Study of radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. IX. Preirradiation polymerization of styrene–silica gel system

Preirradiation polymerization of the styrene–silica gel system was studied in detail. Both graft polymers and homopolymers have bimodal GPC spectra. High molecular weight peaks were formed in a radical mechanism and the low molecular weight peaks were formed in a cationic mechanism as same as those in the simultaneous irradiation polymerization. The rate of formation of the low molecular weight peaks was very high compared with that of the high molecular weight peaks. Monomer conversion and percent grafting leveled off at about 1–2 Mrad. Radiation dose dependence of the four peaks were different from each other. Monomer conversion and percent grafting decreased as the preheating temperature of silica gel increased. The amount of the low molecular weight peaks of graft polymers depended on the number of silanol groups, as in the case of the simultaneous irradiation polymerization. A reaction mechanism for the preirradiation polymerization is proposed based on the results obtained.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. VI. Temperature dependence and effects of additives on methyl methacrylate–silica gel system

To elucidate the reaction mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate adsorbed on silica gel, the temperature dependence and effects of acetone and pyridine were investigated. It was found that even at ?78°C the polymerization rate was quite fast. The amounts of high molecular weight GPC peaks of both graft polymers and homopolymers increased with increasing irradiation temperature. The activation energy of the adsorbed state polymerization was low compared with that of bulk polymerization. The low molecular weight peaks of homopolymers decreased with acetone addition but were almost unaffected by pyridine. The low molecular weight peaks of homopolymers were thus polymerized by an anionic mechanism. In the methyl methacrylate–silica gel system both radical and anionic polymerization take place at the same time in formation of graft polymers and homopolymers. A reaction mechanism for the methyl methacrylate–silica gel system was proposed based on the results obtained to date.     

Study of radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. IV. Dose rate and temperature dependences in the styrene–silica gel system

In order to elucidate the mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel, the effects of dose rate and irradiation temperature were studied in detail. Monomer conversion increased with increasing dose rate and temperature. At the same conversion, the percent grafting increased with decreasing dose rate and also with increasing temperature. In general, GPC spectra of graft polymers and homopolymers showed two peaks; the ratio of the two peaks changed with dose rate and irradiation temperature. The dose-rate exponents of the polymerization rate of four peaks were different from each other. The activation energies of radical polymerization and cationic polymerization were about 2.6 kcal/mole and 0 kcal/mole, respectively. Based on the results obtained, a reaction mechansim is proposed.     

Study of radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. X. Influence of H2O on the styrene–silica gel system

To elucidate the reaction mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of the styrene—silica gel system, the influence of H₂O as adsorbed water and inhibitor of cationic polymerization was investigated by two methods. Monomer conversion decreased as H₂O increased. In general, percent grafting decreased as H₂O increased, but the presence of a small amount of H₂O increased the percent grafting. Grafting at 16 Mrad has a maximum value at a water content of about 0.2%. This seems to be due to two effects of H₂O: percent grafting increases due to restraint of cationic polymerization by H₂O, but the percent grafting decreases due to adsorption water which interrupts the contact of styrene with silica gel. In GPC spectra, the low molecular weight peaks of both graft polymers and homopolymers decreased when H₂O was added. The GPC results suggest that the number of positive holes which initiate cationic polymerization is very large.     

Effect of amount of monomer on radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel

The effect of amount of monomer on radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel was investigated with the monomer amounting from less than monolayer adsorption to more than the equilibrium adsorption. The rate of graft polymerization and the molecular weight of the polymer changed with the amount of monomer adsorbed on silica gel. Maximum grafting efficiency was obtained at monolayer adsorption. The molecular weight of graft polymer was higher than that of homopolymer in both radical and cationic polymerizations, and the ratio in molecular weight of graft polymer to that of homopolymer tends to be unity with increasing amount of adsorbed monomer. These results can mainly be explained in terms of the number of initiating species (radical and cation) that change in relation to the amount of adsorbed monomer. Propagation and termination change with amount of adsorbed monomer in relation to the molecular mobility of adsorbed monomer. A very high-molecular-weight graft polymer is formed only with a small amount of adsorbed monomer in the initial stage. The grafting percent with a large amount of adsorbed monomer increased after most of the monomer has been polymerized. Secondary effect of radiation on the graft and homopolymers due to energy transfer from silica gel is suggested from the complicated phenomena in the later stage of the reaction.     

Study of radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. III. Effect of p-benzoquinone and ammonia on radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel

In order to elucidate the mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel, the effect of p-benzoquinone and ammonia was investigated. The high molecular weight GPC peaks of both graft polymers and homopolymers decreased with increasing p-benzoquinone concentration, while the low molecular weight peaks of both graft copolymers and homopolymers decreased with increasing ammonia concentration. The results indicate that the high molecular weight peaks of both graft and homopolymers are formed as a result of a radical mechanism and that the low molecular weight peaks of both types of polymers are formed by a cationic mechanism. In formation of both graft polymers and homopolymers both radical and cationic polymerization take place at the same time.     

Study of radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. V. Effects of p-benzoquinone and dose rate on methyl methacrylate–silica gel system

In order to elucidate the mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate adsorbed on silica gel, the effects of p-benzoquinone addition and dose rate were studied in detail. Most of the polymerization is inhibited by p-benzoquinone at levels above 10^-2 mole/l. The GPC spectra of both graft polymers and homopolymers show two peaks. The high molecular weight material appears to have been formed by polymerization by a radical mechanism, because these peaks decrease as p-benzoquinone concentration increases; on the other hand, their low molecular weight polymers seem to be products of an ionic polymerization mechanism because those peaks are almost not affected by p-benzoquinone. The four GPC peaks differ in dose rate dependences of their polymerization rate. The dose-rate exponents of polymerization rate were obtained for the four GPC peaks. The behavior of the low molecular weight peaks of graft polymers and homopolymers were quite different, suggesting that the polymers differ considerably in formation mechanism.     

Anionic graft polymerization of methacrylonitrile on potassium starch alkoxide

The anionic graft polymerization of methacrylonitrile on potassium starch alkoxide in dimethyl sulfoxide was studied. Factors affecting the graft polymerization such as monomer and alkoxide concentrations as well as temperature were investigated. The yield of the graft polymers was found to increase with alkoxide concentration, and it was possible to incorporate all the starch into graft polymer. On increasing the monomer concentration the graft polymer yield increased to a flat maximum. At the higher monomer concentrations, the efficiency of monomer in giving graft polymer decreased due to increased homopolymer formation. The composition of the graft polymers varied with increasing monomer concentration, graft polymers having about 40–65% of grafted starch were obtained. With increasing temperature (10 to 60°C), the yield of graft polymer decreased, there was more homopolymerization, but the amount of starch incorporated in the graft remained constant. The structure of the graft polymers was deduced from hydrolysis of the starch backbone of the graft polymers by dilute mineral acid and the determination of the molecular weights of the grafted side chains, and from oxidation by periodic acid, which showed the extent of grafting at the secondary hydroxyl groups. These results have shown that by anionic graft polymerization it is possible to obtain graft polymers having more densely packed grafted side chains of relatively low molecular weights than those obtained previously by free-radical graft polymerization.     

Effect of dose rate on radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel

The effect of dose rate on the rate of polymerization and molecular weight distribution of radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel was studied in a wide dose rate range of 4.4 × 10⁴ to 3 × 10⁸ rad/hr by γ rays of ⁶⁰Co and electron beams with a Cockcroft-Walton-type accelerator. Dose rate dependence on the initial rate of polymerization was about 1 below 3 × 10⁷ rad/hr, and it decreased gradually at high dose rates. Throughout the dose rate range, graft polymerizations and homopolymerizations by cationic and radical mechanisms proceeded simultaneously. Dose rate dependence of the cationic polymerization was 1 below 3 × 10⁷ rad/hr, while dose rate dependence of the radical polymerization was 0.65 below 3 × 10⁷ rad/hr. At high dose rates, molecular weight and fraction of graft polymer decreased, and fraction of cationic polymerization increased. A very high-molecular-weight graft polymer was formed above 4.4 × 10⁵ rad/hr at the initial stage of the polymerization. The dose rate dependence of this polymerization was larger than 1 and decreased with increase in dose rate. The polymerization seems to be related to an excitation of monomer or growing chain.     

修饰硅胶表面印迹牛血红蛋白及其识别性能的研究

本文选用马来酸酐修饰后的硅胶作为载体,丙烯酰胺为功能单体,N,N’-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺为交联剂,牛血红蛋白为模板分子,采用氧化还原悬浮聚合法,合成了具有选择性识别的牛血红蛋白分子印迹聚合物。并用红外光谱(IR)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对聚合物进行了表征,结果表明载体表面成功接枝了分子印迹聚合物薄层。同时,选择性吸附实验表明分子印迹聚合物的具有良好的识别性能,能成功的实现水溶液中牛血红蛋白的富集。     

New hybrid membranes based on phosphonic acid functionalized silica particles for PEMFC

This work concerns the development of hybrid organic/inorganic membranes from styrenic phosphonic polymers. The phosphonic charge, composed phosphonic polymers grafted onto silica nanoparticles, was obtained by “grafting onto” method. It consists of synthesizing first the polymer, and then the terminal functions of the latter react with silanol groups of silica. The phosphonated polymer was isolated in two steps, that is, an ATRP polymerization of 4‐chloromethylstyrene followed by Mickaelïs‐Arbusov reaction. After the grafting onto silica, membranes are prepared through formulation containing the charge and the polymer matrix PVDF‐HFP, which are dispersed in DMF. The acid form is obtained by hydrolysis in chlorydric acid. The membrane possessing a 40 wt % charge ratio (IEC = 1.08 meq g^?1) was selected as reference. A proton conductivity of 65 mS cm^?1 at 80 °C was measured in immersed conditions. When the membrane is no more immersed, the value decreases drastically (0.21 mS cm^?1 at 120 °C and 25% RH). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

The hydroxyl content of silica gel

Thermogravimetric analysis of silica gel has shown that the loss in weight between 30° and 910°C can be quantitatively explained on the basis of water being lost from three distinct and different populations of sites on the silica gel surface. The results indicate that the site energies of the three different populations are randomly distributed and, consequently, the resulting weight loss steps from each population can be described by the integral of a simple normal distribution with temperature. The calculated weight loss obtained by assuming three different site-groups having randomly distributed adsorption energies is, within experimental error, coincident with the experimental data. It is also shown that the water evolved from the second population of sites originates from strongly bound water and may also contain water generated by the condensation of (geminal) silanol groups contained in the overlapping and neighbouring population.     

A novel polymer gel electrolyte: Direct polymerization of ionic liquid from surface of silica nanoparticles

A novel polymer electrolyte is synthesized by directly grafting poly ionic liquids onto silica nanoparticles. The kinetic study of this surface‐initiated polymerization has also been included. A gel‐state electrolyte is formed by mixing this type of polymer/silica nanocomposite with ionic liquids under 60 °C, which exhibits an excellent conductivity of 0.8 mS/cm at room temperature and 14.7 mS/cm at 90 °C. In addition, the mechanism of gel formation has also been discussed in this article. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 121–127     

Graft polymerization onto poly(methylvinylsiloxane)-bonded silica gel by gamma-ray irradiation

Poly(methylvinylsiloxane)-bonded silica gel was synthesized by condensation reaction between silica gel and the hydrolysis product of methylvinyldichlorosilane. Graft polymerization of styrene or indene onto poly(methylvinylsiloxane)-bonded silica gel was carried out by gamma-ray irradiation and compared with that onto silica gel. Homopolymer was found to be formed through a radical mechanism concurrently with an ionic mechanism in the graft polymerization. Probably genuine graft polymers are formed in the graft polymerization onto poly(methylvinylsiloxane)-bonded silica gel, while the product formed in the graft polymerization onto silica gel may be apparent graft polymers.     

Grafting of polymers onto and/or from silica surface during the polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of γ‐ray‐irradiated silica

The effects of radicals on silica surface, which were formed by γ‐ray irradiation, on the polymerization of vinyl monomers were investigated. It was found that the polymerization of styrene was remarkably retarded in the presence of γ‐ray‐irradiated silica above 60 °C, at which thermal polymerization of styrene is readily initiated. During the polymerization, a part of polystyrene formed was grafted onto the silica surface but percentage of grafting was very small. On the other hand, no retardation of the polymerization of styrene was observed in the presence of γ‐ray‐irradiated silica below 50 °C; the polymerization tends to accelerate and polystyrene was grafted onto the silica surface. Poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (MMA) were also grafted onto the surface during the polymerization in the presence of γ‐ray‐irradiated silica. The grafting of polymers onto the silica surface was confirmed by thermal decomposition GC‐MS. It was considered that at lower temperature, the grafting based on the propagation of polystyrene from surface radical (“grafting from” mechanism) preferentially proceeded. On the contrary, at higher temperature, the coupling reaction of propagating polymer radicals with surface radicals (“grafting onto” mechanism) proceeded to give relatively higher molecular weight polymer‐grafted silica. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2972–2979, 2006     

The optimization of silica gel synthesis from chemical bottle waste using response surface methodology

To reduce the amount of hazardous chemical bottle waste in the environment, we report the optimization research of silica extraction in chemical bottle waste into silica gel. Alkali fusion and sol–gel process were utilised to prepare silica gel effectively. The alkali fusion process was carried out by adding sodium hydroxide to produce sodium silicate. Afterwards, silica gel was prepared by the sol–gel method using hydrochloric acid. Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was applied to Optimisation factors the poptimiseactors affecting the silica recovery. The factors that optimised mass ratio, particle size, and temperature. The optimum recovery of silica gel was obtained by SiO₂: NaOH mass ratio of 1:3, the particle size of 63–74 µm, and a temperature of 800 °C. The purity of silica gel optimum is 63.74% characterised using X-ray fluorescence. The structure of silica gel is the appearance of amorphous peaks at 2θ 20-30° characterised using an x-ray diffractogram. The silica gel surface was characterises using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray. It showed an irregular surface and characteristic showed that silica gel had a radius of 15.74 nm and a specific surface area of 297.08 m².     

Thermal analysis of PMMA/gel silica glass composites

Thermal analysis of poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) impregnated porous gel silica glasses confirms that the PMMA chains form hydrogen bonds with the pore surface silanol groups. The adopted conditions for the insitu polymerisation result in about 4% of residual monomers trapped in the polymer, most of them in the amorphous structure. The polymer and monomer mixture takes up the whole of the free pore volume. Most of the residual monomer polymerises during the DSC scans above the glass transition temperature providing an excellent probe for the weak glass transition. Polymerisation in the gel silica glass medium affects the glass transition temperature, the length of polymer chains, and the degree of polymerisation.     

Potential of low-temperature post processing of silica gel for high-temperature stable LED encapsulant

In this study, a low-temperature post processing of silica gel for high-temperature stable LED encapsulant was developed. The results indicated that the silica gels prepared by 1st post heat treatment at 300?°C for 5?h and then 2nd post processing at 80?°C for 50?h can have similar low weight loss and high transmittance as the silica gels were processed at 800?°C for 5?h. The result of such low processing temperature implies it may be possible to encapsulate inorganic gel on LED as the convenient potting method is being used in silicone encapsulation technology. However, the processing time can be greatly reduced if vacuum oven is used. Further surface impermeability improvement is also possible by additional local surface heat treatment. The advantages of adopting silica encapsulant in LED modules include higher thermal stability and better optical performance consistency in lumen, color temperature, etc. in new applications.     

Free‐radical crosslinking copolymerization of 2,2′‐azobis[N‐(2‐propenyl)‐2‐methylpropionamide] with vinyl benzoate resulting in polymeric azo initiators

2,2′‐Azobis[N‐(2‐propenyl)‐2‐methylpropionamide] (APMPA) with two carbon–carbon double bonds and an azo group was copolymerized with vinyl benzoate (VBz) at 60 °C, resulting in azo groups containing VBz/APMPA prepolymers and crosslinked polymers as soluble and insoluble polymeric azo initiators, respectively. The polymerization characteristics of APMPA as a novel diallyl monomer were clarified with the rate and degree of polymerization and the monomer reactivity ratios. The gelation behaviors in VBz/APMPA crosslinking copolymerizations were examined in detail with a comparison of the actual gel point and the theoretical gel point calculated according to Stockmayer's equation with the tentative assumption of equal reactivity for both vinyl groups belonging to VBz and APMPA. The effectiveness of the resulting branched or crosslinked poly(VBz‐co‐APMPA)s as soluble or insoluble polymeric azo initiators, respectively, at providing graft polymers through the cleavage of azo groups at an elevated temperature was examined by the polymerization of allyl benzoate at 120 °C. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 317–325, 2002     

Radiation effect on polystyrene deposited and grafted on silica gel

The effect of radiation on polystyrene was studied in the presence and absence of silica gel by molecular weight measurement with GPC. Polystyrene crosslinked under vacuum in the absence of silica gel, but it either crosslinked or degraded by radiation, depending on the molecular weight of the polymer in the presence of silica gel. Part of the deposited polymer bonded to silica gel by radiation; the G value for graft-chain formation is in the range of 0.01–0.1. Irradiation of polystyrene grafted on silica gel resulted in degradation of the graft chain because of the transfer of energy from silica gel. The G value for main chain scission was about 2 when graft polymer was irradiated in the absence of homopolymer. The degradation of graft polymer was suppressed when the polymer was irradiated in the presence of homopolymer, and the amount of unextractable polymer from silica gel increased with increasing irradiation. This adds evidence to the estimation that an increase in grafting percent coupled with a slight decrease in molecular weight at a later stage of radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel is due to a secondary effect of radiation on the polymer.