Novel Silanol-Containing Polymers and Their Blends

ABSTRACT

Novel 4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol polymer (PVPDMS) and co-polymers (ST-VPDMS) were synthesized by the oxyfunctionalization re- action of the silane. The reaction was found to proceed efficiently and quantitatively. Miscibility studies indicated that about 4 molpercnt; of 4-vin- ylphenyldimethylsilanol (VPDMS) functional group in the copolymer could achieve miscibility with poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPr). However, for copolymers containingmore than 34 molpercnt; VPDMS, their blends with PBMA were immiscible. The observed miscibility window of ST-VPDMS/PBMA blends was as- cribed to the competition between the self-association of dimethylsilanol groups and intermolecular hydrogen bonding of dimethylsilanol groups with the carbonyl groups of PBMA. A comparison of the efficiency of the miscibility enhancement and the miscibility windows of VPDMS, p-(hexafluoro-2-isopropyl) styrene (HFPS), and phenolic-containing polymers was made in terms of such competition. The glass transition behavior of the miscible blends involving VPDMS and HFPS-containing styrene copolymers with PBMA were analyzed by the Schneider equation.     

Poly(hydroxyether of phenolphthalein) and its blends with poly(ethylene oxide)

Poly(hydroxyether of phenolphthalein) (PPH) was synthesized through the polycondensation of phenolphthalein with epichlorohydrin. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The miscibility of the blends of PPH with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was established on the basis of the thermal analysis results. DSC showed that the PPH/PEO blends prepared via casting from N,N‐dimethylformamide possessed single, composition‐dependent glass‐transition temperatures. Therefore, the blends were miscible in the amorphous state for all compositions. FTIR studies indicated that there were competitive hydrogen‐bonding interactions with the addition of PEO to the system, which were involved with OH…O?C〈, ? OH…? OH, and ? OH vs ether oxygen atoms of PEO hydrogen bonding, that is both intramolecular and intermolecular, between PPH and PEO). Some of the hydroxyl stretching vibration bands significantly shifted to higher frequencies, whereas others shifted to lower frequencies, and this suggested the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pendant hydroxyls of PPH and ether oxygen atoms of PEO, which were stronger than the intramolecular hydrogen bonding between hydroxyls and carbonyls of PPH. The FTIR spectra in the range of carbonyl stretching vibrations showed that the hydroxyl‐associated carbonyl groups were partially set free because of the presence of the competitive hydrogen‐bonding interactions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 466–475, 2003     

Miscibility and intermolecular specific interactions in thermosetting blends of bisphenol S epoxy resin with poly(ethylene oxide)

Thermosetting blends composed of phloroglucinol‐cured bisphenol S epoxy resin and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were prepared via the in situ curing reaction of epoxy in the presence of PEO, which started from initially homogeneous mixtures of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol S, phloroglucinol, and PEO. The miscibility of the blends after and before the curing reaction was established on the basis of thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry). Single and composition‐dependent glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) were observed for all the blend compositions after and before curing. The experimental T_g's could be explained well by the Gordon–Taylor equation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that there were competitive hydrogen‐bonding interactions in the binary thermosetting blends upon the addition of PEO to the system, which was involved with the intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions, that is, OH···O?S, OH···OH, and OH, versus ether oxygen atoms of PEO between crosslinked epoxy and PEO. On the basis of infrared spectroscopy results, it was judged that from weak to strong the strength of the hydrogen‐bonding interactions was in the following order: OH···O?S, OH···OH, and OH versus ether oxygen atoms of PEO. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 359–367, 2005     

Miscibility window for the blends of poly(styrene-co-4-vinylphenymethylphenylsilanol) with poly(n-butyl methacrylate)

Polymer blends consisting of poly(styrene-co-4-vinylphenylmethylphenylsilanol) (ST-VPMPS) and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) have been investigated. The experimental results showed that miscible blends were formed when ST-VPMPS copolymers contained 9–56 mol % silanol functional groups. Comparison of the results with poly(styrene-co-4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol) (ST-VPDMS)/PBMA blends revealed that the miscibility window was shifted to a higher silanol composition in the present system in which a stronger hetero-associated hydrogen bonding interaction was present. The results were discussed in terms of steric shielding and electron-withdrawing effects of the phenyl substituent bound directly to the silicon atom. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

In‐line monitoring of immiscible polymer blends in a rheometer with a fiber‐optics‐assisted fluorescence detection system

In‐line studies of the initial stages of shear‐induced coalescence in two‐phase polymer blends were carried out with a home‐built device combining a cone and plate rheometer and a fiber‐optic‐assisted fluorescence detection system. A blend of 90 wt % poly(2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate) (PEHMA) and 10 wt % poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) was prepared by the casting of films onto a solid substrate from mixed aqueous latex dispersions of the two polymers. The dispersions were prepared via emulsion polymerization under conditions in which both components were formed as spherical particles with a very narrow size distribution. By using a 14:1 particle ratio of PEHMA to PBMA, we obtained films in which 120‐nm PBMA particles were surrounded by a PEHMA matrix. The blend contained phenanthrene‐labeled PBMA particles and anthracene‐labeled PBMA particles in a ratio of 4:1, whereas the PEHMA matrix polymer was unlabeled. We monitored the anthracene‐to‐phenanthrene fluorescence intensity ratio (I₄₇₀/I₃₆₀) as a measure of direct nonradiative energy transfer from phenanthrene to anthracene, whereas the blend was sheared at different shear rates and temperatures. Under no‐shear conditions, the results of in‐line experiments were in good agreement with the results of off‐line measurements of energy transfer by conventional techniques. In blends under shear, the two sets of experiments, in‐line and off‐line, did not agree with each other. The cause of this disagreement was associated with normal forces in the blend under shear that affected the optical path length and the relative intensities of the fluorescence signals of the phenanthrene and anthracene groups in the blend. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2302–2316, 2001     

Controllable specific interactions and miscibility in polymer blends, 2. A brief description of the main results

In this paper, we briefly report the main results of our work on the effect of introducing specific interaction on the miscibility of otherwise immiscible polymer blends. A strong proton-donating unit (CF₃)₂(OH)C- was incorporated into polystyrene (PS(OH)). A series of blends of PS(OH) with one of polyacrylates such as PBA, PMMA, PEMA and PBMA was studied. The infrared spectra of the blends present convincing evidence of the formation of hydrogen bonding. The frequency shift of the OH stretching band due to H-bonding is independent of the structure and composition of the hydroxyl-containing polymers, but clearly dependent on those of the counterpolymers. Both excimer and nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) fluorescence techniques have proved effective for monitoring the variation of the degree of molecular interpenetration with the density and strength of the hydrogen bonds in the blends. TEM observations reveal clear and regular variation in the morphology of the blends with the content of hydroxyl-containing groups. The morphological features of this kind of blends are almost controllable since the structure and/or amount of the introduced groups forming hydrogen bonding are readily adjusted in chemistry. NRET and viscosity measurements of solutions of polyacrylate and PS(OH) with relatively high hydroxyl contents in toluene provide evidence of the intermolecular complexation. In addition, the effect of introducing simultaneously crosslinking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding into blends of PS and PBA on miscibility was studied. It is concluded that single phase IPN can be prepared, but much higher content of the proton donor is needed in comparison with the blends of the corresponding linear polymers. The interlocking structure of the networks appears unfavourable to forming miscible IPN.     

Synthesis of microspheres with microphase‐separated shells

Novel structural microspheres of the Janus type, with microphase‐separated polystyrene (PS) and poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) shells and crosslinked poly(2‐vinyl pyridine) (PVP) cores, were synthesized with the crosslinking of PVP spherical domains in poly(styrene‐block‐2‐vinyl pyridine‐block‐tert‐butyl methacrylate) ABC triblock terpolymer film with PS/PBMA lamellae–PVP spherical structures. For the formation of lamellae‐sphere structures, toluene, which was a selective solvent for the ABC triblock terpolymer, was used. With the crosslinking of PVP spheres in the microphase‐separated film with 1,4‐diiodobutane gas, the microphase structure of the terpolymer was fixed, and microspheres composed of microphase‐separated PS and PBMA shells and P2VP cores were obtained. The size distribution of the purified microspheres was narrow. The characteristics of the microspheres and their aggregation behaviors in selective solvents were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and light scattering methods. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2091–2097, 2000     

Chain conformation of rod-like polymers in the melt: Small-angle neutron scattering of poly(benzoyl paraphenylene)

The chain conformation of a rigid rod polymer, poly(benzoyl paraphenylene), is determined in the melt using small-angle neutron scattering. The coherent scattering cross-section from blends of partially deuterated and hydrogenous poly(benzoyl paraphenylene) agree well with ideal rod scattering for q > 0.02 Å⁻¹, indicating that the polymer chains are highly extended. Comparison of the results to a single chain-scattering function for chains of arbitrary stiffness yield a persistence length of ca. 130 Å. Pure component scattering at the lowest scattering lengths indicate that the melt is not molecularly homogenous, but is comprised of domains, potentially reflecting localized groupings of chains with similar backbone orientation. Furthermore, this mesoscopic structure depends on the processing history of the polymer in the melt state. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2449–2459, 1998     

Blends of polycarbonate and acrylic polymers: Crystallization of polycarbonate

The microstructure of amorphous polymer blends has been extensively studied in the past, but now there is a growing interest for polymer blends where one or more of the components can crystallize. In this study we investigate such blends, namely miscible polycarbonate (PC)/acrylic blends. Using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy, we demonstrate that the amorphous acrylic component mostly segregates inside the spherulites between the lamellar bundles (interfibrillar segregation). Varying the PC molecular weight or the mobility of the amorphous component (by changing its molecular weight and T_g) does not change the mode of segregation. So far qualitative predictions of the mode of segregation in semicrystalline polymer blends have been proposed using the δ parameter (the ratio between the diffusion coefficient D of the amorphous component in the blend and the linear crystallization rate G), introduced by Keith and Padden. Our results suggest that other parameters have to be considered to fully understand the segregation process. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2197–2210, 1998     

Confocal microscopy studies of shear‐induced coalescence in blends of poly(butyl methacrylate) and poly(2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate)

This article reports the results of confocal fluorescence microscopy studies of shear‐induced coalescence in binary blends of poly(2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate) (PEHMA; 90 wt %) and poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA; 10 wt %). We prepared the blends by casting a mixture of latex dispersions of the components onto a substrate and allowing the film to dry under ambient conditions. The initial morphology of the film was a dispersion of 120‐nm PBMA spheres in a continuous PEHMA matrix. One‐fifth of the PBMA particles were labeled with anthracene, the emission of which we observed with confocal microscopy. The blends were sheared in a parallel‐plate rheometer at 80 and 100 °C for 1 and 10 h. Careful image analysis allowed us to estimate the mean size of the dispersed phase and the width of the size distribution. The results were compared with the theoretical limits of Wu and Taylor. After 10 h of shearing, the mean particle size decreased and the particle distribution became narrower in comparison with the results obtained after 1 h of shearing. We explain this result by inferring that before the sample reached steady‐state morphology, its rate of coalescence was greater than the rate of particle breakup. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2317–2332, 2001     

Compatibilizing effect of isocyanate functional group on polyethylene terephthalate/low density polyethylene blends

To evaluate the compatibilizing effects of isocyanate (NCO) functional group on the polyethylene terephthalate/low density polyethylene (PET/LDPE) blends, LDPE grafted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-isophorone diisocyanate (LDPE-g-HI) was prepared and blended with PET. The chemical reaction occurred during the melt blending in the PET/LDPE-g-HI blends was confirmed by the result of IR spectra. In the light of the blend morphology, the dispersions of the PET/LDPE-g-HI blends were very fine over the PET/LDPE blends. DSC thermograms indicated that PET microdispersions produced by the slow cooling of the PET/LDPE-g-HI blends were largely amorphous, with low crystallinity, due to the chemical bonding. The tensile strengths of the PET/LDPE-g-HI blends were higher than those of the PET/LDPE blends having a poor adhesion. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 447–453, 1998     

The conformation of poly(3-dodecyl thiophene) within methacrylic polymer matrix

Blends of poly(3-dodecyl thiophene) (PDDT) with poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate) (PMMA/PBMA) were studied by polarization optical microscopy, atomic-force microscopy, and absorption spectroscopy and were modeled using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The observed thermochromic transitions are shown to be host-matrix dependent, with PDDT/PBMA absorption spectra differing substantially from pristine PDDT. The dispersion of PDDT within PBMA matrix is observed to be greater than in the other host polymers. MD calculations of both individual PDDT molecules and molecular aggregates suggest that the distribution of dihedral angles present in the PDDT backbone is the narrowest for aggregates of PDDT embedded within a polymer matrix. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2909–2917, 1999     

Miscible blends containing a liquid crystalline polymer via optimized hydrogen bonding: Correlation to theory

Blending a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) with an amorphous polymer to create a molecular composite offers a method to use the desirable properties of an LCP at a more modest cost. However, very few such blends are miscible. Our earlier findings (Viswanathan, S.; Dadmun, M. D. Macromol Rapid Commun 2001, 22, 779–782; Macromolecules 2001, 35, 5049–5060; Macromolecules 2003, 36, 3196–3205) demonstrate that it is possible to create a true molecular composite by inducing miscibility in a blend containing an LCP and an amorphous polymer by slightly modifying the structure of the polymer constituents to promote hydrogen bonding between the two polymers. This result is interpreted to indicate that separation of the hydroxyl groups along the amorphous polymer chain enhances the accessibility of the ? OH to intermolecularly hydrogen bond to C?O groups and increases the miscibility of the blends. In this report, the phase diagrams for these blends are correlated to the theoretical phase diagrams that are determined using Coleman and Painter's association model, indicating excellent agreement between theory and experiment. This correlation also provides quantification of the functional group accessibility (via K) as a function of copolymer composition, which agrees very well with the previous phase behavior results and interpretation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1010–1022, 2004     

Melting behavior,miscibility, and hydrogen-bonded interactions of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(4-hydroxystyrene-co-methoxystyrene) blends

The miscibility of poly(4-hydroxystyrene-co-methoxystyrene) (HSMS) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). HSMS/PCL blends were found to be miscible in the whole composition range by detecting only a glass transition temperature (T_g), for each composition, which could be closely described by the Fox rule. The crystallinity of PCL in the blends was dependent on the T_g of the amorphous phase. The greater the HSMS content in the blends, the lower the crystallinity. The polymer–polymer interaction parameter, χ₃₂, was calculated from melting point depression of PCL using the Nishi-Wang equation. The negative value of χ₃₂ obtained for HSMS/PCL blends has been compared with the value of χ₃₂ for poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (P4HS)/PCL blends. The specific nature, quantitative analysis, and average strength of the intermolecular interactions in HSMS/PCL and P4HS/PCL blends have been determined at room temperature and in the molten state by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. The FTIR results have been in good correlation with the thermal behavior of the blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 95–104, 1998     

Correlation of the minor-phase orientation to the flow-induced morphological transitions in thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer/PBT blends

Immiscible blends of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCP) and a flexible polymer matrix show viscosity reductions and extensive fiber formation under certain flow conditions. Here we study these phenomena by directly examining the TLCP component's molecular orientation and the dispersed phase morphology. The rheology and morphology of blends of polybutylene terephthalate and a thermotropic copolyester (HX-8000 series, DuPont) at concentrations varying from 5 to 30 wt % of TLCP are characterized. It is found that the blends show viscosity reduction as well as stable fiber formation at shear rates dependent on the TLCP content. Wide-angle X-ray scattering is performed to measure the degree of molecular orientation of the TLCP phase. A deconvolution scheme isolates the scattering from the TLCP in the blends and a molecular model enables extracting an experimental orientation factor. It was found that a highly microfibrillated TLCP phase is coupled with an increase in the TLCP molecular orientation to values close to the pure TLCP at similar processing conditions. Further, the microfibrillated TLCP phase is found to be stable within the testing time. Current hypotheses about fiber formation in immiscible blends are tested against the experimental observations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1769–1780, 1998     

Strength of hydrogen bonding in the novolak-type phenolic resin blends

The specific interaction strength of novolak-type phenolic resin blended with three similar polymers [i.e., poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)] were characterized by means of glass transition temperature behavior and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The interassociation formed within phenolic blends with the addition of a modifier not only overcomes the effect of self-association of the phenolic upon blending, but also increases the strength of phenolic blend. The strength of interassociation within the phenolic blend is the function of the hydrogen bonding group of a modifier, in increasing order, is phenolic/PVA, phenolic/PEG, and phenolic/PEO blend, corresponding to the result of “q” value in the Kwei equation. The FTIR result is in agreement with the inference of T_g behavior. In addition, the fact that the specific strength of hydrogen bonding of hydroxyl–hydroxyl is stronger than that of hydroxyl–ether can also be concluded. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1721–1729, 1998     

Infrared characterization of poly(vinyl cinnamate) and its blends with poly(4-vinyl phenol) before and after UV exposure

The results of an infrared spectroscopic characterization of poly(vinyl cinnamate) (PVCIN) and its blends with poly(4-vinyl phenol) (PVPh) are reported before and after photo-crosslinking the PVCIN by exposure to UV radiation. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate methodology, and it is shown that quantitative analysis of the fraction of unsaturated ( CC ) double bonds, “free” (non-hydrogen bonded) and hydrogen bonded unsaturated ( CO CC ) and saturated ( CO C C ) acetoxy carbonyl groups is feasible in these blends as a function of UV exposure time. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1579–1590, 1998     

Miscibility study in the blends of novel poly (styrene-co-4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol) and poly (n-butyl methacrylate)

The miscibility of poly (styrene-co-4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol) (ST-VPDMS) and poly (n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) blends has been investigated by means of DSC and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was found that miscible blends were formed only for the copolymers containing 9–34 mol % 4-vinylphenyldimethylsilanol (VPDMS). The glass transition behavior of the miscible blends was analyzed by recently proposed equations in terms of the physical meaning of the fitting parameters. The results of FT-IR study were found to be fully consistent with the observation of the miscibility window obtained from glass transition temperature measurements. Quantitative information concerning intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction in the carbonyl stretching vibration region of the miscible blends was obtained by curve-fitting method. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Small-angle neutron scattering of polymer blends of polyvinylmethylether at dilute concentration in deuterated polystyrene

Small-angle neutron scattering was used to measure the radius of gyration and thermodynamics of blends of poly(vinylmethylether) (PVME) at dilute concentration in deuterated polystyrene (PSD). The data were analyzed using the Zimm equation and the random phase approximation theory. For PVME with a weight-average molecular weight of 38,400 the value of the radius of gyration, R_g, was found to be 47 Å in the limit of the concentration of PVME extrapolated to zero. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the Flory interaction parameter, χ/v₀, indicates that phase separation should occur at approximately 300°C for a sample with ϕ_PVME ≅ 9%. No significant temperature dependence of R_g was found over the experimental range studied. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 1–9, 1998     

Competitive hydrogen bonding and self‐assembly in poly(2‐vinyl pyridine)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) blends

Blends of poly(2‐vinyl pyridine)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (P2VP‐b‐PMMA) and poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) (phenoxy) were prepared by solvent casting from chloroform solution. The specific interactions, phase behavior and nanostructure morphologies of these blends were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this block copolymer/homopolymer blend system, it is established that competitive hydrogen bonding exists as both blocks of the P2VP‐b‐PMMA are capable of forming intermolecular hydrogen bonds with phenoxy. It was observed that the interaction between phenoxy and P2VP is stronger than that between phenoxy and PMMA. This imbalance in the intermolecular interactions and the repulsions between the two blocks of the diblock copolymer lead to a variety of phase morphologies. At low phenoxy concentration, spherical micelles are observed. As the concentration increases, PMMA begins to interact with phenoxy, leading to the changes of morphology from spherical to wormlike micelles and finally forms a homogenous system. A model is proposed to describe the self‐assembled nanostructures of the P2VP‐b‐PMMA/phenoxy blends, and the competitive hydrogen bonding is responsible for the morphological changes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1894–1905, 2009