Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Oligomers: A Molecular Dynamics Study

MD studies of liquid isopropyl alcohol and melts of short poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) oligomers are described. The specific volume was found to depend inversely on the number N of repeat units. If the chain length is enhanced, the viscosity of the PVA melt increases and the peaks in the radial distribution function become sharper. Additional peaks that appear in melts of PVA chains are of pure intramolecular origin. The calculated radius of gyration was found to depend on the number of formula units via . The orientation correlation functions showed that all molecular vectors of PVA melts with chain lengths N = 1, 2, 3 relax completely within a few nanoseconds. The relaxation times for the O H bond vector as obtained via the Kohlrausch‐Williams‐Watts expression showed an exponential dependence on the number of repeat units.

     

Gold‐Loaded Carbon Nanoparticles from Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐b‐poly(acrylonitrile) Non‐Shell‐Cross‐Linked Micelles

Herein we show that a new amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol)‐b‐poly(acrylonitrile) block copolymer dispersed in water can be easily loaded with gold nanoparticles by addition of chlorauric acid followed by reduction by sodium borohydride. After deposition of the so‐loaded micelles onto a silicon wafer, followed by an appropriate thermal treatment, the poly(acrylonitrile) core of the micelles is carbonized, while the poly(vinyl alcohol) shell is completely decomposed and volatilized, leading to gold encapsulated in carbon nanoparticles. The morphology of the micelles is maintained during thermal treatment without requiring shell‐cross‐linking of the micelles prior to pyrolysis.     

Influence of the surface chemistry on the structural and mechanical properties of silica‐polymer composites

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite films filled with nanometric, monodisperse, and spherical silica particles were prepared by the mixing of an aqueous PVA solution and SiO₂ colloidal suspension and the evaporation of the solvent. Adjusting the solution pH to 5 and 9 controlled the PVA‐SiO₂ interaction. Adsorption isotherms showed a higher PVA/surface affinity at a lower pH. This interaction influenced the composite structure and the particle distribution within the polymer matrix, which was investigated by small‐angle neutron scattering, electron microscopy, and swelling measurements. Most of the mechanical properties could be related to the composite structure, that is, the distribution of clusters within the polymer matrix. The progressive creation of a cluster network within the polymeric matrix as the silica volume fraction increased reduced the extensibility or swelling capacity of the composite. The effect was more acute at a higher pH, at which the surface interaction with PVA was weaker and promoted the interconnection between clusters. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3127–3138, 2003     

Glass Transition Temperature and Chain Flexibility of Ethylene‐Norbornene Copolymers from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Summary: Model chains of ethylene‐norbornene copolymers were built up using the results of ¹³C NMR spectral analysis of copolymer samples synthesized with metallocene‐based catalysts. Our models statistically reproduce the microstructure, composition, and tacticity of the copolymer chains of experimental samples. They were used to test if MD simulations are suitable to investigate the relationships between microstructure and macroscopic properties. In particular, MD simulations were applied to calculate the glass transition temperature and to study the chain flexibility by the analysis of ACF of specific virtual bonds. Plots of specific volume versus temperature computed for models of four copolymer samples having different microstructures and norbornene contents yield T_g values in good agreement with experiments. Moreover, comparison of the ACFs provides some qualitative indications about the relationship between chain stereochemistry and T_g.

ACF functions of the virtual bonds with microstructures NENE (bottom) and ENNE (top).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Cross‐Linked Poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene)s

Summary: Conjugated poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) networks with interesting optoelectronic properties were synthesized by the palladium‐catalyzed polycondensation of 2,5‐diiodo‐4‐[(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy]methoxybenzene, and 1,4‐diethynyl‐2,5‐bis‐(octyloxy)benzene, with 1,2,4‐tribromobenzene as cross‐linker. The cross‐linker concentration was varied and materials with different cross‐link densities were prepared. The materials were processed into films by simultaneous polymerization and shaping. An alternative approach is to synthesize these cross‐linked polymers in the form of spherical particles, which can be processed from dispersions.

Schematic representation of the cross‐linking process.     

Determination of Iodide and Idoxuridine at a Glutaraldehyde‐Cross‐Linked Poly‐L‐Lysine Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The detection limit (about 0.017 μg mL^?1) for voltammetric determination of iodide (peak at +0.87 V vs. Ag/AgCl at pH 2) at a glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked poly‐L ‐lysine modified glassy carbon electrode involving oxidation to iodine was found to be several orders of magnitude lower than that for the voltammetric determination on a bare glassy carbon electrode. This method was applied successfully to the determination of iodide in two medicinal formulations. Idoxuridine was determined indirectly at the same electrode by accumulating it first at ?0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl. At this potential the C? I bond in the adsorbed idoxuridine is reduced giving iodide, which is then determined at the modified electrode. The method was successfully applied to the determination of idoxuridine in a urine sample.     

Poly(diindenonaphthalene) and Poly(indenofluorene) – Tuning the Absorption Properties of Low Bandgap Cross‐Conjugated Polymers

Summary: Semiconducting polymers with moderate HOMO–LUMO energy gaps between 1.5 and 2.0 eV are of increasing attraction as donor components of bulk heterojunction‐type organic solar cells. The synthesis and characterization of a novel cross‐conjugated, aromatic polymer, poly(diindenonaphthalene) PDIN, with a HOMO‐LUMO gap of ca. 1.6 eV (λ_max: 724 nm) in comparison to poly(indenofluorene) PIF, a previously described, structurally related polymer, is presented. The replacement of the central benzene ring of PIF by a naphthalene moiety in PDIN leads to an increase of the optical bandgap energy of ca. 0.16 eV.

Chemical structure of PIF and PDIN.     

聚苯胺/聚乙烯醇导电复合材料合成的研究

采用原位聚合方法合成了可溶性的聚苯胺／聚乙烯醇导电复合材料。研究了反应体系中聚苯胺的含量、反应时间、温度及酸浓度对复合材料电导率的影响,确定了较佳的聚合反应条件,并且通过红外、紫外、荧光光谱和热重分析等对复合材料的结构、光电性能和稳定性进行了表征和分析。     

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     

Mass transfer from theophylline hydrogels of a‐PVA/H2O and a‐PVA/NaCl/H2O system on heating

Theophylline hydrogels of atactic‐poly(vinyl alcohol) (a‐PVA)/H₂O and a‐PVA/NaCl/H₂O systems were prepared followed by cyclic freezing (?30°C for 16 hr)–thawing (at room temperature for 8 hr) and one cycle gelation (at ?20°C for 24 hr) processes, respectively. In order to prepare xerogels (dried hydrogels) of these hydogel systems, an apparently first‐order mass transfer phenomenon of water as evaporation was observed for a‐PVA/H₂O hydrogel system, while heating at 60°C. The rate of evaporation decreased with increasing time in hyperbolic fashion. The total surface area (both lateral and two end surfaces of hydrogel matrix disc) decreased linearly for the first 90 min and thereafter had a tendency towards the steady‐state. The total mass flux showed time dependent linear reduction phenomenon, which is a characteristic physical behavior for these hydrogel systems on heat treatment. When NaCl was included in a‐PVA/H₂O system mass transfer of water followed fourth‐order polynomial. But in consideration of a comparative study, sustained mass transfer was found from the hydrogel matrices of a‐PVA/H₂O/NaCl system (gelation at ?20°C). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HTPB/增塑剂玻璃化转变温度及力学性能的分子动力学模拟

为了预测高分子粘结剂端羟基聚丁二烯(HTPB)与增塑剂癸二酸二辛酯(DOS)、硝化甘油(NG)的相容性及HTPB/增塑剂共混物的玻璃化转变温度(Tg)和力学性能,在COMPASS力场条件下采用分子动力学(MD)模拟方法对相容体系(HTPB-DOS)和不相容体系(HTPB-NG)进行了研究.结果表明,通过比较溶度参数差值(Δδ)的大小可以预测HTPB与增塑剂的相容性,即HTPB与DOS属于相容体系,而HTPB与NG不相容.通过温度-比容曲线可以得到HTPB、HTPB/DOS与HTPB/NG的Tg分别为197.54,176.30和200.03K.力学性能分析结果表明,添加DOS增塑剂后使HTPB的弹性模量(E),体积模量(K)和剪切模量(G)下降,材料刚性减弱,柔性增强,力学性能得到改善.本模拟方法可以作为预测聚合物/增塑剂共混物性能的有利工具,也可以为固体推进剂和高聚物粘结炸药的配方设计提供理论指导.     

Hydrophobically modified poly(vinyl alcohol) using alkoxy‐substituted methyl gallate: Synthesis and rheology

Hydrophobically modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (HMPVA) polymers were synthesized by potassium t‐butoxide‐catalyzed reaction of PVA with methyl 3,4,5‐tris(n‐octyloxy) benzoate (MGC₈)/3,4,5‐tris(n‐dodecyloxy) benzoate (MGC₁₂) and 1,3‐propane sultone. The concentration of 1,3‐propane sultone was kept constant at 10 mol % and that of MGC₈ (2, 3, and 4 mol %)/MGC₁₂ (2 and 3 mol %) was varied to obtain HMPVAs with different hydrophobic contents. The incorporation of MGC₈/MGC₁₂ and 1,3‐propane sultone onto HMPVA was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Rheological properties of aqueous solutions also confirmed the presence of hydrophobic and charged functional groups on HMPVAs. In the semidilute regime, the specific viscosity of HMPVAs followed concentration scaling that is typical of polyelectrolytes. At higher concentrations, the HMPVA solutions with 3 and 4 mol % of MGC₈ exhibited large increase in specific viscosity. Oscillatory experiments on these solutions exhibited gel‐like behavior at polymer concentrations of 40–50 g/L. Confocal microscopy images of HMPVA with 4 mol % of MGC₈ clearly indicated the existence of microgels. The tendency of formation of microgels further increased with increasing chain length of the hydrophobe, that is, with MGC₁₂. These samples exhibited rheological behavior that is typical of soft solids and was therefore probed by the strain‐rate frequency superposition technique reported recently in the literature. HMPVAs with improved rheological properties show potential applications as thickeners in cosmetic creams, lotions and as drug carriers in pharmaceutical formulations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1054–1063, 2010     

Structure and mechanical properties of poly(L‐lactic acid) crystals and fibers

The elastic constants of poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) crystals are reported on the basis of a commercial software package and the published crystal structure of the α form. A chain modulus of 36 GPa and a shear modulus of 3 GPa have been obtained for cylindrically symmetric aggregates of perfectly oriented crystals. The helical conformation of the PLLA molecule reduces the stiffness in the chain axis direction because bond rotation plays a significant role in the deformation. X‐ray crystal strain measurements suggest that shear of the α crystal parallel to the helix axis is the easiest mode of deformation, in agreement with the expectations obtained from the low shear modulus of 3 GPa obtained from the theoretical calculations. A combination of small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and shrinkage measurements has been used to characterize the structure that develops and the crystal transformation that occurs during fiber processing. The structure that develops during processing very much depends on the crystal transformation, and a structural model is proposed for fibers at different degrees of plastic deformation. The transformation of the α crystal into the β form and vice versa is governed primarily by shear along the helix axis because the chains must shear past each other during the crystal transformation, disrupting the lamellar packing. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 892–902, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of conducting poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenethyl alcohol)s

Poly(o‐aminophenethyl alcohol) and its copolymers containing the aniline unit were synthesized in aqueous hydrochloric acid medium by chemical oxidative polymerization. The chemical composition of these novel polymers was determined spectroscopically, and their viscosities were measured. These polymers exhibit good solubility in organic solvents that is attributed mainly to the polar hydroxyethyl side groups. Their structures (chain conformation and morphological structure) and properties (conductivity, electrochemical characteristics, glass transition, and degradation behavior) were characterized and then interpreted on the basis of the chemical composition along with the electronic and steric hindrance effects associated with the hydroxyethyl side group. Overall, the side group has a significant effect on the polymerization and influences the structure, chain conformation, and properties of the resultant polymer. The poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenethyl alcohol)s containing 20–40 mol % o‐aminophenethyl alcohol units are potential conducting materials for microelectronic and electromagnetic shielding applications because they are easier to process than polyaniline but retain its beneficial properties. These polymers can also be used as a functional conducting polymer intermediate owing to the reactivity of the side group. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 983–994, 2002     

Control of molecular aggregation in symmetrically substituted π‐conjugated bulky poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)s and their copolymers

A new series of symmetrically substituted bulky PPV‐copolymers based on poly(bis‐2,5‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) ( BEH‐PPV ) bearing tricyclodecane (TCD) pendants were synthesized to study the effect of chain aggregation in the π‐conjugated polymer backbone. The composition of the copolymers was varied up to 100 mol % and the structures of the copolymer were confirmed by NMR and FTIR. The molecular weights of the copolymers were obtained as M_w = 11,500–1,78,800 depending on the TCD‐incorporation in BEH‐PPV. The origin of the π‐aggregation was investigated using mixture of solvents (polar or nonpolar) or temperature as external stimuli. Absorption, photoluminescence, and time‐resolved fluorescence decay techniques were employed as tools to trace molecular aggregation in solution and solid state. The TCD‐substituted bulky copolymers showed almost twice the enhancement in photoluminescence compared with that of BEH‐PPV . Solvent‐induced aggregation studies of copolymers revealed the existence of strong molecular aggregation in BEH‐PPV compared with that of bulky copolymers. Variable temperature studies further evidence for the reversibility of molecular aggregation on heating/cooling cycles and showed isosbetic points with respect to free and aggregated polymer chains. Time‐resolved fluorescent studies confirmed the existence of free and aggregated π‐conjugated species with a life time of 0.1 to 1.0 ns. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2631–2646, 2009     

Manipulating the degradation rate of PVA nanoparticles by a novel chemical‐free method

The high water solubility of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is one of the challenging problems in its application. In order to rectify this problem, PVA needs to be crosslinked. Freeze‐thawing in solid state as a novel physical crosslinking method was employed for enhancement the stability of PVA nanoparticles in aqueous solutions during this study. PVA nanoparticles were successfully prepared by electrospraying and electrospray conditions were optimized in the view points of polymer concentration and solvent system. The morphology of nanoparticles was tailored from collapsed particles and mixture of particles/fibers to spherical particle by manipulating of polymer solution concentration and solvent system. After preparation of PVA nanoparticles in optimum condition, they were frozen at ?20°C and subsequently thawed at 25°C for different cycles of 1, 2, and 3. Field‐emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and biodegradation were used to evaluate the effect of freeze‐thawing on properties of PVA nanoparticles. FE‐SEM showed the spherical morphology of the PVA nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 200 to 300 nm. The FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the crystallinity of PVA nanoparticles increases after freeze‐thawing process. Moreover, by increasing the number of cycles, degree of crystallinity of nanoparticles increases. The XRD and DSC analysis of PVA nanoparticles again demonstrated the increasing of crystallinity of nanoparticles after freeze‐thawing process. The biodegradation behavior of PVA nanoparticles after freeze‐thawing exhibited the decreasing of degradation rate by increasing the number of cycles. Our overall results present a solvent‐less and safe method for crosslinking of PVA nanoparticles in solid state, which make it suitable for biomedical applications.     

Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the Thermo‐Responsive Polymer Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

Using molecular dynamics simulations with an OPLS force field, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of single‐ and multiple‐chain PNIPAM solutions in water is investigated. The sample containing ten polymer chains shows a sudden drop in size and volume at 305 K. Such an effect is absent in the single‐chain system. Large fluctuations of the physical properties of a short single‐chain prevent any clear detection of the LCST for the chosen model system, at least on the time scale of 200 ns. The results provide evidence that a critical number of PNIPAM monomer units must be present in the simulated system before MD simulations are capable to detect conformational changes unambiguously.