Effect of polymerization temperature on the original morphology of polyethylene prepared by γ-ray-induced polymerization

Polyethylene was prepared by γ-ray-induced polymerization in the temperature range 0–180°C. The morphology and the physical properties of the polymer as polymerized were studied by electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and gel permeation chromatography. Aggregates of small lamellar crystals with irregularly growing faces were produced below 55°C. Aggregates of large spherical particles were formed above 60°C together with hemispherical particles which adhered to the substrate. A few lamellar crystals of triangular or amoeba-like shapes were also found above 55°C. The polymers formed below 55°C showed a sharp single endothermic DSC peak and a bimodal molecular-weight distribution, while the sample above 60°C had a double endotherm and a unimodal molecular-weight distribution. These facts suggest that the mechanism of crystallization during polymerization below 55°C is different from that above 60°C. The melting point, however, decreased continuously with increasing polymerization temperature and was much lower than that of extended-chain crystals. The results show that the polyethylene, as polymerized, is composed of folded-chain crystals irrespective of the reaction temperature.     

Cellulose membranes grafted with vinyl monomers in a homogeneous system

The homogeneous grafting of hydrophilic monomer onto cellulose derivatives was carried out in an aqueous system at 30, 50, 70 and 90 °C during reaction periods of 30 to 180 min. The graft polymer was isolated by ethanol from the reaction mixture, dried, and weigh. The grafted polymer was characterized by IR spectroscopy as well as microscopic sample morphology detected by electron scanning microscopy. The water absorption capacities and grafting values of grafted cellulose derivatives were also determined. The maximum grafting yield was obtained at 30 °C. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereospecific polymerization of benzyl vinyl ether by BF3·OEt2

Polymerization of benzyl vinyl ether was carried out by BF₃·OEt₂, and the effects of polymerization conditions on the stereoregularity of the polymer were studied by NMR analysis. The polymerization at ?78°C in toluene gave a highly isotactic polymer. The isotacticity of the polymer was independent of the catalyst concentration but increased with a decrease in the initial monomer concentration and decreased slightly on raising the reaction temperature. When the polymerizations were carried out in toluene—nitroethane mixtures, a gradual decrease in the isotacticity and a rapid decrease in the molecular weight of the polymer were observed with increasing nitroethane in the solvent. The molecular weight of the polymer was almost constant, regardless of the catalyst concentration, and increased with increasing initial monomer concentration and decreasing polymerization temperature. When the polymerization was performed in toluene at ?78°C with a small amount of water or benzyl alcohol, a linear relationship was found between the reciprocal DP of the polymer and water or benzylalcohol concentration. The mechanisms of the initiation reaction and the stereoregulation in the polymerization were also discussed.     

Morphological orders of spherulitic crystal textures in Belousov-Zhabotinsky-type oscillatory reaction system

The morphological orders of spherulitic crystal patterns in a Belousov-Zhabotinsky-type oscillatory reaction system were studied. The experiments showed that the morphology of crystal patterns were highly dependent on the reaction temperature. The reaction was initially carried out at 30 °C, leading to the growth of multi-centred spherulitic patterns. The single-centred spherulitic patterns with fairly large crystal fibrils were obtained at 35°C. A number of undersized crystal assemblies with fractal geometry were also investigated at 25°C. The gross morphology of the crystal patterns was examined using optical microscopy and a scanning electron microscope which revealed the fibrous organisations. A particle-mediated self-assembly scheme was proposed for the growth of the spherulitic patterns. The insight into the nucleation mechanism, growth behaviour, and morphological orders of the growing patterns is discussed in detail. The crystal phases, ordering of textures, and composition of the crystals were characterised by thermal and X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Stereoregulation in the polymerization of methyl α-ethylacrylate by n-BuLi in toluene

The polymerization of methyl α-ethylacrylate was carried out in toluene by n-BuLi at various temperatures. The yield of the polymer decreased with increase in the polymerization temperature and at 30°C and above no polymer was obtained, indicating that the ceiling temperature of this monomer lay between 0 and 30°C. The isotacticity increased with an increase in the polymerization temperature and at 0°C a highly isotactic polymer was obtained. The fractionation of the polymer obtained at ?78°C showed that the polymer was a mixture of isotactic and syndiotactic ones. Upon the addition of a small amount of methanol or water in the polymerization mixture the isotacticity of the polymer increased while the yield decreased. Syndiotactic polymer was obtained in the polymerization by n-BuLi in tetrahydrofuran as well as by diisobutyl aluminum diphenylamide in toluene.     

The morphology of polyethylene prepared by γ-ray-induced polymerization in various solvents

Polyethylenes were prepared by γ-ray-induced polymerization in ethyl and n-butyl alcohols, tert-butyl alcohol containing 5 vol-% of water, 2,2,5-trimethylhexane, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, and cyclohexane in the temperature range 25–90°C. The morphology of the polymers as-polymerized and studied by electron microscopy depends on three factors through the degree of undercooling: the affinity of the solvent, polymerization temperature, and the polymer molecular weight. Large lamellar crystals are formed even in the alcohols when at least two of them are chosen properly.     

Effect of heat treatment on the morphology and structure of crystals,powders, and fibers of polyacrylonitrile and saran

As part of a study of chemical and physical changes accompanying the formation of carbons by the pyrolysis of polymers, conventional electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy techniques have been used to examine structural and morphological features of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) crystals, powder, and fibers, and of Saran and poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC) powder. Changes accompanying the heating of these polymers in air and in nitrogen have been investigated. PAN crystals grown from propylene carbonate were similar to those obtained by Klement and Geil. When heated in air at 220°C they retained their morphology, and electron diffraction gave the same reflections as PAN. On further heating to 400°C in nitrogen the morphology was retained, but the diffraction was lost. Crystals treated in nitrogen alone at 200°C showed morphology similar to that of the polymer. PAN powders and fibers retained discernable external features of their morphology on heating to 800°C. These results are discussed with reference to changes which take place when poly(vinylidene chloride) and Saran are heated in the range 150–180°C, which results in the loss of one hydrogen chloride per monomer unit, and are subsequently carbonized at 800°C. The development of pore structure and the adsorptive properties of Saran carbons are also discussed.     

Polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxy anhydrides. III. Mechanism of polymerization of L- and DL-alanine NCA in acetonitrile

The polymerization of L - and DL -alanine NCA initiated with n-butylamine was carried out in acetonitrile which is a nonsolvent for polypeptide. The initiation reaction was completed within 60 min.; there was about 10% of conversion of monomer. The number-average degree of polymerization of the polymer obtained increased with the reaction period, and it was found to agree with value of W/I, where W is the weight of the monomer consumed by the polymerization and I is the weight of the initiator used. The initiation reaction of the polymerization was concluded as an attack of n-butylamine on the C₅ carbonyl carbon of NCA. The initiation, was followed by a propagation reaction, in which there was attack by an amino endgroup of the polymer on the C₅ carbonyl carbon of NCA. The rate of polymerization was observed by measuring the CO₂ evolved, and the activation energy was estimated as follows: 6.66 kcal./mole above 30°C. and 1.83 kcal./mole below 30°C. for L -alanine NCA; 15.43 kcal./mole above 30°C., 2.77 kcal./mole below 30°C. for DL -alanine NCA. The activation entropy was about ?43 cal./mole-°K. above 30°C. and ?59 cal./mole-°K. below 30°C. for L -alanine NCA; it was about ?14 cal./mole-°K. above 30°C. and ?56 cal./mole-°K. below 30°C. for DL -alanine NCA. From the polymerization parameters, x-ray diffraction diagrams, infrared spectra, and solubility in water of the polymer, the poly-DL -alanine obtained here at a low temperature was assumed to have a block copolymer structure rather than being a random copolymer of D - and L -alanine.     

Melt‐processable poly(oxyphenylalkanoate): Synthesis,properties, and in vitro degradation of poly(4‐oxyphenylacetate)

The homopolyester of 4‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPAA) was synthesized by one‐pot, slurry‐melt, and acidolysis melt polymerization techniques and was characterized by its inherent viscosity and IR and NMR spectra. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing light microscopy (PLM), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) studies of the homopolymer were carried out for its thermal and phase behavior. The results indicated that the yield and molecular weight of the polymer depended on the method of preparation; moreover, the acidolysis melt polymerization of the pure acetoxy derivative of HPAA was the best method for the preparation of high molecular weight poly(4‐oxyphenylacetate) (polyHPAA) without side reactions. DSC and PLM studies also showed that the thermal and optical properties depended largely on the polymerization conditions and inherent viscosity values. PolyHPAA did not show a clear texture typical of liquid‐crystalline polymers, whereas after cooling from the melt, structures similar to spherulitic crystals were observed. WAXD patterns showed a crystalline nature. The in vitro degradability of the polymer was also studied via the water absorption in buffer solutions of pH 7 and 10 at 30 and 60 °C; this was followed by Fourier transform infrared, inherent viscosity, DSC, thermogravimetric analysis, WAXD, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Unlike Vectra®, which showed no degradation, polyHPAA showed an increase in hydrolytic degradation from 5.0 and 6.0% at 30 °C to 12.5 and 15.0% at 60 °C after 350 h in buffer solutions of pH 7 and 10, respectively. The results indicated a possible biomedical prosthetic application of poly(oxyphenylalkanoate)s such as polyHPAA with better crystallinity coupled with degradability as a substitute for poly(hydroxyalkanoates). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2430–2443, 2001     

Polymerization of 2-azabicyclo[2,2,1]heptan-3-one and its copolymerization with 2-pyrrolidone

The anionic polymerization of a bridged bicyclic lactam, 2-azabicyclo[2,2,1]heptan-3-one (ABHO), was carried out in bulk and in solution under various reaction conditions. In general bulk polymerization of ABHO was superior to solution polymerization in conversion and degree of polymerization. The resulting polymer exhibited good thermal stability at temperatures up to 300°C. The melting point and decomposition temperature of this polyamide, poly(cyclopentane-1,3-diyliminocarbonyl), were about 307 and 335°C, respectively. Copolymerization of ABHO with 2-pyrrolidone was also made at 30°C and a varying weight percentage of ABHO with potassium pyrrolidonate as catalyst and CS₂ as activator. Copolyamides that contained 15 w % of ABHO decomposed at a temperature higher than the melting point by almost 30°C. Thus the thermal stability of copolymers compared with that of nylon-4, was greatly improved. Moisture sorptions of homopolymers and copolymers were always larger than those of other polyamides (nylon 4 and 6) at any relative humidity. Tenacity and elongation at the break of melt-spun fibers obtained from copolyamides that contained 15 w % of ABHO without the drawing and annealing process were 1.25 g/den and 13.1%, respectively.     

Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene by radiation. I. Effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight

The radiation-induced emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene was carried out at an initial pressure of 2–25 kg/cm², temperature of 30–110°C, and under a dose rate of 0.57 × 10⁴?3.0 × 10⁴ rad/hr. The rate of polymerization was shown to be proportional to 1.0 and 1.3 powers of the dose rate and initial pressure, respectively, and is maximal at about 70°C. The molecular weight of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lies in the range of 10⁵?10⁶, increases with reaction time in the early stage of polymerization, and is maximal at 70°C but is almost independent of the dose rate. An interesting discovery is that PTFE, a hydrophobic polymer, forms as a stable latex in the absence of emulsifier. When PTFE latex coagulates during polymerization under certain conditions, the polymerization rate decreases, probably because polymerization proceeds mainly on the polymer particle surface. The observed rate acceleration and successive increase in polymer molecular weight may be due to slow termination of propagating radicals in the rigid PTFE particles.     

Kinetics of γ-ray polymerization of formaldehyde in the presence of carbon dioxide

A kinetic study of the γ-ray polymerization of formaldehyde in toluene solution in the presence of carbon dioxide was carried out at temperatures of + 13 to ?17°C. Two modes of the polymerization, spontaneous and γ-ray polymerization, occur in this system. The γ-ray polymerization, experimentally separated from the spontaneous polymerization, was investigated. The rate of γ-ray polymerization increased slightly with the square root of carbon dioxide concentration. The rate of polymerization was also found to be proportional to the dose rate and the square of monomer concentration. The molecular weight of polymer formed was independent of the reaction condition. The apparent activation energy was estimated to be 10.3 kcal./mole. The kinetics of the γ-ray polymerization in the presence of carbon dioxide are explained quantitatively by a cationic mechanism, and the role of carbon dioxide is as an action of retardation for neutralization of the cationic initiating species, which was produced by γ-radiation, by means of a reverse reaction with an electron. Physical and mechanical properties of the polymer obtained by γ-ray polymerization were also investigated.     

Single‐microemulsion‐based Hydrothermal Approach to In(OH)3 and In2O3 Nanocubes

Well‐defined indium hydroxide [In(OH)₃] nanocubes have been successfully prepared through a facile single‐microemulsion‐mediated hydrothermal process at a relatively low temperature. Calcination of the In(OH)₃ precursor at 400°C in a furnace yielded In₂O₃ crystals with the same morphology. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the samples. The effects of reaction parameters on the formation of nanostructures were also discussed, and the nucleation, aggregation and anisotropic growth mechanism was proposed. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as the ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) absorbance spectra were carried out on the In₂O₃ crystals to investigate their optical properties.     

Effect of hydrogen on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

The effects of hydrogen on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene were studied from the viewpoint of polymer structure and kineties. All experiments were carried out at 30°C. In the polymerization of ethylene containing 21.6% hydrogen, the solid polymer was obtained as a main product, while no liquid product was found. There was no difference in hydrogen contents before and after the irradiation; and acetylene, ethane, butane, and butene-1 were found as gaseous products. The polymer yield increased almost proportionally with dose rate in the presence of 8.0% hydrogen; on the other hand the molecular weight was independent of dose rate. At hydrogen contents of 0–8%, the polymerization rate increased with reaction time and decreased with hydrogen content. The molecular weight also increased with the time, and the extent of the increment decreased with the time and hydrogen content. The number of moles of polymer chain increased proportionally with the reaction time and increased linearly with hydrgen concentration. These results were analyzed by using a graphical evaluation method for kinetics, and the effects of hydrogen on the each elementary step in the polymerization were discussed.     

Solid-state polymerization of hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane

The anionic solid-state polymerization of triclinic crystals of hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane (HPhTS) initiated by KOH and potassium oligo(methylphenylsiloxane) has been studied. It was found that this reaction can yield high molecular weight poly(diphenylsiloxane) (PDPhS) with a specific viscosity up to 5 (1 wt % diphenyloxide solution at 145°C). The main features of the process are as follows: (a) this is a heterogeneous reaction that proceeds inward from the surface of HPhTS crystals; (b) the crystalline polymer is obtained from the crystalline trimer; (c) OPhTS simultaneously forms along with the polymer; (d) the specific viscosity of the resulting polymer remains constant or decreases with polymerization time and, consequently, with the conversion of HPhTS; and (e) the crystallinity of polymerized PDPhS samples depends inversely on its specific viscosity. Together, these features suggest that polymerization and crystallization proceed successively. The morphologies of the resulting PDPhS phase revealed by means of scanning electron microscopy are consistent with this mechanism. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1973–1984, 1997     

Topotactic solid-state polymerization of 3-aminocrotonamide by radiation

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of 3-aminocrotonamide (3-amino-2-butenamide) was carried out at room temperature, in open air atmosphere and under vacuum condition. The polymer obtained was white powder, soluble in methanol, but insoluble in water. The nature of polymers were investigated by IR, UV, x-ray, DP-MS, and elemental analysis to elucidate the mechanism of the polymerization. The polymer was crystalline with melting point in the range of 245–255°C. The cell parameters and space group of monomer and polymers were determined from powder x-ray diffraction patterns. The similarity of crystal structures of monomer and polymer indicated a topotactic polymerization. It was shown by spectroscopic investigations and elemental analyses that the polymerization proceeds by condensation reaction with evolution of one mole ammonia per two combined moles of monomer through a free radical mechanism. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Annealing of polybutene-1 single crystals

The effects of thermal treatment in the 70–90°C. region on polybutene-1 crystals, prepared by precipitation from dilute pentyl acetate solutions and with lath, hexagonal, and square morphologies, have been studied by using electron microscopy. The stability of polybutene-1 crystals to thermal treatment increases in the order: lath < hexagonal < square. Elucidation of the crystallographic directions in unheated lath crystals with respect to the overall morphology was carried out; evidence for restricted folding in these crystals is discussed.     

Preparation and characterization of thin films of monomeric and polymeric octacyanophthalocyanines

Thin films were prepared on substrates, cleavage surface of KCl single crystal, and metallic copper, by reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene with the substrate at various temperatures. The films were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and UV/VIS spectroscopies. The films were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The films produced on copper at temperatures between 300 and 400°C consisted of copper octacyanophthalocyanine and its polymer with ladder structure. The ratio of polymer to monomer increased with elevating the reaction temperature. The films were composed of ribbon-like crystals. The film produced on copper above 450°C was composed of an amorphous and continuous layer of polymeric copper phthalocyanine. The film produced on KCl at temperatures between 250 and 350°C consisted of potassium octacyanophthalocyanine and its polymer with ladder structure. The film produced on KCl above 450°C was polymeric potassium phthalocyanine. Those films contained more metal content than that required stoichiometrical.     

Stabilizer-free precipitation copolymerization of renewable bio-based α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone and styrene

Stabilizer-free precipitation copolymerization of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (MBL) and styrene (St) was carried out in isoamyl acetate with BPO as initiator at 80°C. The influence of monomer feed ratio, initiator concentration and reaction time on the size and morphology of the obtained polymer particle was investigated in details. It was found that the monomer feed ratio play an important role on the particle formation process. When the monomer feed ratio of MBL to St was 1:2, narrow size distributed spherical polymer particles were formed with number average diameters in the range of 785–2620 nm. The formation process of polymer particle was studied to get a deep insight into the polymerization process of this reaction system. It was found that the formation mechanism of the poly(MBL-co-St) particles was similar to that of conventional precipitation polymerization. After a short nucleation stage (10 min), the amount of polymer particles remained constant and the particle growth mainly came from the capturing of newly formed polymer chains. The chemical composition and thermal property of the poly(MBL-co-St) were fully characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR spectra, and DSC.     

Preparation of polydivinylbenzene microspheres in supercritical carbon dioxide using acetone as cosolvent

Monodisperse polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) microspheres with clean surface were prepared by precipitation polymerization without stabilizer in supercritical carbon dioxide using acetone as cosolvent. Effects of the cosolvent, reaction time and pressure, and monomer concentration on the polymerization were studied. It was found that the conversions in all polymerization systems were above 95%. Examination by scanning electron microscopy showed that reaction pressure, divinylbenzene concentration, and level of the cosolvent had pronounced effects on the morphology of the microspheres. When 6?～?7 ml of acetone was used in a reactor of 50 ml, monodisperse PDVB microspheres of around 2.1 μm in diameter were obtained. Thermal gravimetrical analysis showed the products were of good thermostability up to about 400 °C.