Piezoelectricity in oriented films of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

Oriented films of poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate) (PBLG) were prepared by two methods. Films of PBLG cast from chloroform solutions were elongated by rolling at 70°C. A solution of PBLG in methylene bromide was placed in a magnetic field of about 7000 gauss and the solvent was slowly evaporated for a few days until an oriented film was obtained. The real and imaginary components of the complex piezoelectric strainconstant d₂₅^* = d₂₅′ ? jd₂₅″ were determined over the temperature range from ?180°C to +180°C at a frequency of 20 Hz. The constants showed dispersions at about 20°C and about 100°C, where dynamic viscoelastic dispersions were also observed. Degree of crystallinity X_c and degree of orientation II_a of crystallites were determined from x-ray diffraction diagrams. The product X_cII_α and the value of d₂₅′ at room temperature were found to be linearly related, and both showed a maximum at an elongation ratio of 1.5 (the ratio of the final to initial length) for roll-oriented films and at an initial solution concentration of 15% by weight for magnetically oriented films. The largest values of d₂₅′ were approximately 2 × 10^?12 and 4 × 10^?12 coulomb/newton, respectively, at room temperature.     

Dielectric relaxation in concentrated solutions of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

Measurements of dielectric constant and loss, broad-line nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential thermal analysis of concentrated solutions of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) (PBLG) were carried out to determine the effects of intermolecular interactions on the mobility of the side group and the solvent (dichloromethane or dioxane). Only one dielectric loss peak due to the cooperative motion of the side group and the solvent was found. The activation energy of this relaxation process varied from 3 to 47 kcal/mole with increasing concentration of PBLG from 20 to 100% by weight accompanied with steep increases at about 40 and 80%. This result is explained as due to entanglement of neighboring side groups. In NMR, narrowing of the line was observed near the temperature where the dielectric loss was observed. The glass transition was also observed by differential thermal analysis. From these results it was concluded that the relaxation observed in PBLG solution and in pure PBLG have the nature of primary or α relaxations.     

A model for the adsorption of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) from solution onto alkali-halide substrates

The isothermal adsorption of high-and low-molecular-weight poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) onto (100) alkali-halide surfaces has been studied with the intent of developing a model for the adsorption process. Data from both the solution and adsorbed phases were correlated in this study. The α-helical conformation was maintained in solution and on the substrate for all molecular weights investigated. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy proved to be a sensitive technique for conformational analysis of adsorbed PBLG films as thin as 200 Å. High-molecular-weight PBLG was adsorbed as an interwoven fibrous mat, homogeneously covering the entire substrate surface. This morphology was independent of the substrate. Adsorption of low-molecular-weight PBLG took on a lamellar morphology, often exhibiting epitaxial orientation in the substrate 〈100〉 directions. Quasielastic laser light scattering studies showed that low-molecular-weight PBLG had a much higher degree of aggregation in nonpolar solvents than did high-molecular-weight PBLG. The proposed adsorption model is essentially a modification of one suggested by Silberberg. It involves segmental adsorption of aggregates, as opposed to single macromolecules of PBLG. The unadsorbed segments of the aggregates form a concentrated interfacial region directly above the substrate. Further interaction and association of PBLG may occur in this region, thus reducing the epitaxial ordering influence of the substrate. Consequently, polymers which do not interact strongly in the concentrated interfacial region, such as polyethylene, are expected to be adsorbed epitaxially, as has been reported.     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation of α-13C nuclei of helical poly(γ-hexyl-L-glutamate) and poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

Spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁), spin-spin relaxation times (T₂), and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE), at 75.5 MHz are reported for α-¹³C nuclei of poly (γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) in deuterated dimethylformamide at 60°C and of poly(γ-hexyl-L -glutamate) in cyclohexanone at 48 and 79°C. It is shown that for molecular weights above 10⁵, the polypeptides cannot be considered as essentially rigid helices with internal librational motions; additional backbone flexing motions contribute to the relaxation behavior.     

Enantioselective polymerization of γ-benzyl-DL-glutamate N-carboxy anhydride in the presence of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

The polymerization of γ-benzyl-DL -glutamate NCA in the presence of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) was investigated. At the initial stage the D -enantiomer was preferentially polymerized (ca. 35% ee) by using triethylamine as an initiator. Enantioselectivity was independent of the molecular weight of preformed poly(γ-benzyl-DL -glutamate).     

Supramolecular structures of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) self-assembled on mica surface

This article reports the results of structural studies of poly (γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) (PBLG) layers self-assembled from dilute solutions in organic solvents on mica surface. Polarized dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy were used to study polymer properties in solutions and on the surface. The hierarchy of self-assembly from PBLG solutions in different solvents was investigated as a function of polymer concentration and solvent polarity. We show that the surface–polymer interaction is suppressed in polar solvents that is interpreted in terms of suppressed charge–dipole interaction. The transformation of the PBLG surface structure occurs upon addition of different amounts of trifluoroacetic acid to polymer solution in dioxane. Rigid-rod PBLG molecules experience rod–globular transition while assembling on nonmodified mica from the very dilute solutions. A scheme is proposed describing different stages of PBLG fibrogenesis on a charged surface. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1567–1577, 1998     

The microfibrillar network in gels of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in benzyl alcohol

The gelation and gel-melting phenomena in semidilute isotropic solutions of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) (PBLG) in benzyl alcohol were studied by small-angle neutron scattering measurements, using a deuterated solvent, and by cryotransmission electron microscopy. The reversible gels are formed when the solution is cooled below the gelation temperature, and the gels melt upon heating. Hysteresis, of about 15°C, is observed between gelation and melting temperatures. In the isotropic solution, PBLG exists as isolated helices. Gelation is apparent as a large increase in the intensity scattered at low angles, signifying the heterogeneous microstructure of the gel. Direct visualization by electron microscopy of vitrified gel samples shows the formation of a microfibrillar network. The dimension of the observed microfibrils is about 10 nm. Upon melting, microstructural changes appear in a temperature range of about 10°C. The unique feature of the gel melting is that initially only the intensity in the mid-angle range decreases. This is interpreted as thickening of the microstructure due to melting of the thinner microfibrils. The final stage marks the melting of the thicker microfibrils. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Piezoelectric relaxation in poly(γ-methyl-L-glutamate) at high temperature

Piezoelectric relaxation has been studied on elongated poly(γ-methyl-L-glutamate) films with the α-helical molecular conformation. Relaxation processes are observed near 0 and 100°C. Each process has a dual character composed of relaxational and retardational frequency dependences. The low-temperature process is ascribed to thermal motion of side chains. The high-temperature process, discussed in relation to the dielectric relaxation, is attributed to the ionic dc conduction connected with the two-phase structure of crystalline regions and the electrode polarization.     

Crystal structure of poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate) at high temperature

A unique crystal structure of the α-helical form of poly(γ-methyl L -glutamate) appearing above 170°C is analyzed by x-ray diffraction. At room temperature, the unit cell determined for a well-annealed sample is hexagonal with dimension a = 11.8₂ Å and contains one α helix with pitch P = 5.42 Å and unit height p = 1.493 Å. This form is reversibly transformed at about 170°C into a modification characterized by a trigonal unit cell (a = 21.2₇ Å) having three times the cross section of the single-chain unit cell and containing three α helices with P = 5.50 Å and p = 1.504 Å. In a narrow temperature range below 180°C, the three chains in the unit cell are not interrelated by any crystallographic symmetry element, but they are reasonably associated with one another so that all helices are surrounded by other helices in the same way. The axial and azimuthal displacements between neighboring chains are expressed by z = ±4p/3 and ? = ± (2π/3)(4p/P ? 1), respectively. The segmental main-chain motion, which becomes appreciable above 150°C, is composed of screw-type motion along the α-helix fold and correlated P/3 axial jumps. The relation between the structural transition and thermal motion is discussed.     

Low-frequency and high-frequency relaxations in dynamic electric birefringence of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in m-cresol

The dc component Δn of the electric birefringence of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) in m-cresol is measured under an ac electric field at frequencies from 0.5 Hz to 200 kHz for solutions covering the dilute and semidilute regions. The dispersion curve indicates that at low frequencies Δn decreases with increasing frequency (low-frequency relaxation). For high-molecular-weight polymers at high concentration, Δn becomes negative at high frequency and its absolute value decreases with further increase in frequency (high-frequency relaxation). A unified theory for the two relaxations is developed on the basis of a model in which, in the semidilute regime, the rodlike polymer is confined in a cage formed by neighboring polymers and the lifetime of the cage lies between relaxation times of the two relaxations. The low-frequency relaxation is ascribed to end-over-end rotation of the polymer and the high-frequency relaxation to the rotation within a limited angle in the cage. The dependences of relaxation parameters on polymer concentration and molecular weight are reasonably explained by the theory.     

Synthesis of poly(γ-methoxypropylmethylsilylene) and poly(γ-methoxypropylmethylsilylene-co-di-n-hexylsilylene)

The synthesis of γ;-methoxypropylmethyldichlorosilane, and its subsequent polymerization and copolymerization with di;-n;-hexyldichlorosilane through the reductive coupling with sodium has been accomplished. The resulting polymers contain methyl ether side groups that allow further synthetic transformations on the polysilane backbone. For poly (γ;-methoxypropylmethylsilylene) these groups impart solubility characteristics different than typical alkyl and aryl substituted polysilanes. These new polymers and copolymers have been characterized by GPC and ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ²⁹Si-NMR. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Phase behaviour of poly-(λ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in benzyl alcohol

Polarized optical microscopy has been used to investigate phase transitions in the poly-(λ-benzyl-L-glutamate) benzyl alcohol system and these have been compared with the predictions of Flory. All of the samples studied form gels at room temperature. The behaviour of the lowest concentration studied, 5 per cent by volume, shows transitions in the optical microscope compatible with the Flory phase diagram, becoming isotropic at elevated temperatures. Gels of higher concentrations exhibit bulk phase separation into an isotropic liquid phase and an anisotropic phase at room temperature, also in accord with the Flory predictions; the texture of the anisotropic phase varies with concentration. At higher temperatures these concentrations exhibit two coexistent anisotropic phases.     

A crystal transition in poly(γ-n-alkyl L-glutamate)s

A thermally reversible crystal transition was found for γ-helical poly(γ-n-alkyl L -glutamate)s (alkyl = ethyl, propyl, butyl, and amyl). The transition temperature is higher than that of the side-chain mechanical dispersion, and decreases from 115 to ?5°C, as the alkyl groups become longer. The transition in poly(γ-n-propyl L -glutamate) is clearly first order. The structures were analyzed by x-ray diffraction at various temperatures. It is noteworthy that the pseudohexagonal form observed below the transition temperature is less ordered than the hexagonal form at higher temperatures. The mechanism of this transition is discussed.     

On solution properties of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

Summary The refractive index increments,dn/dc, of poly(-benzyl-L-glutamate) in various solvents have been critically examined in respect to their dependence on the refractive index of the solvent. An unusual scatter of data for different solvents and disagreement among the values for the same solvent obtained in different laboratories have been noticed and commented upon. The significance of these findings for the interpretation of light scattering measurements of molecular parameters of this polymer in solution has been discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Der Wertzuwachs des Brechungsindexdn/dc von Poly(-benzyl-L-glutamat) in verschiedenen Lösungsmitteln wird kritisch untersucht mit Rücksicht auf seine Abhängigkeit vom Brechungsindex des Lösungsmittels. Dabei werden eine ungewöhnliche Streuung der Werte für verschiedene Lösungsmittel, und ein Nichtübereinstimmen der Werte für das gleiche Lösungsmittel, die man in verschiedenen Laboratorien gewann, festgestellt und kommentiert. Die Bedeutung der Ergebnisse für die Interpretation der Lichtstreuungs-Messungen von molekularen Parametern dieses Polymeren in Lösung wird diskutiert.

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With 1 figure and 3 tables     

A light-scattering study of deformation of liquid-crystalline spherulites of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in an electric field

The deformation of liquid-crystalline spherulites of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) (PBLG) in an electric field was investigated by light scattering, polarized-light microscopy, and birefringence measurements. Under the polarizing microscope, the deformation was found to be dependent upon the field strength. The spherulites deformed perpendicular to the field. Above 75 V/cm in N,N-dimethylformamide or 120 V/cm in 1,1,2-trichloroethane, the deformed spherulites were transformed to rodlike textures. With increasing voltage, the rods gradually oriented parallel to the electric field. On the basis of the experimental results, models for affine deformation are proposed. With these models, light-scattering patterns are calculated. The calculated and experimental patterns agree semiquantitatively.     

Crystal transition and structure of poly (γ-n-alkyl glutamate)s

The nature of the crystal transition of the α-helical forms of poly (γ-n-alkyl glutamate)s (alkyl = ethyl, propyl, and butyl) is described. The transition is thermally reversible, and its temperature T₂ is much higher than the glasslike transition temperature T₁ associated with the side-chain motion. The main chains undergo large-scale motion (librational about the chain axis and translational along the axis) above T₃ ≈ 200°C. The structure observed below T₂ is anomalously disordered compared with that observed between T₂ and T₃. The crystal structure emerging above T₂ is analyzed for a typical sample of poly(γ-n-propyl L -glutamate). The trigonal unit cell contains three α-helices so that each helix is surrounded by other helices in the same fashion, but the helices are not interrelated by a crystallographic symmetry element. The side chains suffer no particular change at T₂. The main-chain motion gives rise to the T₂ transition by inducing attractive forces between interpenetrating side chains.