The role of chain structure in the rheological behavior of vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymers

A comparative study of the viscoelastic properties of melts of vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymers with equimolar compositions characterized by different statistical distributions of chain units has been performed. It has been shown that the principle of temperature-frequency superposition is obeyed by copolymers close to a random copolymer, but is violated by copolymers with the block distribution of units. Unlike amorphous random copolymers, a multiblock copolymer is characterized by weak crystallinity, the absence of the relaxation flow state, and a more pronounced tendency to form interchain hydrogen bonds both between two hydroxyl groups and between hydroxyl and ester groups.     

Fluorescent and photo-optical properties of hydrogen-bonded polymer liquid-crystalline composites based on derivatives of stilbazole and crown ethers

New hydrogen-bonded photochromic stilbazole- and crown-ether-containing polymer LC composites are prepared and characterized. A smectic homopolymer with p-oxybenzoic groups, a nematic homopolymer carrying phenylmethoxy benzoate groups, and a nematic copolymer containing p-oxybenzoic and phenylmethoxy benzoate groups are synthesized and used as polymer matrices for these composites. The phase behavior and photo-optical properties of LC composites of various compositions are studied. A marked difference is observed in the fluorescence spectra for hydrogen-stabilized LC mixtures and model mixtures not forming hydrogen bonds. This effect is explained by the reversible transfer of proton of carboxyl groups involved in hydrogen bonding. It is shown that the complexation of crown-ether-containing groups of LC composites with potassium ions leads to a dramatic reduction in the intensity of fluorescence. This phenomenon may be used for creation of a new generation of sensors for metal ions.     

The effect of the type of solvent on the structural and dynamic parameters of polyurethane-styrene-co-acrylonitrile blends

The effect of solvents, such as THF, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, and acetone, on the structures and molecular dynamics of polyurethane-styrene-co-acrylonitrile blends has been investigated with the use of spin-probe ESR spectroscopy, DSC, IR spectroscopy. There are slight changes in the values of molecular mobility, crystallinity, and elastic modulus of composites containing more than 50% polyurethane, and only at higher contents of the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer are sharp changes in the structural and dynamic parameters observed in the presence of any solvent. In different solvents, the blend parameters improve in the following series: THF, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, acetone. This outcome is determined by the thermodynamic affinities of the dissolved polymers for the solvent. It has been shown that the content of hydrogen bonds between nitrile and urethane groups (a band at 3344 cm^?1) increases with the content of styrene-co-acrylonitrile in a blend. During reversible deformation, the molecular mobility of the radical increases and further tension is accompanied by reduced mobility in the oriented blends, independently of the solvent type.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR study on microstructure of a novel acrylamide/methacrylic acid template copolymer in aqueous solution

A novel acrylamide/methacrylic acid template copolymer was prepared using polyallylammonium chloride (PAAC) as a template. This copolymer contains acrylamide (PAM), phenoxy acrylate (POA), and acylic acid (PAA) blocks. The investigation by high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) shows that intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the PAM and PAA blocks lead to compact molecular arrangement at quite low pH values, and the motion of the phenoxy side chain of the POA blocks is somewhat restricted. With the increase in pH value of the solution, the carboxylic acid of the PAA block gradually dissociates, which weakens hydrogen bonds between the PAM and PAA blocks. The decrease in D _w, self-diffusion coefficient of water, indicates the growth in aggregate size of the template copolymer. The cross peaks between amide protons and backbone protons shown in 2D nuclear overhauser spectroscopy (NOESY) spectra imply the existence of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between PAM and PAA blocks. After the carboxylic acid of the PAA block is completely dissociated in alkaline solution, the electrostatic repulsion of the carboxylic ion makes the molecular chain of the copolymer exhibit more outstretched. Consequently, the phenoxy groups (the side chain of the POA block) have more space to move.     

Water makes it hydrophobic: contraphilic wetting for polyurethanes with soft blocks having semifluorinated and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin side chains

A series of polyurethanes with novel copolymer soft blocks display a new surface phenomenon, contraphilic wetting, in which the dry surface is hydrophilic and the wetted surface is hydrophobic. A precursor polymer was prepared with copolymer soft blocks containing semifluorinated (trifluoroethoxy, 3FOx, or pentafluoropropoxy, 5FOx) and bromomethyl functional pendant groups with 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 semifluorinated/bromomethyl ratios. The hard block consists of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 1,4-butanediol (BD). 5,5-Dimethylhydantoin was introduced by the substitution of Br via reaction-on-polymer. The composition, structure, and percent of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin substitution for both the precursor and the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin-substituted polyurethanes were analyzed by 1H NMR. The difference between the advancing contact angle on the wetted surface and that on the dry surface (deltaC) is highest (38 degrees ) for the polyurethane with the highest ratio of semifluorinated/hydantoin soft block side chains. A model is proposed according to which contraphilic wetting is driven enthalpically by hydrogen bonding. For the dry surface, hydrogen bonding of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin amide carbonyl groups to methylene hydrogens of semifluorinated groups disrupts the normal surface concentration of semifluorinated groups, whereas the geometric arrangement of hydantoin N-H results in availability for hydrogen bonding with water. Upon exposure to water, amide groups switch from hydrogen bonding to -CH2CF2CF3 to stronger hydrogen bonding with water. As a result, semifluorinated groups are "released", and the surface becomes hydrophobic. Drying the coating (50 degrees C) reversibly restores hydrophilic character. Coatings stored at ambient temperature and humidity have deltaC values intermediate between dry and wet states.     

Self-assembly of a diblock copolymer with pendant disulfide bonds and chromophore groups: a new platform for fast release

An amphiphilic block copolymer comprising poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(2-(methacryloyl)oxyethyl-2'-hydroxyethyl disulfide) (PMAOHD) blocks was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Pyrenebutyric acid was conjugated to the block copolymer by esterification, and a block copolymer with pendant disulfide bonds and pyrenyl groups (PEG-b-P(MAOHD-g-Py)) was obtained. (1)H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results demonstrated the successful synthesis of the block copolymer. The cleavage of the disulfide bonds and the degrafting of the pyrenyl groups were investigated in THF and a THF/methanol mixture. Fluorescence spectroscopy, GPC, and (1)H NMR results demonstrated fast cleavage of the disulfide bonds by Bu(3)P in THF. Fluorescence results showed the ratio of the intensity of the excimer peak to the monomer peak decreased rapidly within 20 min. GPC traces of the block copolymer moved to a long retention time region after addition of Bu(3)P, indicating the cleavage of the disulfide bonds and the degrafting of the pyrenyl groups. PEG-b-P(MAOHD-g-Py) can self-assemble into micelles with poly(MAOHD-g-Py) cores and PEG coronae in a mixture of methanol and THF (9:1 by volume). The dissociation of the micelles in the presence of Bu(3)P was investigated. After cleavage of the disulfide bonds in the micellar cores, a pyrene-containing small molecular compound and a block copolymer with pendant thiol groups were produced. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and (1)H NMR were employed to track the dissociation of the polymeric micelles. All the techniques demonstrated the dissociation of the micelles and the fast release of pyrenyl groups from the micelles.     

微相分离及链结构对聚酯-聚醚嵌段共聚物分子运动的影响

本文首先研究了成型方法和热处理对聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯与聚氧四亚甲基嵌段共聚物动态力学温度谱的影响,结合应力-应变曲线讨论了微相分离与力学性能的关系。其次,比较了三种不同链结构的聚酯-聚醚嵌段共聚物在不同温控程序下的动态力学温度谱,讨论了链结构对软链段结晶的影响。最后观察了聚氨酯-聚醚嵌段共聚物双重玻璃化转变现象并作了解释。     

乙烯-乙烯醇共聚物氢键相互作用与链结构关系的变温溶液氢谱研究

用变温溶液核磁共振氢谱研究了不同组成的乙烯-乙烯醇共聚物在二甲亚砜溶液中的氢键相互作用.结果表明,乙烯醇单元中羟基的信号随温度升高而线性地向高场位移,且不同的三单元组中羟基信号的位移速率不同,表明羟基形成的氢键强度与链结构间存在相关性.     

壳聚糖-两性聚氨酯接枝共聚物的制备

利用壳聚糖大分子链上的－OH和－NH2基团与两性聚氨酯预聚体的端－NCO基团反应，把两性聚氨酯链接枝到壳聚糖分子链上，为聚电解质及纳米胶体粒子间的组装，复合性质的研究提供模型化合物，红外光谱，热分析方法初步研究表明，采用上述方法能够制备出APU－壳聚糖接枝共聚物，但产物是壳聚糖与接枝共聚物的混合物，研究发现，这种接枝共聚物在盐酸水溶液中呈胶束形态，而且具有独特的流变性。     

模拟研究石墨烯/生物基尼龙复合材料的界面热阻

生物基尼龙(PA56)源于天然产物,具有优良的环保性能和广阔应用前景,有望替代传统的石油基尼龙材料.为了开发基于PA56的导热材料,利用分子动力学模拟研究方法探索了石墨烯/PA56复合材料界面热阻的影响因素.首先,利用实验测试商用PA56样品的玻璃化转变温度(Tg)和导热系数(Tc),验证了PA56模型的模拟参数.接着,通过设计和比较不同表面改性状态对石墨烯/PA56复合材料的界面热阻的影响规律,最后,为了降低界面改性的难度,设计了一种新型的二嵌段共聚物作为石墨烯/PA56复合体系的界面改性剂,研究了界面改性剂的结构对界面热阻的影响规律.研究结果对于实验研究制备生物基尼龙导热复合材料具有重要的参考价值.     

IR spectra studies of core‐shell type waterborne polyacrylate‐polyurethane microemulsions

The hydrogen bonds in films of the polyurethane and the core‐shell type polyacrylate‐polyurethane microemulsions have been studied by FTIR spectroscopy in the regions of  NH absorption and CO absorption. The effects on hydrogen bonds of the composition, the core‐shell ratio were revealed. At the same time, the relationship between the hydrogen bonds and the crosslinked structures (Type A and Type B) was discovered. The shifts of the  NH and CO stretching bands to higher frequencies and the shift of  NH bending bands to lower frequencies, with the increase of acetone CO number in the core, mean that the hydrogen bonds between the soft and hard segments, and those in the short‐range order in the hard segment phase, are broken. The dipole/dipole interaction which is supposed to exist between the acetone CO groups in the core and the urethane CO in the shell can change the hydrogen bond distribution in the shell, and at the same time, lead to hydrogen bonds between acetone CO in the core and the urethane  NH in the shell. Type A and B crosslinked structure between the core and the shell located at the interface of the core and the shell can confine the acetone CO within the crosslinking network, and Type B crosslinked structure also decreases the acetone CO numbers. These weaken the dipole/dipole interaction between the acetone CO and the urethane CO, and lead to the decrease of the effect of the acetone CO groups on the hydrogen bond distribution in the shell. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2642–2650, 1999     

Sustainable metal-free polyurethane elastomers from bile acids: self-healing properties and biocompatibility

Currently, self-healing polymers with superior elasticity have made great progress in healthcare devices and flexible electronics. Benefiting from rigid skeletons and hydroxyl groups of bile acids, herein sustainable self-healing polyurethanes have been developed via an alternative metal-free strategy in which bile acid units and oligo(ethylene glycol)s serve as hard and soft segments, respectively. The bile acid based polyurethane could achieve a similar mechanical performance (7.96 MPa of Young's modulus) to certain soft tissues and maximum self-healing efficiency of 90% in tensile strength for 3 h. Multiple hydrogen bonds originated from hydroxyl groups of bile acids and urethane bonds synergistically attribute to self-healing ability, which represents the first example that quadruple hydrogen bonds of sustainable molecules driven elastomers have been reported. Moreover, taking into account the desirable biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo, it is highly anticipated that these sustainable metal-free self-healing polyurethane elastomers would be explored for practical applications, such as soft tissue repairing.     

变温红外光谱研究多嵌段聚氨脂脲的微相分离行为

用傅里叶变换红外光谱方法研究了热处理对由聚环氧丙烷聚醚多元醇、３．５－二乙基甲苯二胺和４，４－二苯基甲烷二异氰酸酯组成的多嵌段聚氨酯脲（ＳＰＵＵ）的微相分离行为的影响．从室温逐步升温到３１０℃的过程中，氨基甲酸酯键（ＵＴ）之间形成的氢键大量解离，而脲键（ＵＡ）之间形成的、具有平面状双分叉结构的氢键在１３０～２００℃范围却大量生成；从３１０℃缓慢冷却到室温后，部分游离的ＵＴ重新形成氢键，而硬段之间形成的ＵＡ氢键的含量又有所增加．结果表明：高温热处理可以有效地提高ＳＰＵＵ的微相分离程度．     

The effects of morphological transitions on hydrogen bonding in polyurethanes: Preliminary results of simultaneous DSC–FTIR experiments

The influence of morphological transitions on the hydrogen-bonding behavior of polyurethanes is investigated by simultaneous measurements of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The materials examined are a noncrystalline polyurethane hard segment, a crystallizable polyurethane hard segment, and a segmented polyurethane block copolymer containing crystallizable hard segments. Integrated absorbance data show that the hydrogen-bonding behavior is insensitive to crystalline transitions within the hard segment microdomains, but that it does reflect morphological transitions in the block copolymer that are associated with intersegmental mixing. In addition, the spectral data show conclusive evidence for reversal of the urethane reaction at high temperatures.     

Catalytic epoxidation of styrene–butadiene triblock copolymer with hydrogen peroxide

Styrene-butadiene-styrene linear block copolymer (SBS) can be epoxidized with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of methyltrioctylammonium tetrakis (diperoxotungsto) phosphate(3-) as the catalyst in a biphasic system. The effects of reaction time, temperature, solvent, the ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase, the concentration of the catalyst, hydrogen peroxide and polymer, respectively, are studied on the conversion of double bonds to oxirane groups. ¹H-NMR analysis confirms the absence of ring opening side reaction in this epoxidation reaction system up to at least 70% conversion of the double bonds. When the conversion of double bonds is over about 70% the resultant polymer is insoluble in chloroform even at reflux but soluble in polar solvents such as DMSO when heated. Toluene is a better solvent for the reaction than dichloroethane. The reaction rate constants are measured at four temperatures and the activation energy for the reaction with toluene as solvent is determined as 49.9 kJ/mol.     

拒水型有机硅改性聚氨酯嵌段共聚物的合成与表征

以氨丙基硅氧烷偶联剂和端羟基聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)为原料,合成了端氨丙基聚二甲基硅氧烷低聚物(SN2),并将其作为扩链剂,制备了有机硅-聚氨酯(Si-PU)嵌段共聚物.考察了聚氨酯预聚体的加料比(rNCO/OH)、SN2与聚氨酯预聚体的加料比(rNH2/NCO)对Si-PU嵌段共聚物溶液流变行为及其膜性能的影响.研究发现,该Si-PU共聚物的异丙醇溶液呈现较低的表观黏度及牛顿特性;成膜时,有机硅链段向表面迁移;膜表面对水的接触角达110°以上,且随着有机硅链段含量的增高而增大;共聚物膜的24 h吸水率较低(<1.5 wt%);但当有机硅链段含量过高时,吸水率反而增高.     

A novel cationic triblock copolymer as noncovalent coating for the separation of proteins by CE

A novel noncovalent adsorbed coating for CE has been prepared and explored. This coating was based on quaternized poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (QDED) triblock copolymer which was synthesized by atomic transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in our laboratory. The polycationic polymer and the negatively charged fused-silica surface attracted each other through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. It was demonstrated that the coated capillaries provided an electroosmotic flow with reverse direction, and the magnitude of the electroosmotic flow can be modulated by varying the molecular mass of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) block and pH value of the buffer. The effects of the molecular mass of PDMAEMA block in QDED triblock copolymer and pH value of the buffer on the separation of basic proteins were investigated in detail. The triblock copolymer coatings showed higher separation efficiency, better migration time repeatability and would apply to wider range of pH than bare fused-silica capillary when used in separating proteins. Proteins from egg white were also separated through this QDED triblock copolymer-coated capillary. These results demonstrated that the QDED triblock copolymer coatings are suitable for analyzing biosamples.     

Variation of free volume size and content of shape memory polymer — Polyurethane — Upon temperature studied by positron annihilation lifetime techniques and infrared spectroscopy

Positron annihilation lifetime measurement and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry were applied to the study of temperature dependencies of free volume parameters and hydrogen bonds in segmented polyurethane, specially fabricated as a shape memory polymer. The variation of free volumes in amorphous region were correlated to that of hydrogen bonding and the shape memory mechanism of polyurethane is elucidated from a microscopic point of view. The relationship between free volume contents and the formation of hydrogen bonds significantly suggests that the shape memory occurs due to the configurational recovery of the microscopic regulation around urethane bundles of hard segment and consequent restoration of soft-segment in polyurethane.     

Local environment influence on the optical properties of block copolymers containing an epoxy-based azo-prepolymer

The aim of this contribution was the study of the influence of polymer matrix on the photo-induced orientation of azobenzene groups. Notably, an azo-prepolymer bearing hydroxyl groups was selectively confined in self-assembled phases of different block copolymers, randomly-epoxidized polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene (SBSep) and polystyrene-b-poly-4-vinylpyridine (S4VP). The formation of hydrogen bonds between the azo-prepolymer and poly-4-vinylpyridine block, as well as the effect of the local environment surrounding the azo-prepolymer were investigated by Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopies. In addition, the reversible optical storage properties of the developed materials were also studied. Birefringent properties of the systems based on S4VP were strongly enhanced by intermolecular interactions with the azo-prepolymer. Specifically, the maximum birefringence level attained by a system containing 13 wt% of azobenzene was around 2.3 × 10⁻² and its remaining birefringence was nearly three times higher than that of the neat azo-prepolymer. Furthermore, a morphological analysis of the designed materials was carried out by atomic force microscopy. Taking into account that the control of the microdomains ordering in block copolymer films is of current interest, special attention was focused on the influence of different variables on the arrangement of the block copolymer microdomains.     

Synthesis and aggregation behavior of pluronic F87/poly(acrylic acid) block copolymer in the presence of doxorubicin

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was polymerized on both termini of Pluronic F87 copolymer using the atom transfer radical polymerization technique to produce a novel block copolymer, PAA-b-F87-b-PAA (F87PAA). The loading of a cationic anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), to F87PAA at different pH values was investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), laser light scattering techniques, and UV-vis spectroscopy. At pH of 4.3-7.1, the ITC profile exhibited a significant exothermic peak, which indicated that the drug loading is an enthalpically driven process. At a pH of 4.3, the enthalpy maximum was significantly reduced in the presence of 2 M urea, indicating the existence of hydrogen bonds between the DOX and F87PAA copolymer. At a pH of 7.1, the fraction of bound DOX was close to the stoichiometric proportion of 1:1 to the molar concentration of carboxyl groups in the copolymer, where the drug loading is governed by electrostatic and stacking interactions. The TEM image of the complex indicated the formation of large compound micelles induced by the binding of DOX to the PAA segments.