Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. II. Kinetic study of radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in dry and high-vacuum system

A kinetic study of the radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state has been made. Trioxane was purified by sublimation through Ag₂O and Na–K alloy in vacuo and was both irradiated and polymerized in a super-dry system under high vacuum. In the present study it was found that the initial rate of polymerization is larger than that reported previously. It is reasonably suggested that the postpolymerization of trioxane consists of two stages, i.e., a very large rate at the first stage and a relatively small one at the second stage. By using the kinetic scheme proposed previously kinetic parameters at the second stage were determined. It was found that trioxane can be postpolymerized even at a temperature below 30°C with good reproducibility and that the overall activation energy of the polymerization was less than 15 kcal/mole. No chain-transfer reaction seems to occur except at low temperatures. These results have been discussed in comparison with data reported previously.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. IV. Copolymerization of trioxane with dioxolane

The radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane has been investigated. Trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane were carefully purified in a rigorously dry, high-vacuum system. In the present study it was found that trioxane can be easily copolymerized with 1,3-dioxolane to give a copolymer having high molecular weight and excellent thermal stability. Typically, the isothermal weight loss after heating for 60 minutes under nitrogen at 222°C was 3.5% for a copolymer of trioxane and 1.0 wt-%1,3-dioxolane preirradiated with a dose of 1.0 × 10⁵ Rad. The thermal stability of the copolymer was scarcely affected by the polymerization temperature and time, although it decreased slightly with increasing preirradiation dose. The dependences of the yield and inherent viscosity of the polymer on the preirradiation dosage, polymerization temperature and time were quite similar to those found for the homopolymerization of trioxane. The results were analyzed by using the kinetic scheme previously reported, and it was found that no chain transfer reaction occurs in this system. These results are discussed in comparison with those of homopolymerization reported previously.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. V. Studies on copolymer composition

Studies on the composition of copolymers obtained by the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane have been carried out. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the reaction mixtures showed that most of the 1,3-dioxolane disappears rapidly from the reaction system in an early stage of polymerization, and that the fraction of ethylene oxide units in the copolymer chain [E] decreases markedly with increasing polymer yield. This finding was confirmed by NMR spectra of the copolymer. DSC thermograms of the copolymer indicated that the relationship between the melting point and the average composition of copolymers prepared in this study differed from that found for copolymers in which comonomer units are distributed statistically in the polymer chain. It was suggested that the copolymer formed by the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane–1,3-dioxolane is characterized by a heterogeneous distribution of ethylene oxide units in the copolymer chain. It was also found that, in the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane–1,3-dioxolane, the amount of tetraoxane formation increased linearly with increasing polymer yield. Although it is extremely small compared with that obtained in solution polymerization, it is slightly larger in the trioxane–1,3-dioxolane system than in the trioxane system.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of tetraoxane in the solid state. II. Molecular weight distribution

In order to investigate the mechanism of the radiation-induced postpolymerization of tetraoxane in the solid state, the polymer was fractionated, and the fractions were characterized by reduced viscosity. The molecular weight of polymer formed in vacuo decreased drastically after the introduction of oxygen under conditions such that the polymer yield increased. The decrease in the molecular weight in the postpolymerization of tetraoxane is attributed to degradation of the polymer in the presence of oxygen. It is suggested that at least peroxides formed by preirradiation contribute to both the increase in polymer yield and the decrease in molecular weight of the polymer.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cationic polymerization of trioxane. II. Consideration of hydride transfer

The occurrence of hydride-transfer reactions during the cationic polymerization of trioxane was demonstrated, and rate constants were obtained. The donor of hydride ions in the transfer reactions was the monomer. The hydride-transfer reaction was a first-order reaction with respect to the concentration of the monomer, and it was governed, just as polymerization and depolymerization were (Shieh, Y. T.; Chen. S. A. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 1999, 37, 483–492) by morphological changes. The hydride-transfer rate constants were 5 orders of magnitude smaller than those for polymerizations and depolymerizations. The rate constants for the reactions, including the polymerizations, depolymerizations, and hydride transfers, were smaller for the active centers on the solid surface than for those in solution, that is, k^′_p was less than k_p, k^′_d was less than k_d, and k^′_ht was less than k_ht. As a reaction medium, benzene had special effects on the kinetics of the cationic polymerization of trioxane. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4198–4204, 1999     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of nitroethylene

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of nitroethylene in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran glass has been studied and discussed in reference to the results obtained from ESR measurements. No postpolymerization occurred at the temperature below ?150°C. In the temperature range between ?135°C and ?78°C, the polymer yield decreased with increasing postpolymerization temperature. The polymer yield increased linearly with the increase of the preirradiation dose in the range below 0.9 × 10⁶ r. The mean value for chain initiation was estimated to be about 1.3. The following correlations were observed between the results of the postpolymerization and ESR measurements. The postpolymerization started in the temperature range between ?140°C and ?135°C, where the ESR spectrum due to the anion radicals of nitroethylene disappeared. The polymer yield of the postpolymerization decreased with the photoirradiation at ?196°C before warming the samples in parallel with the photobleachability of the anion radicals observed in the glassy mixture by the ESR method. It was concluded from these results that the radiation-induced postpolymerization was initiated by the anion radicals of nitroethylene formed by the capture of electons.     

Equilibrium concentration of trioxane in cationic polymerization

In the cationic polymerization of trioxane and tetraoxane near room temperature, the equilibrium trioxane concentration is not negligible during polymerization. In this work, tetraoxane was polymerized with BF₃ ? O(C₂H₅)₂ in various solvents and the equilibrium concentration of trioxane produced during the polymerization of tetraoxane and equilibrated with the growing polyoxymethylene chain was determined. The equilibrium trioxane concentrations were 0.05, 0.13, and 0.19 mole/l. in benzene, ethylene dichloride, and nitrobenzene at 30°C, respectively, and 0.20 mole/l. in thhylene dichloride at 50°C. The values in ethylene dichloride showed that the approximate values of ΔH_p and ΔS were ?4.2 kcal/mole and ?9.7 cal/mole-deg., respectively.     

Copolymerization of trioxane with phenylglycidylether

This study deals with the regularities and peculiarities of the copolymerization of trioxane (TO) and phenylglycidylether (PhGE) in nitrobenzene catalyzed by the cationic initiator BF₃Et₂O. The additions of PhGE were varied in wide bounds from 5 up to 50 mol %. No data were found about the course of copolymerization process, as well as about the influence of the polymerization conditions on the rate of exhaustion of the monomers and the composition of the copolymer. The effect of the polymerization conditions on the rate of exhaustion of comonomers was established. The kinetics of the process has been followed; the following equation is proposed: The activation energy was determined to be E_α = 15.3 kcal/mol. The course of copolymerization of TO/PhGE was compared with those of TO/DO, TO/EO, TO/St, and TO/ECH. The variation of comonomer concentrations was measured by gas chromatographic methods. The copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, IR-, and NMR-spectroscopy, as well as by their molecular weights (M _v).     

Copolymerization of trioxane with styrene catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2

It was determined whether trioxane, a cyclic formal, can copolymerize with styrene, a vinyl monomer, in the presence of BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ catalyst at 30°C. The methanol-in-soluble fraction after extraction with benzene was found to contain the copolymer of styrene and trioxane, thus demonstrating that trioxane can copolymerize with styrene In this case the amount of the methanol-insoluble polymer was less than that of the total monomer consumed, as determined by gas chromatography. This was found to be caused partly by the formation of the cyclic oligomer, 4-phenyl-1,3-dioxane. The relative reactivity of styrene was qualitatively found to be larger than that of trioxane, not only from the rate of monomer consumption but also from the composition of the methanol-insoluble polymer obtained. In a nonpolar solvent the reactivity of trioxane increased, and the difference in reactivity between the two monomers decreased. Indeed, an apparent monomer reactivity ratio might be obtained from the relationship between the monomer composition and the monomer consumption rate or the composition of the methanol-insoluble polymer, but it did not have a quantitative meaning because of the complexity of the copolymerization reaction.     

Solution polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by stannic chloride

The polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by stannic chloride (SnCl₄) in ethylene dichloride was studied and compared with the results obtained with boron trifluoride etherate, BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂, as catalyst. Under the same conditions, the polymerization rate was larger with SnCl₄ than with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂, while at a fixed polymer yield the molecular weight of the polymer obtained by SnCl₄ was lower than with the BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ catalyzed reaction. The overall activation energy of trioxane polymerization with SnCl₄ was 11.0 ± 0.8 kcal/mole. The kinetic orders of catalyst and monomer were determined to be close to 2 and 4, respectively. A certain amount of tetraoxane was also produced in an early stage of the polymerization with SnCl₄ similar to BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂-catalyzed reaction. However, the maximum amount of tetraoxane produced at 30°C was larger with SnCl₄ than with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂. In addition, a ten-membered ring compound (pentoxane) was isolated in the solution polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by both SnCl₄ and BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂. The confirmation of pentoxane formation is strong evidence for the back-biting reaction mechanism.     

Polymer–monomer binary mixtures. I. Eutectic and epitaxial crystallization in poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–trioxane mixtures

Binary mixtures of a linear polyester (poly(?-caprolactone)) and a crystallizable monomer (trioxane) have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and optical and electron microscopy. The phase diagram indicates the existence of a eutectic at a temperature T_mE = 314°K and for a polymer volume fraction ?_2E = 0.70, values close to those predicated by the Flory–Huggins theory (using χ = 0.3). Microscopic studies reveal unusual morphologies: (1) In hypoeutectic mixtures, at room temperature, the solvent crystallizes as highly ramified or branched needles. When the remaining melt reaches the eutectic composition, transcrystallization of the polymer is induced by the epitaxial deposition (as established by electron diffraction) of polycaprolactone on the existing trioxane crystals, and leads to highly ordered structures. (2) In hypereutectic mixtures a predominantly spherulitic texture is observed. Blends of trioxane and several other linear polyesters are found to exhibit similar behavior.     

Catalytic synthesis of methylene diphenyl dicarbamate from methyl phenyl carbamate and trioxane over sulfuric acid catalyst

Methylene diphenyl dicarbamate (MDC) was synthesized from methyl phenyl carbamate (MPC) and trioxane using sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) as catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, molar ratio of reactants and the content of catalyst have been studied in details. The results showed that H₂SO₄ exhibited high catalytic activity with the merits of moderate reaction velocity. Under the conditions of n(MPC)/n(trioxane) = 3:1, reaction temperature of 95°C, reaction time of 3.5 h and 30% H₂SO₄, the conversion of MPC reached 99.0% with the selectivity of MDC 81.6%. Moreover, the H₂SO₄ catalyst was reused five times without obviously activity decrease. Based on the identification of byproducts, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cationic polymerization of trioxane. I. Crystallization during polymerization

Cationic polymerizations of trioxane in 1,2‐ethylene dichloride and benzene were heterogeneous and reversible. Phase separation accompanying with crystallization occurred during the polymerization. Three morphological changes were found in the course of the polymerization as were investigated by dilatometry and precipitation method. Based on the findings of morphological changes and three reversible processes for the polymerization, a rate equation was proposed to describe the polymerization. The proposed rate equation was fairly good in describing the experimental data, and kinetics constants including K_p, K_d, K_p′, K_d′, M, M, and K_dis/K_cr for the polymerization at 30, 40, and 50°C in 1,2‐ethylene dichloride and benzene were obtained. Factors that affected the kinetics constants were discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 483–492, 1999     

Electroinitiated polymerization of trioxane in chlorinated hydrocarbons

The electroinitiated polymerization of trioxane in chlorinated hydrocarbons, with tetrabutyl-ammonium perchlorate as background electrolyte, has been investigated. The initiation always involves perchlorate oxidation but the polymerization exhibits different features in the various solvents. It has been found that in 1–2 dichloroethane the polymerization, once started by a short pulse of current, proceeds without any induction period to moderate conversion of monomer to polymer. The initial rate of polymerization depends linearly on the monomer cone, and on the initiating charge, so allowing determination of some kinetic parameters. On the other hand, the electroinitiated polymerization of trioxane in dichloromethane requires continuous current to give reasonable conversions; it exhibits induction periods and acceleration which cannot be simply related to the current.     

Solid-state polymerization of long-chain vinyl compounds. III. Mechanism of γ-ray-initiated postpolymerization in layered structures of octadecyl methacrylate and acrylate

The mechanism and kinetics of the γ-ray-initiated postpolymerization of octadecyl methacrylate and acrylate in lamellar crystals were investigated by a simple model. This model assumes that the initiation points are distributed as in a checkerboard and that polymerization probability of the monomer molecules decreases conically around each initiation point. The two-dimensional polymerization can be characterized in this cone model by two parameters, a and r; a represents the polymerizability of the monomer for a given condition, and r depends on the number of initiation points per unit area. G values for the initiation reaction of octadecyl methacrylate and acrylate were estimated as 0.8 and 1.6, respectively. The two-dimensional postpolymerization of long-chain compounds proceeds in two stages. The rate of polymerization is very high and zero order with respect to monomer concentration in the first stage. It is lower and obeys first-order kinetics in the second stage. The rate constants of the zero-and first-order polymerizations were k_p0 = 1.73 molecule sec^-1 and k_p1 = 0.93 sec^?1, respectively, for octadecyl acrylate at 20°C.     

Polymerization of cyclic ethers in the presence of maleic anhydride. Part I. Polymerization of trioxane and 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane by γ-rays,ultraviolet light,and benzoyl peroxide

Cyclic ethers such as trioxane and 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane have been polymerized easily in the presence of maleic anhydride by the irradiation of γ-rays and ultraviolet light. The polymer formed is a homopolymer of cyclic ether. The rate of polymerization is accelerated by suitable amounts of oxygen which is required to form some active species at the initiation step. The polymerization is inhibited by the addition of a small amount of radical scavenger, thus suggesting a radical initiating mechanism. In addition, the polymerization is easily initiated by benzoyl peroxide even in vacuo at or above 50°C. Diaroyl and diacyl peroxides are also effective, and polymerization also proceeds in the presence of chloromaleic anhydride, exactly in the same manner as in maleic anhydride. On the other hand, it is well known that polymerization of these cyclic monomers rarely occurs with radical catalysts and easily with cationic catalysts in the absence of maleic anhydride. From these results, it may be concluded that the polymerization is brought about by means of a radical–cationic species.     

Rates of polymer formation and monomer consumption in the solution polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by BF3 · O(C2H5)2

In the solution polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ at 30°C. the amount of the methanol-insoluble polyoxymethylene is less than the amount of monomer consumed. This difference was much larger than the amount of formaldehyde determined in the polymerized system and could not also be explained in terms of the amount of the methanol-soluble oligomer. Tetraoxane was detected in large quantities by gas chromatography in the polymerized solution of trioxane. Therefore, the difference between the amounts of the methanol-insoluble polymer and the monomer consumed was ascribed partly to the formation of tetraoxane. In spite of the fact that tetraoxane was polymerized more easily than trioxane by BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂, an almost constant amount of tetraoxane was produced, independent of the kind of solvent and the polymer yield. This suggests the existence of an equilibrium concentration of tetraoxane. On the other hand, the formation of trioxane was observed in the solution polymerization of tetraoxane by BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂. This suggests that the formation of tetraoxane during the trioxane polymerization is due to a back-biting reaction in which the growing chain end of trioxane attacks the oxygen atom in its own chain with depolymerization of tetraoxane.     

Polymerization and copolymerization of trioxane: Factors influencing molecular weight and end groups

In bulk polymerization and copolymerization of trioxane with ethylene oxide, it has been shown that p-chlorophenyldiazonium hexafluorophosphate is a superior catalyst as compared to boron trifluoride dibutyl etherate (BF₃ · Bu₂O). Polymers and copolymers of significantly higher molecular weight have been obtained. The higher molecular weight has been attributed primarily to less inherent chain transfer during propagation, which in turn can be attributed to the superior gegenion PF₆^?. The polymerization proceeds via a clear period followed by sudden solidification. Faster polymerization and higher molecular weight polymers have been observed for homopolymerization than for copolymerization. The polymer yield obtained after solidification is determined by both rate of polymerization and rate of crystallization of polymers. These rates, in turn, are dependent on the catalyst concentration. The molecular weight is determined both by polymer yield and extent of inherent chain transfer. In the range of monomer to catalyst mole ration [M]/[C] = (0.5–20) × 10⁴ investigated, it has been found that in the higher range, the polymer yield is independent of the catalyst concentration and the extent of inherent chain transfer is inversely proportional to the half power of catalyst concentration: [M]/[C] = (0.5–8) × 10⁴ for homopolymerization and (0.5–3) × 10⁴ for copolymerization with 4.2 mole % ethylene oxide. In the lower range, the yield decreases with catalyst concentration and the extent of inherent chain transfer is inversely proportional to higher power of catalyst concentration. The dependence of molecular weight of polymers on catalyst concentration has been shown to be a complex one. The molecular weight goes through a maximum as the catalyst concentration is decreased. The maximum molecular weights have been obtained at [M]/[C] ≈ 8 × 10⁴ for homopolymerization and ～3 × 10⁴ for copolymerization with 4.2 mole % ethylene oxide. Prior to reaching maximum the molecular weight is inversely proportional to the half power of catalyst concentration indicating it is primarily controlled by inherent chain transfer. Upon further decrease of catalyst, molecular weight decreases as a result of both a decrease in polymer yield and an increase in inherent chain transfer. In copolymerization of trioxane and ethylene oxide, it has been ascertained that methylene chloride exhibits a favorable solvating effect. Although higher inherent chain transfer takes place in copolymerization than in homopolymerization, the extent of chain transfer is independent of ethylene oxide concentration. The difference in polymer yield and molecular weight a t different ethylene oxide concentrations is attributed primarily to the difference in k_p/k_t ratio. It also has been demonstrated that end capping of polymer chains can be accomplished by the use of a chain transfer agent—methylal.     

Radiation postpolymerization in devitrifying matrices: Different polymerization activity of acrylic and methacrylic monomers

Investigation of the effect of the α-CH₃-group on low-temperature postpolymerization in devitrifying matrices leads to the following conclusions. 1. The low-temperature postpolymerization in supercooled alcohol solutions (T_g ～ 102 K) is quite efficient with acrylic monomers. Inactivity of their methacrylic analogues under these conditions is attributed to steric screening of the unpaired electron in the growing radicals. 2. As the temperature is raised and the CH₃-group vibration intensity increases, the screening effect fades. Thus in devitrifying water-alcohol solutions of NaAA and NaMAA, at higher temperatures the postpolymerization is efficient in both cases. Data on copolymerization of NaAA and NaMAA indicate that at ～ 170 K the steric limitations due to the CH₃-group are eliminated. 3. In a glycerine matrix ($\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{? 195 K}$), all the acrylic and methacrylic monomers studied show efficient polymerization over virtually the same temperature range. It is concluded that the a-CH₃-group in methacrylic monomers appreciably affects their polymerization activity only at low temperatures, where steric screening of the growing polymer radical becomes important.     

ESR and NMR study of the γ-ray-induced postpolymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on zeolite

The γ-ray-induced postpolymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate adsorbed on Linde zeolite 13X irradiated at 77°K has been studied between 303 and 343°K as a function of the amount of adsorbed monomer and of the irradiation dose. The change in the nature and the concentration of free radical with temperature and duration of the postpolymerization was followed by the ESR method, whereas the formation of polymer was monitored continuously by the decay of the ¹H-NMR absorption line of the monomer under high-resolution conditions. It was found that the overall postpolymerization kinetics may be accounted for by assuming an exponential decay of radical propagation and recombination reactions with chain length. The tacticity of the polymer recovered by destroying the matrix in hydrofluoric acid was determined by ¹³C-NMR. The probability of isotactic addition of AN and MMA is larger than in the radical polymerization in solution owing likely to the association of adsorbed monomer molecules in pairs preforming an isotactic diad.