact is lessened as PLLA block length increases. The PLLA homopolymers demonstrate crystallization regime transition from II to III at a certain T_c of isothermal crystallization, while the crystallization regime kinetics of PLLA block in the PLAEUs are explained by a single regime III at low molecular weights of PLLA and the transition is restored as the PLLA block length increases (i.e. regime II to III).     

Phase separation in semicrystalline blends of poly(phenylene sulfide) and poly(ethylene terephthalate). II. Effect of poly(phenylene sulfide) homopolymer solubilization of PPS‐graft‐PET copolymer on morphology and crystallization behavior

The morphology and crystallization behavior of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends compatibilized with graft copolymers were investigated. PPS‐blend‐PET compositions were prepared in which the viscosity of the PPS phase was varied to assess the morphological implications. The dispersed‐phase particle size was influenced by the combined effects of the ratio of dispersed‐phase viscosity to continuous‐phase viscosity and reduced interfacial tension due to the addition of PPS‐graft‐PET copolymers to the blends. In the absence of graft copolymer, the finest dispersion of PET in a continuous phase of PPS was achieved when the viscosity ratio between blend components was nearly equal. As expected, PET particle sizes increased as the viscosity ratio diverged from unity. When graft copolymers were added to the blends, fine dispersions of PET were achieved despite large differences in the viscosities of PPS and PET homopolymers. The interfacial activity of the PPS‐graft‐PET copolymer appeared to be related to the molecular weight ratio of the PPS homopolymer to the PPS segment of the graft copolymer (M_H/M_A). With increasing solubilization of the PPS graft copolymer segment by the PPS homopolymer, the particle size of the PET dispersed phase decreased. In crystallization studies, the presence of the PPS phase increased the crystallization temperature of PET. The magnitude of the increase in the PET crystallization temperature coincided with the viscosity ratio and extent of the PPS homopolymer solubilization in the graft copolymer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 599–610, 2000     

Novel synthesis of biodegradable amphiphilic linear and star block copolymers based on poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol)

Biodegradable, amphiphilic, diblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL‐b‐PEG), triblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL‐b‐PEG‐b‐PCL), and star shaped copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether or poly(ethylene glycol) or star poly(ethylene glycol) and potassium hexamethyldisilazide as a catalyst. Polymerizations were carried out in toluene at room temperature to yield monomodal polymers of controlled molecular weight. The chemical structure of the copolymers was investigated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The formation of block copolymers was confirmed by ¹³C NMR and DSC investigations. The effects of copolymer composition and molecular structure on the physical properties were investigated by GPC and DSC. For the same PCL chain length, the materials obtained in the case of linear copolymers are viscous whereas in the case of star copolymer solid materials are obtained with low T_g and T_m temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3975–3985, 2007     

Ionic bonding in butadiene copolymers. I. Network formation

The mechanical effects of association between pendant ionic groups are investigated in series of butadiene–lithium methacrylate copolymers, butadiene–methyl (2-methyl-5-vinyl)-pyridinium iodide copolymers, and mixtures of these polyelectrolytes. Thermal and mechanical tests reveal a new transition above T_g in the pyridinium copolymers, designated T_t^*. Below this temperature the materials behave like covalently crosslinked elastomers. The complex between the metal carboxylates appears thermally dissociable at all temperatures. The mixing of the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes leads to the formation of more stable intermolecular pyridinium carboxylate links.     

Synthesis and properties of biodegradable copolymers based on 4,4′‐(adipoyldioxy)dicinnamic acid, 1,6‐hexanediol,and poly(ethylene glycol)s

4,4′‐(Adipoyldioxy)dicinnamic acid (CAC) was synthesized by a condensation of adipoyl chloride and 4‐hydroxycinnamic acid. The CAC6 copolymers were prepared by a high‐temperature solution polycondensation of a diacyl chloride of CAC, 1,6‐hexanediol (6), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in which the molecular weights of PEG are 1000, 2000, and 8300. Differential scanning calorimetric curves of the copolymers exhibited a glass‐transition temperature because of PEG moiety and two melting endotherms (T_m's); the one at the higher T_m was due to CAC6 moiety, and the other at the lower T_m was due to PEG moiety, suggesting that these copolymers are the block type. The incorporation of the PEG component decreased the tensile strength and initial modulus, but increased the elongation extremely. The enzymatic degradation was performed in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) with Ps. cepacia lipase at 37 °C. The degradation rate of the copolymers increased significantly with an increasing content of PEG, which was correlated to the water absorption of the copolymers. All copolymers could undergo photocuring by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation (λ > 280 nm) at ambient temperature, as examined by UV spectroscopy and solubility. The CAC6/E2000(50/50) film photocured for 3 min exhibited a good elastic property with a maximum tensile strength of 3.7 MPa and maximum elongation of 640%. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2930–2938, 2003     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether)s containing 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one or 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazine moieties

A series of novel soluble pyridazinone‐ or pyridazine‐containing poly(arylene ether)s were prepared by a polycondensation reaction. The pyridazinone monomer, 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one ( 1 ), was synthesized from the corresponding acetophenone and glyoxylic acid in a simple one‐pot reaction. The pyridazinone monomer was successfully copolymerized with bisphenol A (BPA) or 1,2‐dihydro‐4‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)phthalazin‐1(2H)‐one (DHPZ) and bis(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfone to form high‐molecular‐weight polymers. The copolymers had inherent viscosities of 0.5–0.9 dL/g. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the copolymers synthesized with BPA increased with increasing content of the pyridazinone monomer. The T_g's of the copolymers synthesized from DHPZ with different pyridazinone contents were similar to those of the two homopolymers. The homopolymers showed T_g's from 202 to 291 °C by differential scanning calorimetry. The 5% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen measured by thermogravimetric analysis were in the range of 411–500 °C. 4‐(6‐Chloropyridazin‐3‐yl)phenol ( 2 ) was synthesized from 1 via a simple one‐pot reaction. 2 was copolymerized with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol and bis(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfone to form high‐T_g polymers. The copolymers with less than 80 mol % pyridazinone or chloropyridazine monomers were soluble in chlorinated solvents such as chloroform. The copolymers with higher pyridazinone contents and homopolymers were not soluble in chlorinated solvents but were still soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents such as N‐methylpyrrolidinone. The soluble polymers could be cast into flexible films from solution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3328–3335, 2006     

Thermal behavior and crystallization kinetics of random poly(ethylene‐Co‐2,2‐Bis[4‐(ethylenoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]propane terephthalate) copolyesters

The thermal behavior of poly(ethylene‐co‐2,2‐bis[4‐(ethylenoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]propane terephthalate) (PET/BHEEBT) copolymers was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. A good thermal stability was found for all the samples. The thermal analysis carried out using DSC technique showed that the T_m of the copolymers decreased with increasing BHEEBT unit content, differently from T_g, which on the contrary increased. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements permitted identifying the kind of crystalline structure of PET in all the semicrystalline samples. The multiple endotherms similar to PET were also evidenced in the PET/BHEEBT samples, due to melting and recrystallization processes. By applying the Hoffman–Weeks' method, the T_m° of PET and its copolymers was derived. The isothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed according to Avrami's treatment and values of the exponent n close to 3 were obtained, independently of T_c and composition. Moreover, the introduction of BHEEBT units was found to decrease PET crystallization rate. Lastly, the presence of a crystal‐amorphous interphase was evidenced. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1441–1454, 2005