Structure-property relationships for novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides containing various proportions of para-phenylene and meta-phenylene units: I. Synthesis and characterization

A series of novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides was synthesized by a low temperature solution polycondensation reaction of either 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzhydrazide or 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzhydrazide with an equimolar amount of either terephthaloyl chloride (TCl), isophthaloyl chloride (ICl), or mixtures of various molar ratios of TCl and ICl in anhydrous N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as a solvent. Polymer structures were identified by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy. All the polymers have the same structural formula except the way of linking phenylene units inside the polymer chain. The content of para- and meta-phenylene moieties was varied within this series so that the changes in the latter were 10 mol % from polymer to polymer, starting from an overall content of 0-100 mol %. The prepared polymers were characterized for their properties in order to acquire clear understanding of the influence exerted by controlled structural variations in these polymers upon some of important properties, such as solubility, intrinsic viscosity, moisture regain, mechanical properties and thermal as well as thermo-oxidative stability. The polymers were readily soluble in several organic polar solvents such as DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and hexamethyl phosphoramide and could be cast into flexible films. Their solubilities were found to increase remarkably with introduction of meta-phenylene moieties into the polymer chains. Their intrinsic viscosities ranged from 0.73 to 4.83 dl g⁻¹ in DMAc at 30 °C and increased with the increase of para-phenylene units content. Mechanical properties of the films produced from these polymers are improved markedly by substitution of para-phenylene units for meta-phenylene units. Thermogravimetric studies revealed that the completely para-oriented type of polymer has better thermal and thermo-oxidative stability relative to that of the other polymers. Moreover, the results reveal that the prepared polymers have a great affinity to water sorption. The hydrophilic character increases as a function of meta-oriented phenylene rings incorporated into the polymer chains.     

Exactly alternating silarylene-siloxane polymers. III. Structure-property relationships for polymers containing p-phenylene and p,p′-diphenyl ether silarylene units

A series of 12 different exactly alternating silarylene-siloxane polymers was prepared by low temperature condensation polymerization of arylenedisilanol with bisureidosilane monomers. The structural characterization of the polymers was carried out by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC). dilute solution viscometry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Homopolymers and copolymers that contained either or both p-phenylene and p,p′-diphenyl ether units in the silarylene group and dimethyl or methylvinyl units in the siloxane group were prepared in high molecular weights.     

Structure-property relationships for novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides containing various proportions of para-phenylene and meta-phenylene units III. Preparation and properties of semi-permeable membranes for water desalination by reverse osmosis separation performance

Flat sheet asymmetric reverse osmosis membranes were successfully prepared from N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solutions of a series of novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides that contained different amounts of para- and meta-phenylene rings. These polyamide-hydrazides were synthesized by a low temperature solution polycondensation reactions of either 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzhydrazide or 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzhydrazide with an equimolar amount of either terephthaloyl dichloride [TCl], isophthaloyl dichloride [ICl] or mixtures of various molar ratios of TCl and ICl in anhydrous DMAc as a solvent. All the polymers have the same structural formula except of the way of linking phenylene units inside the polymer chains. The content of para- to meta-phenylene moieties was varied within these polymers so that the changes in the latter were 10 mol% from polymer to polymer, starting from an overall content of 0-100 mol%. All the membranes were characterized for their salt rejection (%) and water permeability (cm³ cm⁻² day⁻¹) of 0.5 N aqueous sodium chloride feed solution at 3924 kPa operating pressure. The effects of polymers structural variations together with several processing parameters to achieve the best combination of high selectivity and permeability were studied. Effects of various processing parameters of the membranes on their transport properties were investigated by varying the temperature and period of the solvent evaporation of the cast membranes, coagulation temperature of the thermally treated membranes, annealing of the coagulated membranes, casting solution composition, membrane thickness and the operating pressure. During the thermal treatment step, the asymmetric structure of the membranes with a thin dense skin surface layer supported on a more porous layer was established. The former layer seems to be responsible for the separation performance. The results obtained showed that membrane performance was very much influenced by all of the examined processing variables and that membranes with considerably different properties could be obtained from the same polymer sample by using different processing parameters. Thus, the use of higher temperatures and longer exposure times in the protomembrane forming thermal treatment step would result in a membrane of lower solvent content and with a thicker skin layer and consequently led to higher salt rejection at lower water permeability. Most significantly, the membrane properties clearly depended on the polymer structure. Under identical processing condition, substitution para-phenylene rings for meta-phenylene ones within the polymer series resulted in an increase in salt rejection capability of the membranes. This may be attributed to an increase in their chain symmetry associated with increased molecular packing and rigidity through enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding. This produces a barrier with much smaller pores that would efficiently prevent the solute particles from penetration. Coagulation temperature controls the structure (porosity) of the membrane particularly its supported layer and consequently its water permeability. Moreover, annealing of the prepared membranes in deionized water at 100 °C was found essential for useful properties in the single-stage separation applications, which required optimum membrane selectivity. Upon annealing, the membrane shrinks resulting in reducing its pore size particularly in the skin layer and consequently improving the salt rejection. Addition of lithium chloride to the casting solution produced a membrane with increased porosity and improved water permeability. Salt rejection capability of the membranes is clearly affected by the applied pressure, reaching its maximum at nearly 4000 kPa. Furthermore, the water permeability is inversely proportional to the membrane thickness, while the salt rejection is not substantially influenced.     

Two reaction routes for the preparation of aromatic polyoxadiazoles and polytriazoles: Syntheses and properties

Two reaction routes for the preparation of aromatic poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles and poly-1,2,4-triazoles are studied and their influence on the physical properties, i.e., inherent viscosity, glass transition, degradation temperature, and film integrity of the final products are discussed. Aromatic poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are prepared by means of a polycondensation reaction of terephthaloyl chloride and isophthalic dihydrazide yielding a precursor polymer, poly(p, m-phenylene) hydrazide, which is converted into the corresponding poly-1,3,4-oxadiazole by means of a cyclodehydration reaction. Poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are also prepared by means of a polycondensation reaction between terephthalic and isophthalic acid and hydrazine yielding poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles with higher inherent viscosities. Flexible poly-1,3,4-oxadiazole films are obtained only if the inherent viscosities of the polymers used are higher than 2.7 dL/g. The thermal stability is found to increase with increasing content of p-phenylene groups in the polymer backbone. Aromatic poly-1,2,4-triazoles are prepared using polyhydrazides with alternating para- and meta-phenylene groups and poly-1,3,4-oxadiazoles with a random incorporation of para- and meta-phenylene groups in the main chain as precursor polymers. The glass transition temperatures are found to increase with increasing content of p-phenylene groups in the main chain of these polymers. Cold crystallization is observed only for the alternating polymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Syntheses and properties of polymers from perchloro-p-xylene,perclorobi-p-tolyl,and perchloro-m-xylene with Fe(CO)5 as dechlorinating agent

We describe a new method for the polymerization of perchloroaromatic compounds using Fe(CO)₅ as a dechlorinating agent which allows the syntheses of perchloropoly-1,4-phenylene vinylene ( 8 ), perchloropoly-4,4'-biphenylene vinylene ( 9 ), and perchloropoly-1,3-phenylene vinylene ( 10 ) from perchloro-p-xylene ( 5 ), perchlorobi-p-tolyl ( 6 ), and perchloro-m-xylene ( 7 ), respectively. Polymer 10 , a new macromolecular chlorocarbon, was characterized by elemental analysis and infrared and ultraviolet spectra. The molecular weights (MW's) of the polymers were estimated by osmometry. The XPS spectra of these polymers are discussed. Their thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetry. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies and some preliminary conductivity measurements, made after doping the polymers with SbF₅, are reported. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effects of substituent size and molecular weight on the liquid crystalline properties of poly(2-alkyl-1,4-phenylene terephthalate)s

A series of low molecular weight, thermotropic poly(2-alkyl-1,4-phenylene terephthalate)s was prepared by the solution polycondensation reaction of terephthaloyl chloride and alkylhydroquinones containing n-alkyl substituents of increasing size from methyl to dodecyl. Samples of the low molecular weight polymers so obtained were also further polycondensed in the solid state to obtain high molecular weight polymers. The liquid crystalline phase behaviors and textures were determined, and the effects of polymer structure and molecular weight on these properties are discussed. All of the polymers obtained formed thermotropic, nematic mesophases, which were less stable for the lower molecular weight polymers, as expected, than were the mesophases formed by the higher molecular weight polymers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of a new class of high-temperature polyamides from hexahydrobenzodipyrrole

A series of polyamides was synthesized by the interfacial polycondensation of 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydrobenzo [1,2-c:4,5-c′] dipyrrole with isophthalic, terephthalic, oxydibenzoic, sebacic and adipic acid chlorides. High molecular weight polymers with inherent viscosities ranging from 0.4 to 2.3 dl/g were obtained. Polymerization with isophthaloyl chloride gave the highest molecular weight polymer in this series. These polyamides melt between 350°C and 475°C, depending on structural differences as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Rapid weight loss in these polymers was observed in the range of 350–400°C under thermogravimetric analysis in a nitrogen atmosphere. All these polyamides are susceptible to photooxidative degradation. The results were compared with Nomex polymer poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide).     

The synthesis and solution properties of some rigid-chain,water-soluble polymers: Poly[N,N′-(sulfo-phenylene)phthalamide]s and poly[N,N′-(sulfo-p-phenylene)pyromellitimide]

Poly[N,N′-(sulfo-phenylene)phthalamid]es and poly[N,N′-(sulfo-p-phenylene)pyromellitimide] were prepared in water-soluble form and were found to have unique solution properties, similar in some respects to xanthan. The polymer most investigated, poly[N,N′-(sulfo-p-phenylene)terephthalamide] (PPT-S), is produced as the dimethylacetamide (DMAC) salt by the solution polymerization of 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid with terephthaloyl chloride in DMAC containing LiCl. The isolated polymer requires heating in water to dissolve; the resulting cooled solutions are viscous or gels at concentrations as low as 0.4%. They are highly birefringent, exhibit circular dichroism properties, and are viscosity-sensitive to salt. Solutions of this polymer mixed with those of guar or hydroxyethyl cellulose give significantly enhanced viscosity. The polymer is relatively low molecular weight, ca. 5000 estimated from viscosity data. Some meta and para isomeric analogs of PPT-S were prepared; these polymers have similar properties except they are more soluble in water, and higher concentrations are required to obtain significant viscosity. Poly[N,N′-(sulfo-p-phenylene) pyromellitimide] (PIM-S) was prepared similarly from 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid and pyromellitic dianhydride. Its aqueous solution properties are similar to those of PPT-S. It appears that these relatively low-molecular-weight rigid-chain polymers associate in water to form a network that results in viscous solutions at low concentrations.     

Thermally stable polymers based on bismaleimides containing amide,imide, and ester linkages

Seven new structurally different bismaleimides were synthesized and characterized by infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The chain of these polymer precursors was extended by incorporating amidized, imidized, and esterified 4-chloroformyl phthalic anhydride. The bismaleimides containing amide and imide linkages were prepared by a simple synthetic route based on the reaction of the monomaleamic acid derived from various aromatic diamines (1 mol) with 4-chloroformyl phthalic anhydride (0.5 mol) and subsequent cyclodehydration of the intermediate triamic acid. In addition, chain extended bismaleimides were prepared by reacting the monomaleamic acid derived from p-phenylenediamine with several dianhydrides such as p-phenylene bis(trimellitamide anhydride), p-phenylene bis(trimellitate anhydride), and bis-phenol A bis(trimellitate anhydride). The differential thermal analysis scans of bismaleimides showed exotherms at 221–304°C associated with their polymerization reactions. The thermogravimetric analysis traces of polymers did not show a weight loss up to 351–393 and 344–372°C in N₂ and air atmospheres, respectively. The anaerobic char yield of polymers at 800°C was 44–61%. These polymers can be used for fabrication of composites having improved properties.     

Studies on the thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymer. VIII. Synthesis and properties of fully aromatic poly(ester)s and poly(amide-ester)s containing p-phenylene diacrylic group

Three series of polymers containing p-phenylene diacrylic group were prepared by direct polycondensation in the presence of diphenylchlorophosphate and pyridine. Series I was prepared from p-phenylene bis(acrylic acid) with various hydroquinones. Series II was prepared from p-phenylene bis (β-cyano acrylic acid) with methylhydroquinone. Series III was prepared from 3-methyl-4-aminophenol with p-phenylene bis(acrylic acid) or p-phenylene bis(β-cyano acrylic acid), respectively. The phase behavior of these polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarizing microscopy equipped with a heating stage, and wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD). It was found that these polymers, except IIIb , exhibit thermotropic liquid-crystalline properties and show threaded or Schlieren texture under the optical polarizing microscopic observation. Furthermore, the melting temperatures of these polymers were decreased in the range of 254–354°C by incorporating with p-phenylene diacrylic group into the main chain. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of soluble and fusible poly(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene)

Poly(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene) was prepared by oxidative polymerization of p-dimethoxybenzene with aluminum chloride and copper(II) chloride in nitrobenzene under reduced pressure. The polymers obtained were soluble in sulfuric acid and fusible at 320°C. The intrinsic viscosity of the polymer was ca. 0.07 in sulfuric acid. Demethylation of methoxy groups did not occur during the polymerization.     

Water‐soluble,biocompatible polyphosphazenes with controllable and pH‐promoted degradation behavior

The synthesis of a series of novel, water‐soluble poly(organophosphazenes) prepared via living cationic polymerization is presented. The degradation profiles of the polyphosphazenes prepared are analyzed by GPC, ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy in aqueous media and show tunable degradation rates ranging from days to months, adjusted by subtle changes to the chemical structure of the polyphosphazene. Furthermore, it is observed that these polymers demonstrate a pH‐promoted hydrolytic degradation behavior, with a remarkably faster rate of degradation at lower pH values. These degradable, water soluble polymers with controlled molecular weights and structures could be of significant interest for use in aqueous biomedical applications, such as polymer therapeutics, in which biological clearance is a requirement and in this context cell viability tests are described which show the non‐toxic nature of the polymers as well as their degradation intermediates and products. © 2013 The Authors Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 287–294     

Synthesis of poly(tert-butoxycarbonyl-p-phenylene): precursor to poly(p-phenylene)

Poly[2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,4-phenylene] ( 2 ) was prepared by the Ni-catalyzed polymerization of tert-butyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoate ( 1 ). The microstructure of polymer 2 was probably alternating head-to-head and tail-to-tail. This polymer was soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and dichloromethane. Polymer 2 was saponified easily by thermal or acid treatment to yield poly[2-carboxy-1,4-phenylene] ( 3 ). Decarboxylation of polymer 3 in quinoline in the presence of copper(II) oxide produced poly(p-phenylene) (PPP) ( 4 ).     

Preparation of poly(phenylene vinylene) from cycloalkylene sulfonium salt monomers and polymers

Two new types of p-xylene bis-sulfonium chloride monomers were prepared from cycloalkylene sulfides. The polymerization characteristics of these monomers to form poly(p-xylene sulfonium chlorides), and the thermal elimination reactions of their polymers to poly(p-phenylene vinylene), were compared with those of two monomers prepared from dialkyl sulfides. The cycloalkylene sulfonium chloride monomer polymerized to higher yields and to higher molecular weight polymers, which showed more efficient elimination reactions.     

High-temperature,high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance of poly (p-phenylene sulfide)

A high-temperature, high-resolution ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique was developed for the analysis of poly (p-phenylene sulfide) (HT/HR NMR of PPS). This technique can be applied to the identification and quantitative analysis of end groups and polymer structure in high-temperature polymers where solution temperatures above 200°C are required for analysis. Verification of calculated ¹³C NMR shift values of chloro-terminated and hydrogen-terminated end groups was made by HT/HR NMR of two oligo (p-phenylene sulfide) model compounds. Identification of the chlorine end group was made in high-molecular weight PPS. On the high-molecular weight PPS, identification and quantitative analysis of amino and N-alkylamino end groups were possible only after derivatization of the polymer with ¹³C-enriched benzoyl chloride.     

Aromatic polyesters obtained directly from hydroxybenzoic acids by hexachlorocyclotriphosphatriazene (PNC) in pyridine

Polyaryl esters of moderate molecular weights were prepared by the direct polycondensation reaction of hydroxybenzoic acids and its derivatives with hexachlorocyclotriphosphatriazene (also known as phosphonitrilic chloride trimer, PNC) as a condensing agent in pyridine. Copolymerization of p-hydroxybenzoic acid with several hydroxybenzic acid derivatives was carried out to improve the processability of the polymer of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which yields fusible and soluble copolymers of high inherent viscosities. Polymer solubility and thermal behavior were examined.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(p-phenylene pyromellitamic acid)

Poly(p-phenylene pyromellitamic acid)s were synthesized over the weight-average molecular weight range 8,000 to 22,000. The polymers were recovered as amorphous powders composed of 3–4 × 1–2 μ platelets 0.1–0.2 μ thick containing 20–30% associated solvent. Consumption of reactants and attainment of the ultimate molecular weight of the polymer were found to occur within the first few minutes of reaction. The polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy; ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and infrared spectroscopy; x-ray analysis; viscometry; and light-scattering photometry. The intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relation for the polymer in DMF was \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ [\eta ] = 25.2 \times 10^{ - 4} \bar M_w^{0.56} $\end{document}.     

Anomalous viscosity behavior of rodlike polyelectrolytes: Partially sulfonated poly(2-benzoyl-1,4-phenylene)s in aqueous solution

Two stereoisomeric poly(2-benzoyl-1,4-phenylene)s were synthesized. Polymer I has exclusively a head-to-tail structure; however, polymer II contains both head-to-head and head-to-tail units. The sulfonation reaction of polymers I and II was found to occur mainly on the meta position of the benzoyl group on the phenylene backbone. The viscosities of polymers Ia (27% sulfonated) and Ic (51% sulfonated) in aqueous solutions at 25°C were measured with and without NaBr addition. Upon the addition of NaBr (0.05 and 0.1M), the reduced viscosities were found to increase gradually and reach a constant value in each case after standing at room temperature for 30–40 h. Without NaBr, the time effect was not found. The reduced viscosities of solutions with NaBr were also higher than those without the salt. These results are quite different from the typical “polyelectrolyte” behavior. A possible explanation of the salt effect of rigid rodlike polymers such as sulfonated poly(2-benzoyl-1,4-phenylene) is discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1425–1429, 1998     

Light-scattering Characterization of the Molecular Weight Distributions of Some Intractable Polymers

Recent developments of using laser light scattering (LLS) to characterize the molecular weight distribution f(M) of special polymers such as Kevlar, Tefzel, Teflon, branched epoxy clusters, gelatin, dextran, segment copolymers and polymer mixtures, are reviewed. The basic principle of combining static (classic) and dynamic LLS results is outlined. In dynamic LLS, the line-width (or the translational diffusion coefficient) distribution G(Γ) can be obtained from the precisely measured intensity–intensity time correlation function. The key problem is transforming G(Γ) to a corresponding molecular weight distribution f(M) is to establish a calibration between D (the translational diffusion coefficient) and M. Typical examples were used to illustrate different calibration methods, including the methods of using a series of narrowly distributed polymer standards with different molecular weights, using two or more broadly distributed polymer samples, and one broadly distributed polymer samples plus an additional experimental method (e.g. viscometry or size exclusion chromatography). The advantages and disadvantages of the LLS method are discussed by comparison with size exclusion chromatography. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(phenylacetylenes) featuring activated ester side groups

Four monomers based on 4‐ethynylbenzoic acid have been synthesized, one of those featuring an activated ester. With the metathesis catalytic system WCl₆/Ph₄Sn, these acetylenic monomers could successfully be polymerized yielding conjugated polymers with molecular weights of around 10,000 to 15,000 g/mol and molecular weight distributions M_w/M_n ≤ 2.1. Also the copolymerization of phenylacetylene or methyl 4‐ethynylbenzoate with pentafluorophenyl 4‐ethynylbenzoate as reactive unit was conducted. Polymer analogous reactions of the reactive polymers and copolymers with amines have been investigated and it was found that poly(pentafluorophenyl 4‐ethynylbenzoate) featured a significant reactivity, such that reactions proceeded quantitatively even with aromatic amines. Moreover the UV‐Vis spectra of the activated ester based polymer before and after conversion with aliphatic amines showed a change, indicating an effect on the conjugated backbone of the polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010