Effect of poly(ethylene oxide) on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)

To improve the drawability of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) thermal products, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), a special resin with good flexibility, excellent lubricity, and compatibility with many resins, was applied, and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WXRD) were adopted to study the hydrogen bonds, water states, thermal properties, crystal structure, and nonisothermal crystallization of modified PVA. It was found that PEO formed strong hydrogen bonds with water and PVA, thus weakened the intra‐ and inter‐hydrogen bonds of PVA, changed the aggregation states of PVA chains, and decreased its melting point and crystallinity. Moreover, the interactions among PVA, water, and PEO retarded the water evaporation and made more water remain in the system to plasticize PVA. The existence of PEO also slowed down the melt crystallization process of PVA, however, increased the nucleation points of system, thus made more and smaller spherulites formed. The weakened crystallization capability of PVA and the lubrication of PEO made PVA chains to have more mobility under the outside force and obtain high mechanical properties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1946–1954, 2010     

Effect of core-shell micelle formation on the redox properties of phenothiazine-labeled poly(ethyl glycidy ether)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)

Redox properties of phenothiazine-labeled poly(ethyl glycidy ether)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PT-EGE_n-b-EO_m) are reversibly changed by core-shell micelle formation. In the temperature range higher than the critical micellization temperature (cmt), the anodic potential of PT group positively shifts and concomitantly its anodic current decrease, or levels off compared to those of the reference polymer PT-EO_m without the thermo-responsive EGE_n segment. The former alteration is caused by incorporation of hydrophobic PT groups into a core of the micelle and the latter by the decrease in the diffusion coefficient of PT groups due to formation of the core-shell micelles. The cmt value and the temperature-dependent alteration in the redox properties strongly depend on the polymer structure, especially the length of thermo-responsive EGE_n segment. The electrochemically determined hydrodynamic radii of the polymer aggregates seem to be overestimated, compared to the values reported for the aggregates of other thermo-responsive polymers with similar molecular weights, implying the presence of electrochemically inactive PT groups in the copolymers having longer thermo-responsive segments.     

Effect of core-shell micelle formation on the redox properties of phenothiazine-labeled poly(ethyl glycidy ether)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)

Redox properties of phenothiazine-labeled poly(ethyl glycidy ether)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PT-EGE_n-b-EO_m) are reversibly changed by core-shell micelle formation. In the temperature range higher than the critical micellization temperature (cmt), the anodic potential of PT group positively shifts and concomitantly its anodic current decrease, or levels off compared to those of the reference polymer PT-EO_m without the thermo-responsive EGE_n segment. The former alteration is caused by incorporation of hydrophobic PT groups into a core of the micelle and the latter by the decrease in the diffusion coefficient of PT groups due to formation of the core-shell micelles. The cmt value and the temperature-dependent alteration in the redox properties strongly depend on the polymer structure, especially the length of thermo-responsive EGE_n segment. The electrochemically determined hydrodynamic radii of the polymer aggregates seem to be overestimated, compared to the values reported for the aggregates of other thermo-responsive polymers with similar molecular weights, implying the presence of electrochemically inactive PT groups in the copolymers having longer thermo-responsive segments.     

Synthesis of poly(dipeptide)s on the surface of functional micelle and reversed micelle

Amphiphilic active 4-dodecanoyl-2-nitrophenyl esters of dipeptide containing β-alanine ( 1 – 5 ) were prepared and their polycondensation was studied in detail. The critical micelle concentrations of the active esters 1 – 5 were determined in water by the dye method and the apparent mean aggregation number of reversed micelles formed by model compound 6 was determined by the osmotic method. The results of polycondensation can be explained by assuming that aggregations such as micelle and reversed micelle play an important role in polycondensation. The obtained new poly(dipeptide)s were examined by IR, ¹H NMR, x-ray diffraction, and circular dichroism spectra.     

Effect of chloroform on the structure and gas-separation properties of poly(ether imides)

The FTIR spectra of poly(ether imide) films prepared from their chloroform solutions were recorded in a wide temperature interval. The cast films were shown to contain residual solvent. This residual solvent existed in films as unbound chloroform that may be removed by heating to 60–70°C and as bound chloroform that is involved in complex formation with polymers and may be removed by heating at temperatures close to their glass transition temperatures (180°C). Quantum-chemical calculations were performed for structures that model fragments and monomer units of poly(ether imides), as well as their complexes with chloroform. Chloroform was shown to be capable of preferential binding with an oxygen atom in a Ph-O-Ph′ fragment via hydrogen bonds. In this case, the conformational set of poly(ether imide) chains is changed. The above evidence is invoked to explain changes in transport characteristics with time for poly(ether imide) films cast from chloroform solutions.     

A vibrational spectral study of the structure of poly(dimethyl)- and poly(diethyl)silanes

Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2869–2870, December, 1989.     

Effect of amorphous precipitated silica on the properties and structure of poly(p-phenylene sulfide)

Using a precipitation technique, silicas were obtained from sodium metasilicate solution employing an acidic agent. Alcohol solutions were used in the process of production of highly dispersed silicas, which resulted in partial blocking of the silica surface silanol groups. Moreover, studies on morphology and microstructure using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The size distributions of primary particles and aggregate and agglomerate structures were determined using a ZetaPlus instrument using the dynamic light scattering method. The structure and molecular dynamics of the nanocomposite, consisting of poly (p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and of the precipitated silica, were studied using atomic force microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. It was proved that during annealing the fragmentation of PPS agglomerates takes place. This phenomena probably resulted from repulsion forces existing between agglomerates and aggregates. Fragmentation in the polymer network probably resulted from repulsion forces between agglomerates and smaller aggregates. Received: 7 November 2000 Accepted: 5 April 2001     

弹性体偶联剂结构对PVC/PPC性能的影响

NBR－PPC弹性体偶联剂能促进PPC（聚丙撑碳酸酯）与PVC（聚氯乙烯）之间的相容性，改善共混物的力学性能，并在共混体系中产生轻度交联。偶联剂组成在NBR／PPC比例为70／30，NBR（丁腈橡胶）含腈量为34％，BPO过氧化苯甲酸用量为2．5份时，共混物的综合力学性能最佳，但偶联剂预先硫化时间不宜过长．     

聚(苯乙烯-co-甲基丙烯酸)自组装胶束假固定相电动色谱的特性

研究了两亲性无规共聚物聚(苯乙烯-co-甲基丙烯酸)(P(St-co-MAA))(单体摩尔比分别为6:4和7:3)自组装胶束的物理化学性质,及其作为假固定相(PSP)的胶束电动色谱性能。测定了聚合物胶束的临界胶束浓度(CMC),对胶束内核微环境的极性、表面电荷密度和流体力学直径等微结构参数进行了表征,对时间窗口、亚甲基选择性等电动色谱参数进行了测定,并与聚(甲基丙烯酸甲酯-co-甲基丙烯酸)(P(MMA-co-MAA))胶束、十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)胶束体系进行了比较;利用线性溶剂化能关系(LSER)研究了聚合物PSP的选择性差异。结果表明:P(St-co-MAA)体系具有最小的CMC、最宽的时间窗口和最好的亚甲基选择性;LSER表明,疏水作用是决定聚合物PSP选择性的最主要因素,氢键酸度其次,特别是P(St-co-MAA)(单体摩尔比7:3)体系具有最高的作用参数,显示了该PSP具有较高的分离选择性。     

Effect of nucleating agent on the structure and properties of polypropylene/poly(ethylene-octene) blends

The effect of the sorbital nucleating agent on properties of the ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) toughened polypropylene (PP) was studied. The results show that the addition of POE increases notched Izod and Charpy impact strength significantly but impair the tensile strength and flexural modulus. As a nucleating agent (1,3,2,4-di(p-methylbenzylidene) sorbitol, DM) was added, the toughness and stiffness of toughed PP increased simultaneously at the same content of POE. This result shows that the toughness and stiffness of toughed PP are in balance. Polarized light microscopy analysis shows that with the addition of POE and nucleating agent, only a low level of PP spherulites were observed.     

Effect of the montmorillonite cloisite 15A on the structure and properties of poly(1-butene)

The structure and properties of nanocomposites based on poly(1-butene) and the nanoclay Cloisite 15A are studied. The nanoclay introduced into poly(1-butene) (5 wt %) is an efficient additive that improves mechanical and thermal properties of poly(1-butene).     

Effect of UV irradiation on mechanical properties and structure of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) fibers

The accelerated ultraviolet aging behavior of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) fibers (POD fibers) exposed to artificial environment for different durations were studied. The influence of ultraviolet light on the intrinsic viscosity, structure, appearance and morphology, mechanical properties of POD fibers were investigated during aging by ATR-FTIR and UV-spectra, XPS, WXRD, SEM and tensile strength tester. The results revealed that the structure and properties of POD fibers were affected by UV light. Tensile strength and breaking elongation of POD fibers were severely decreased after 48 h UV light irradiation, and the change of intrinsic viscosity indicated that only degradation but not crosslink occurred. Disruption of oxadiazole rings and formation of carbonyl and amide were observed. UV aging process in nitrogen atmosphere suggested that the oxygen was indispensable and the essence of POD UV aging was photo-oxidation process. POD was amorphous and the recrystallization on surface was present after UV aging due to degradation. Morphology of POD fiber surface was damaged after UV aging.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly[(methylsilylene ethynylenephenyleneethynylene)-co-(dimethylsilylene ethynylenephenyleneethynylene)]s

<正>A series of poly[(methylsilylene ethynylenephenyleneethynylene)-co-(dimethylsilylene ethynylenephenyleneethynylene)]s were synthesized by the incorporation of various ratios of methylsilylene to dimethylsilylene units into the polymer chain backbone.The resultant copolymers were soluble in a variety of common organic solvents at room temperature.The copolymers were characterized by FT-IR,~1H-NMR,GPC,rheological analysis,differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).The results showed that the copolymers exhibited good processability and cured at low temperatures like 200℃.The curing reactions involved in hydrosilylation of Si—H and alkyne groups and the polymerization of alkynes.Y_(d5)(5%weight loss) of the cured copolymers ranged from 629℃to 686℃,and the decomposition residues of cured copolymers at 1000℃ranged from 88.1%to 90.9%under nitrogen.Thermal stability of the copolymers increased with the introduction of methylsilylene units into polymer chains.The cured copolymers were sintered at 1450℃,and the results of X-ray diffraction analysis showed that β-SiC was formed in the sintered products.     

X-ray spectral and quantum chemical analyses of the electronic structure of poly(monofluorocarbon)

The electronic structure of poly(monofluorocarbon) has been studied by X-ray spectral and quantum chemical methods. Calculations were performed in terms of the MNDO method, with the fluorographite layer modeled by clusters of different sizes. The high-resolution CK_a and FK_a spectra have been obtained; the calculated spectra are consistent with the experimental ones. It has been shown that carbon and fluorine are bonded mainly through the σ bonds. The p orbitals of fluorine atoms that are perpendicular to the C-F bond are not involved in the chemical bond, while the transitions from the molecular orbitals consisting of these p orbitals are responsible for the main maximum in the FK_a spectrum. Deceased. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 630–635, July–August, 1995. Translated by I. Izvekova     

Effect of Molecular Weight on the Properties of Poly（butylene succinate）

Poly（butylene succinate） （PBS） with different molecular weight was synthesized from 1, 4-butanediol and succinic acid by direct melt condensation. The synthesized PBS was identified by IH-NMR and FTIR spectrometry. The molecular weight was calculated from the intrinsic viscosity, and its value was between 20000 and 70000. The crystallization behavior and crystal morphology as function of molecular weight were investigated by DSC and PLM, respectively. The mechanical properties and hydrolytic degradation behaviors related with change of molecular weight were also studied in this work. The results demonstrated that the properties of PBS were determined by both molecular weight and crystallization properties （crystallinity as well as crystal morphology）. Our work is important for the design and preparation of PBS with proper molecular weight for its practical application.     

Effect of moisture on the bulk properties of salted poly(caproamide)

The glass-transition temperature (T_g) and the elastic modulus of nylon-6 and its mixtures with 4% w/w LiCl and with 2% LiCl+3% LiBr were investigated. In one set of experiments care was taken to avoid absorption of moisture during the measurements. In another set of experiments, samples were exposed to atmospheric humidity for different lengths of time. Both unoriented and oriented specimens were investigated. The presence of 4% LiCl almost doubles the amount of moisture absorbed at equilibrium by nylon-6. The T_g was found to be greatly affected by the moisture content and by salt type. When strict precautions to exclude moisture are taken, the addition of 4% LiCl raises the T_g of nylon-6 by about 25°C. The elastic modulus of oriented samples is increased by the addition of salts provided moisture is completely absent. This beneficial effect is, however, completely eliminated when samples are allowed to equilibrate with atmospheric moisture.     

Effect of tacticity on permeation properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The effect of stereoregularity on gas permeation properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was investigated. The gas permeability coefficients for He, H₂, O₂, N₂, Ar, CH₄, and CO₂ at 35°C near atmospheric pressure have been measured for three different PMMAs. Apparent diffusion and solubility coefficients were obtained from time lag data, and these were compared with data for a commercial PMMA previously reported. The permeability, solubility, and diffusion coefficients increase as the content of syndiotactic sequences increases. These observations are consistent with more dense packing of the isotactic form in the glassy state that stems in part from its lower glass transition temperature. The transport behavior for a 50:50 isotactic/syndiotactic blend was also studied. These so-called stereocomplexes exhibit permeation behavior comparable to other weakly interacting miscible blend systems.     

Metalated diblock and triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) copolymers: understanding of micelle and bulk structure

The paper provides new insights into the structure of Pt-containing diblock and triblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP), using a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering (ASAXS). Parallel studies using methods contributing supplemental structural information allowed us to comprehensively characterize sophisticated polymer systems during metalation and to exclude possible ambiguity of the data interpretation of each of the methods. AFM and TEM make available the determination of sizes of the micelles and of the Pt-containing micelle cores, respectively, while a combination of XRD, TEM, and ASAXS reveals Pt-nanoparticle size distributions and locations along with the structural information about the polymer matrix. In addition, for the first time, ASAXS revealed the organization of Pt-nanoparticle-filled diblock and triblock copolymers in the bulk. The nanoparticle characteristics are mainly determined by the type of block copolymer system in which they are found: larger particles (2.0-3.0 nm) are formed in triblock copolymer micelles, while smaller ones (1.5-2.5 nm) are found in diblock copolymer micelles. This can be explained by facilitated intermicellar exchange in triblock copolymer systems. For both systems, Pt nanoparticles have narrow particle size distributions as a result of a strong interaction between the nanoparticle surface and the P4VP units inside the micelle cores. The pH of the medium mainly influences the particle location rather than the particle size. A structural model of Pt-nanoparticle clustering in the diblock PEO-b-P4VP and triblock P4VP-b-PEO-b-P4VP copolymers in the bulk was constructed ab initio from the ASAXS data. This model reveals that nearly spherical micellar cores of about 10 nm in diameter (filled with Pt nanoparticles) aggregate forming slightly oblate hollow bodies with an outer diameter of about 40 nm.     

The structure and properties of drawn blends of poly (vinylidene fluoride) and poly (methyl methacrylate)

A blend consisting of equal proportions of poly (vinylidene fluoride) and poly (methyl methacrylate) has been prepared and drawn to draw ratios up to 7. The mechanical properties and the structure and morphology of the samples have been measured, the latter using differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, and various x-ray techniques. A structural model is proposed for the drawn materials which accounts for the mechanical properties and for the response of the crystalline regions of the material to an applied stress.     

Effect of thermo-mechanical cycles on the physico-chemical properties of poly(lactic acid)

Polylactic acid (PLA) has now become an economically viable commodity plastic in many industries. This raises the question of recyclability of industrial production waste and some packaging wastes as well. The evolution of rheological and mechanical properties of polymer with the number of recycling cycles up to seven was investigated. For PLA, only the tensile modulus remains constant with the thermo-mechanical cycles. In contrast, stress and strain at break, rheological factors and the modulus and hardness probed by nanoindentation decrease for PLA. This dramatic effect is ascribed to a large decrease in the molecular weight due to several different complex degradation processes which are discussed. The effect of two stabilizers is also assessed.