Fe(III) sequestering agents built on poly(ethylenimine) through crosslinkage of three molecules of a salicylate derivative preassembled by Fe(III) ion

Three molecules of 5-(bromoacetyl) salicylate ( 1 ) complexed to Fe(III) ion were crosslinked with poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) in DMSO by alkylation of amino groups of PEI with 1 , leading to the formation of Fe(Sal)₃PEI, a water-soluble polymer. Several other derivatives including the immobilized form were also prepared. Examination of the values of log K_f for the PEI derivatives indicated that each Fe(III) binding site in Fe(Sal)₃PEI contains three salicylate moieties. In addition, the log K_f revealed that the effective molarity (EM) of the salicylate groups contained in the Fe(III) binding site is ca. 1000M. The high EM value shows that the geometry of the coordination sphere is well conserved during the crosslinkage with PEI of 1 preassembled around Fe(III) ion. In view of the EM value and the pK_a values of salicylic phenols in apo(Sal)₃-PEI, the metal-free form, the three salicylate groups of each Fe(III) binding site appear to occupy proximal positions leading to effective cooperation in Fe(III) binding. Fast, strong, and selective binding of Fe(III) ion by the binding site comprising three salicylate moieties was demonstrated. In addition, rapid demetalation of the resulting complexes as well as chemical stability of the immobilized chelating agents built on PEI were achieved. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1197–1210, 1997     

Oxaaza macrocycles constructed on poly(ethylenimine) through Ni(II)-template cyclization and their metal binding

Polymeric oxaaza macrocycles (PEI-OAM) are constructed on poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) by Ni(II)-template alkylation of PEI with diethyleneglycol ditosylate. The K_f values for Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of PEI–OAM are measured at pH 3.5–10 at 25°C. At pH 7, log K_f values for these complexes are 9–15, indicating that the polymeric oxaaza macrocycles can readily reduce concentrations of these metal ions below ppb level. Metal binding ability of nonpolymeric oxaaza macrocyclic compounds reported in the literature decreases rapidly as pH is lowered below 7, whereas that of PEI–OAM decreases to lesser extents. This is attributed to the electrostatic effects exerted by the ammonium ions of PEI backbone. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 527–532, 1997.     

Synthesis,characterization, and polychelatogenic properties of poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)

The radical copolymerization of acrylic acid with acrylamide was carried out at different monomer ratios in solution (DMF) at 60°C. The corresponding homopolymers were also synthesized to compare their metal ion binding abilities. All the copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis. The metal ion binding properties of these water-soluble polymers with Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Fe(III), and Cr(III) ions were investigated in aqueous solution using the Liquid-Phase Polymer-Based Retention (LPR) technique. Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) showed a higher retention compared to the homopolymers for all the metal ions except of Hg(II), which was not retained. Besides, the retention of Cd(II) is higher than that an addition of the retention of both homopolymers. It may be attributed to a synergic effect. Maximum capacity for Cu(II) at pH 5.0 was determined to be 1 mmol g⁻¹ (63.5 mg g⁻¹). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2461–2467, 1997     

Alternating copolymerizations of styrene derivatives and carbon monoxide in the presence of a palladium (II) catalyst

A series of styrene derivatives were synthesized from aromatic substances by Friedel-Crafts acylation, reduction, and dehydration. Alternating copolymers of styrene derivatives and carbon monoxide were prepared in the presence of a palladium(II) catalyst. The characterization of the polyketones produced was performed by use of ¹H-NMR, IR, WXRD, and EA methods. The thermal degradation of the regular alternating copolymer of carbon monoxide and styrene (STCO) has been studied by thermal gravimetry (TG). The TG spectra of solid samples were recorded both in nitrogen and in air. The degradation reaction order and activation energy were determined. The photodegradation of STCO was investigated. In addition, the block copolymerization of STCO with methyl methacrylate under UV irradiations was also studied. It is found that the tertiary amine can promote this photopolymerization. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1283–1291, 1997     

Alkyl-substituted poly(2,5-benzophenone)s synthesized via Ni(0)-catalyzed coupling of aromatic dichlorides and their miscible blends

High molecular weight poly(2,5-benzophenone) derivatives were prepared by Ni(0)-catalyzed coupling of 4′-substituted 2,5-dichlorobenzophenones. Monomers were synthesized by the Friedel–Crafts reaction of 2,5-dichlorobenzoyl chloride and alkyl-substituted benzenes in the presence of aluminum chloride. The resulting polymers are soluble and show no evidence of crystallinity by DSC. Number average molecular weights are in the range of 9.2 × 10³–11.7 × 10³ g/mol by multiple angle laser light scattering (MALLS). Molecular weights obtained by MALLS are only slightly lower (∼90%) than those obtained by GPC (polystyrene standards). These polymers exhibit high thermal stability with glass transition temperatures ranging from 173 to 225°C and weight loss occurring above 450°C in nitrogen and 430°C in air. Additionally, the polymers were blended and the resulting polymer films appear to be miscible by DSC results. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2611–2618, 1998     

Equilibrium constant for coordinative polymerization of an o,o′-dihydroxyazobenzene derivative with Ni(II) ion in water

Equilibrium constant (K_CP) for coordinative polymerization is measured for the first time. Constant K_CP is defined as [L]_cp/[M][L], where [L]_cp represents the concentration of the ligand present in the coordination polymer. Plot of absorbance changes measured for 3, a water-soluble derivative of o,o′-dihydroxyazobenzene, against the concentration of Ni(II) ion indicates formation of a 1 : 1-type complex in water at pH 7.74 and 25°C when Ni (II) is added in excess of 3. The 1 : 1-type complex can be either Ni 3, the monomeric complex, or (Ni 3 )_n, the coordination polymer. The equilibrium constant for formation of the 1 : 1-type complex is estimated as 10^13.10 by using UO₂²⁺ ion as the competing metal ion. For the Ni(II) complex of an o,o′-dihydroxyazobenzene derivative attached to poly(ethylenimine), the formation constant is estimated as 10^5.36. Due to the structure of the polymer, possibility of coordinative polymerization is excluded for the polymer-based ligand. The much greater equilibrium constant for formation of the Ni(II) complex of 3, therefore, indicates formation of (Ni 3 )_n instead of Ni 3. The value of K_CP for (Ni 3 )_n shows that only 10⁻⁷% of the initially added 3 is left unpolymerized when Ni(II) is added in excess of 3 by 10⁻⁴ M. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1825–1830, 1997     

Synthesis of novel polyxanthenes from poly(arylene ether)s containing benzoyl groups

Poly(arylene ether)s ( 3 ), ( 4 ) containing pendant benzoyl groups as precursors for novel polyxanthenes ( 7 ), ( 8 ) were prepared by nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2,5-difluoro-4-benzoylbenzophenone ( 1 ) or 2,5-difluoro-4-(4-dodecylbenzoyl)-4′-dodecylbenzophenone ( 2 ) with hydroquinone derivatives in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylacetamide. The polycondensation proceeded smoothly at 165°C and produced poly(arylene ether)s with inherent viscosities up to 0.80 dL/g. The novel polyxanthenes were synthesized via the reduction of poly(arylene ether)s followed by the Friedel-Crafts cyclization of diol polymers. The structure of the polyxanthenes was characterized by ¹H-NMR and IR spectroscopies. Polyxanthene 8 was quite soluble in chloroform and THF. The 10% weight loss temperature of polyxanthene 7 was 510°C in nitrogen and it was 90°C higher than the corresponding poly(arylene ether) 3 . © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2267–2272, 1997     

Ion binding properties of poly(ethylene oxide)-based networks in dioxane and toluene

Binding constants of alkali picrates to poly(ethylene oxide)-based networks were measured spectrophotometrically in dioxane at 25 and 40°C. The networks were synthesized from aliphatic tri- or tetrafunctional isocyanates and α,ω-diamino-poly-(ethylene glycol)s. The slopes of the Klotz binding plots appear to decrease in the lower picrate concentration range, suggesting that binding of the salt becomes more difficult at high picrate content. It was shown that under saturation conditions six to seven ethylene oxide units are required to bind a sodium picrate ion pair. The affinity of the PEO-resins for the alkali picrate can be enhanced by immobilizing a poly(crown ether) in the network. A number of competition experiments for sodium picrate in toluene was also carried out to obtain the affinity of soluble ligands for alkali salts. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1819–1824, 1997     

Binding of uranyl ion by poly(ethylenimine) containing a salicylate derivative

Three molecules of 5-(bromoacetyl)salicylate ( 1 ) complexed to uranyl UO ion were crosslinked with branchy poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) in DMSO by alkylation of amino groups of PEI with 1, leading to the formation of UO₂(Sal) PEI. Upon demetalation of UO₂(Sal) PEI with HCl, apo(Sal) PEI was obtained. Based on the pH dependence of log K_f for UO₂(Sal) PEI, it was concluded that each uranyl binding site in UO₂(Sal) PEI or apo(Sal) PEI contains three salicylate moieties. In terms of the equilibrium constant for formation of the uranyl complex, apo(Sal) PEI was found to be comparable to or better than the previously reported effective uranophiles. In terms of the rates for the formation of the uranyl complex, however, apo(Sal) PEI was far superior to those other uranophiles. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2935–2942, 1997     

New synthetic methods for the formation of basic,polyvalent, hyperbranched grafts

A practical synthetic route to polybasic, polyamine, hyperbranched grafts using commercially available polyethyleneimine (PEI) and cyanuric chloride as a coupling agent is described. The grafting process was followed by XPS spectroscopy, TGA analysis, ATR‐IR spectroscopy, acid–base titration, and by ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopy. In the case of silica gel, thermal gravimetric analyses showed that a 35 wt % loading of graft could be obtained. Acid–base titration of hyperbranched PEI grafts on silica gel and oxidized polyethylene powder showed the ion‐exchange capacities of these PEI‐grafted substrates were 1.00 and 0.17 mmol of base/g of solid, respectively. Although the focus of the paper is on grafting on silica gel, the influence of the kind of support and solvent on the grafting process and the ion‐exchange capacity was examined. Water was a good solvent for PEI grafting onto silica gel, but a more hydrophobic polyethylene support required the use of dichloromethane as a solvent for PEI graft synthesis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4654–4665. 2005     

Synthesis and properties of polyimides derived from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene

Novel aromatic polyimides containing symmetric, bulky di-tert-butyl substituents unit were synthesized from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene (BADTB) and various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides by the conventional two-stage procedure that included ring-opening polyaddition in a polar solvent such as N,N-dimethylacetamide to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by cyclodehydration to polyimides. The diamine was prepared through the nucleophilic displacement of 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃, followed by catalytic reduction. Depending on the dianhydrides used, the poly(amic acid)s obtained had inherent viscosities of 0.83–1.88 dL g⁻¹. Most of the polyimides formed transparent, flexible, and tough films. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the BADTB-based polyimide films ranged from 68–93 MPa and 7–11%, respectively. The polyimide derived from 4,4′-hexafluoro-isopropylidenebisphathalic anhydride had better solubility than the other polyimides. These polyimides had glass transition temperatures between 242–298°C and 10% mass loss temperatures were recorded in the range of 481–520°C in nitrogen. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1527–1534, 1997     

A solution‐processible poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) without alkyl substitution: Introducing the cis‐vinylene segments in polymer chain for improved solubility,blue emission,and high efficiency

A soluble all‐aromatic poly(2,5‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (2,5‐DP‐PPV) is synthesized by utilizing aromatic phosphonium and aldehyde monomers through Wittig reaction. The H¹ NMR and FTIR measurements indicate that over 50% content of cis‐vinylene units exist in polymer backbone. The diphenyl‐substituted benzaldehyde monomer plays an important role to enhance cis‐products (Z‐selectivity) in Wittig reactions. The twisted cis‐segments in polymer backbone reduce the interchain interactions and enhance the solubility of such all‐aromatic PPV derivative in common organic solvents. 2,5‐DP‐PPV exhibits good solubility in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. The polymer film exhibits a blue light emission (λ_max = 485 nm) and a very high photoluminescence efficiency of 78%. The cis‐trans photo isomerization of this polymer in solution and the impact on the optical properties are also investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5242–5250, 2008     

Multiblock copolymers of poly(2,5‐benzophenone) and disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) for proton‐exchange membranes. I. Synthesis and characterization

Nanophase‐separated, hydrophilic–hydrophobic multiblock copolymers are promising proton‐exchange‐membrane materials because of their ability to form various morphological structures that enhance transport. A series of poly(2,5‐benzophenone)‐activated, telechelic aryl fluoride oligomers with different block molecular weights were successfully synthesized by the Ni(0)‐catalyzed coupling of 2,5‐dichlorobenzophenone and the end‐capping agent 4‐chloro‐4′‐fluorobenzophenone. These telechelic oligomers (hydrophobic) were then copolymerized with phenoxide‐terminated, disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (hydrophilic) by nucleophilic, aromatic substitution to form hydrophilic–hydrophobic multiblock copolymers. High‐molecular‐weight multiblock copolymers with number‐average block lengths ranging from 3000 to 10,000 g/mol were successfully synthesized. Two separate glass‐transition temperatures were observed via differential scanning calorimetry in the transparent multiblock copolymer films when each block length was longer than 6000 g/mol. Tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy also showed clear nanophase separation between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains and the influence of the block length as it increased from 6000 to 10,000 g/mol. Transparent and creasable films were solvent‐cast and exhibited moderate proton conductivity and low water uptake. These copolymers are promising candidates for high‐temperature proton‐exchange membranes in fuel cells, which will be reported separately in part II of this series. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 284–294, 2007     

Ethylene polymerization by bis(salicylaldiminate)nickel(II)/aluminoxane catalysts

The homopolymerization of ethylene by using different catalytic systems based on dinitro‐substituted bis(salicylaldiminate)nickel(II) precursors such as bis[3,5‐dinitro‐N(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)]nickel(II) and bis[3,5‐dinitro‐N(phenyl)]nickel(II) in combination with organoaluminum compounds was investigated. In particular, the catalytic performances were studied as a function of the main reaction parameters, such as temperature, pressure, Al/Ni molar ratio, and duration. Methylaluminoxane resulted in the best co‐catalyst. Activities up to 200 kg polyethylene/(mol Ni × h) to give a linear high‐molecular‐weight polymer were achieved. The influence of the bulkiness of the substituents on the N‐aryl group of the aldimine ligand was also checked; it resulted in a determinant for catalytic activity rather than for polymer characteristics. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2534–2542, 2004     

Molecular structure determination of Ni(II) diimine complex and DMA analysis of Ni(II) diimine‐based polyethenes

Dynamic mechanical thermoanalysis showed that polyethene, prepared under suitable polymerization conditions with the Brookhart‐type catalyst dibromo‐N,N′‐1,2‐acenaphthylenediylidenebis[2,6‐bis(1‐methylethyl)benzeneamine]Ni(II)/methylaluminoxane (MAO), behaved like an elastomer, even though no comonomer was added. A structural characterization showed that the polymers contained methyl to hexyl branches and some longer branches. The effect of the polymerization conditions on branching was investigated through variations in the pressure and temperature of the polymerization. Depending on the degree and type of branching, polyethene was either quite amorphous or highly crystalline with a high melting temperature. The solid‐state structure of the catalyst dibromo‐N,N′‐1,2‐acenaphthylenediylidenebis[2,6‐bis(1‐methylethyl)benzeneamine]Ni(II) consisted of two centrosymmetrically related monomeric moieties, where Ni atoms were bridged by two bromide ligands. The Ni atom was five‐coordinated, with a square pyramidal coordination polyhedron. The sixth coordination site of the octahedral geometry was effectively blocked by the isopropyl groups of the 2,6‐C₆H₃(i‐Pr) substituents of the diimine ligand. In solution in the presence of MAO, the longer bridging Ni? Br bonds broke, and the complex dissociated to a monomeric species. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1426–1434, 2001     

Synthesis and property comparison of isomeric AB‐type homo‐ and copoly(etherimide)s

AB‐type homo‐ and copoly(etherimide)s were prepared by the polymerization of 3‐ and 4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyloxy)aniline hydrochlorides ( 3A and 4A ) at 160 °C in dimethylacetamide in the presence of triethylamine and triphenyl phosphite. After the structures of the polymers were characterized, their solubilities, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption behaviors, thermal properties, and crystallinities were measured, and these properties are discussed with respect to the structure of the homopolymers and the composition of the copolymers. Poly(etherimide) (PEI) derived from 3A [PEI( 3A )] was amorphous and soluble in chloroform on heating, whereas that derived from 4A [PEI( 4A )] was crystalline and insoluble in common organic solvents even on heating. In UV–vis absorption spectra, PEI( 4A ) showed a small bathochromic shift relative to N‐phenylphthalimide, but PEI(3A) did not. PEI(3A) revealed a glass‐transition temperature (T_g) at 195 °C, but no T_g was detectable for PEI( 4A ). All the measured physical properties of the copoly(etherimide)s showed a good dependence on their composition between PEI( 3A ) and PEI( 4A ). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 402–410, 2000     

Side‐chain glycylglycine‐based polymer for simultaneous sensing and removal of copper(II) from aqueous medium

Since glycylglycine (Gly‐Gly) residue in the N‐terminal region of human prion protein, a copper binding protein, binds with Cu(II), N‐terminus Gly‐Gly side‐chain containing water soluble block copolymer was synthesized and used for simultaneous sensing and removal of Cu(II) ion from aqueous medium. The polymer has amide nitrogen atom and ester carbonyl group as potential binding sites in the side‐chain Gly‐Gly pendants. Job's plot experiment confirms 2:1 binding stoichiometry of polymer with Cu(II). This polymer is able to sense parts per billion level of Cu(II) very selectively in an aqueous medium and remove Cu(II) ions quantitatively by precipitating out the Cu(II) via complex formation in the pH range 7–9. The binding mode of polymer with Cu(II) in polymer‐Cu(II) complex was characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The attachment of Cu(II) in the polymer‐Cu(II) complex was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry experiment. Cu(II) release from the complex was achieved at pH 5 due to the protonation of amide nitrogen atoms in the Gly‐Gly moiety. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 914–921     

Miscibility,melting, and crystallization of poly(butylene‐2,6‐naphthalate)/poly(ether imide) blends

We prepared blends of poly(butylene‐2,6‐naphthalate) (PBN) and poly(ether imide) (PEI) by solution‐casting from dichloroacetic acid solutions. The miscibility, crystallization, and melting behavior of the blends were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis. PBN was miscible with PEI over the entire range of compositions, as shown by the existence of single composition‐dependent glass‐transition temperatures. In addition, a negative polymer–polymer interaction parameter was calculated, with the Nishi–Wang equation, based on the melting depression of PBN. In nonisothermal crystallization investigations, the depression of the crystallization temperature of PBN depended on the composition of the blend and the cooling rate; the presence of PEI reduced the number of PBN segments migrating to the crystallite/melt interface. Melting, recrystallization, and remelting processes occurring during the DSC heating scan caused the occurrence of multiple melting endotherms for PBN. We explored the effects of various experimental conditions on the melting behavior of PBN/PEI blends. The extent of recrystallization of the PBN component during DSC heating scans decreased as the PEI content, the heating rate, the crystallization temperature, and the crystallization time increased. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1694–1704, 2004     

New light‐colored poly(ether imide)s based on 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone bis(ether anhydride) and aromatic diamines

A series of poly(ether imide)s (PEIs), III _a–k , with light color and good physical properties were prepared from 1,4‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxypheoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene dianhydride ( I ) with various aromatic diamines ( II _a–k ) via a conventional two‐stage procedure that included a ring‐opening polyaddition to yield poly(amic acid)s (PAA), followed by thermal imidization to the PEI. The intermediate PAA had inherent viscosities in the range of 1.00–1.53 dL g^?1. Most of the PEIs showed excellent solubility in chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and m‐cresol, but did not easily dissolve in dimethyl sulfoxide and amide‐type polar solvents. The III series had tensile strengths of 96–116 MPa, an elongation at break of 7–8%, and initial moduli of 2.0–2.5 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) and softening temperatures (T_s's) of the III series were recorded between 232 and 285 °C and 216–279 °C, respectively. The decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss all occurred above 511 °C in nitrogen and 487 °C in air. The III series showed low dielectric constants (2.71–3.54 at 1 MHz), low moisture absorption (0.18–0.66 wt %), and was light‐colored with a cutoff wavelength below 380 nm and a low yellow index (b^*) values of 7.3–14.8. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1270–1284, 2005     

Uranyl ion complexation of 2,2′-dihydroxyazobenzene enhanced on a backbone of poly(ethylenimine)

The formation constant (K_f) for the uranyl complex of 2,2′-dihydroxyazobenzene (DHAB) was measured with DHAB attached to poly(ethylenimine) (DHAB-PEI) at pH 7.7 to 9.4. The value of K_f was estimated from the equilibrium constant for extraction of uranyl ion from the uranyl complex of DHAB-PEI (UO₂DHAB-PEI) with carbonate ion, which in turn was measured from the absorbance change observed on addition of bicarbonate ion to the solution of UO₂DHAB-PEI. At pH 8.0, the uranyl-binding ability of DHAB was enhanced by about 10⁴ times on attachment of DHAB to PEI. The major origin of the increased ability of uranyl ion complexation is the basic local microenvironment of PEI, which encourages ionization of the phenol groups of DHAB. Various other possible origins are discussed also. The log K_f for DHAB-PEI at pH 8.0 indicates that DHAB moieties of DHAB-PEI are mostly occupied, whereas DHAB unattached to PEI is mostly unoccupied by uranyl ion under conditions of seawater when only the pH and concentrations of bicarbonate and uranyl ions of seawater are considered. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3936–3942, 1999