Role of vacuum ultraviolet irradiation in plasma‐induced graft polymerization in the pore‐filling polymerization of porous materials

The role of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) rays contained in the plasma during plasma‐induced graft polymerization in the pores of a porous high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) substrate was investigated through the separation of the VUV rays from the plasma with LiF, CaF₂, and quartz filters. Two characteristic phenomena, the effect of the solvent on the grafting rate and the graft polymerization in the pores of the porous substrate, were observed in the VUV‐induced graft polymerization process. These results provided clear evidence that VUV rays in the plasma played an important role in the formation of grafted layers in the pores of the HDPE substrate. The relationship between the penetration depth of the VUV rays and the distribution of the grafted layer inside the substrate was examined. The calculated penetration depth of the VUV rays (and hence the distribution of radicals) and the distribution of the grafted layer were not consistent. However, this inconsistency could be explained by the fact that the effective density of the radicals that could react with the monomer to grow the grafting polymer was very low because of the steric hindrance of the grafted chains. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2068–2074, 2005     

Graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto nanosized alumina particles

To enhance the interfacial interaction in alumina nanoparticles filled polymer composites, an effective surface modification method was developed by grafting polystyrene and polyacrylamide onto the particles. That is, the alumina surface was firstly treated with silane, followed by radical grafting polymerization in aqueous or non-aqueous systems. Results of infrared spectroscopy and dispersiveness in solvents demonstrated that the desired polymer chains have been covalently bonded to the surface of the alumina particles. They also greatly changed their surface characteristics. In addition, effects of polymerization conditions, including ways of monomer feeding, concentrations of monomer and initiator, and reaction time, on the grafting reaction were presented. It was found that the growing polymer radicals and/or the grafted polymer chains had a blocking effect on the diffusion of radicals or monomers towards the surface of nanoalumina. This was due to the fact that the interaction between the solvent and the grafted polymers was weaker than that between the grafted polymers and the nanoparticles.     

Effect of polymerization conditions on the molecular weight of polystyrene grafted onto silica in the radical graft polymerization initiated by azo or peroxyester groups introduced onto the surface

The effect of polymerization conditions on the molecular weight of polystyrene grafted onto silica obtained from the radical graft polymerization initiated by azo and peroxyester groups introduced onto the surface was investigated. The molecular weight of polystyrene grafted onto silica obtained from the radical graft polymerization initiated by surface azo and peroxyester groups decreased with decreasing monomer concentration and polymerization temperature. The molecular weight of polystyrene was found to be controlled to some extent by the addition of a chain transfer agent. The molecular weight of grafted chain on silica surface obtained from the graft polymerization initiated by surface radicals formed by photodecomposition of azo groups was considerably smaller than that by thermal decomposition. The number of grafted polystyrene in photopolymeriztion, however, was much larger than that in thermal polymerization. These results are explained by the blocking of surface radicals formed on the silica surface by previously grafted polymer chain: when the decomposition of surface azo and peroxyester groups proceed instantaneously at the initial stage of the polymerization, the number of grafted polymer chains increased.     

Inorganic surface nanostructuring by atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization

Surface graft polymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto a silicon surface was accomplished by atmospheric pressure (AP) hydrogen plasma surface activation followed by graft polymerization in both N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and in an NMP/water solvent mixture. The formation of initiation sites was controlled by the plasma exposure period, radio frequency (rf) power, and adsorbed surface water. The surface number density of active sites was critically dependent on the presence of adsorbed surface water with a maximum observed at approximately a monolayer surface water coverage. The surface topology and morphology of the grafted polymer layer depended on the solvent mixture composition, initial monomer concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time. Grafted polymer surfaces prepared in pure NMP resulted in a polymer feature spacing of as low as 5-10 nm (average feature diameter of about 17 nm), an rms surface roughness range of 0.18-0.72 nm, and a maximum grafted polymer layer thickness of 5.5 nm. Graft polymerization in an NMP/water solvent mixture, however, resulted in polymer feature sizes that increased up to a maximum average feature diameter of about 90 nm at [NMP] = 60% (v/v) with polymer feature spacing in the range of 10-50 nm. The surface topology of the polymer-modified silicon surfaces grafted in an NMP/water solvent mixture exhibited a bimodal feature height distribution. In constrast, graft polymerization in pure NMP resulted in a narrow feature height distribution of smaller-diameter surface features with smaller surface spacing. The results demonstrated that, with the present approach, the topology of the grafted polymer surface was tunable by adjusting the NMP/water ratio. The present surface graft polymerization method, which is carried out under AP conditions, is particularly advantageous for polymer surface structuring via radical polymerization and can, in principle, be scaled to large surfaces.     

Surface modification of polyethylene fiber by graft polymerization

To improve the wettability and adhesion, graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was performed onto the surface of ultra-high modulus polyethylene (UHMPE) fiber pretreated with Ar plasma. Following the plasma treatment and the subsequent exposure to air to introduce peroxides onto the fiber surface, graft polymerization onto the UHMPE fiber was allowed to proceed from the polymer peroxides either in deaerated monomer solution at an elevated temperature (degassing method), or in aerated monomer solution containing riboflavin at 30°C under UV irradiation (photoinduction method). The monomer solution was prepared from water and dioxane for AAm and GMA, respectively. After rigorous removal of homopolymers, surface analysis of the grafted fibers was performed with ATR-FTIR and XPS, which revealed that PAAm and PGMA chains were grafted in the surface region of fibers. The grafting rate of PAAm by the photoinduction method was much higher than that by the degassing method when compared at the same concentration of the AAm solution. The amount of PGMA grafted was greatly affected by UV irradiation time, but depended on plasma treatment time to an insignificant extent if the treatment was carried out for longer than 30 s. Reaction of propylamine with the PGMA-grafted surface resulted in the appearance of a nitrogen peak in the XPS spectrum, suggesting the presence of epoxy groups on the surface of PGMA grafted fiber. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of the pore surface modification of an inorganic substrate on the plasma‐grafting behavior of pore‐filling‐type organic/inorganic composite membranes

We have investigated the effect of the surface state and surface treatment of the pores of an inorganic substrate on the plasma‐grafting behavior of pore‐filling‐type organic/inorganic composite membranes. Shirasu porous glass (SPG) was used as the inorganic substrate, and methyl acrylate was used as the grafting monomer. The grafting rate increased as the density of silanol on the SPG substrate increased. This result suggests that radicals are generated mainly at the silanol groups on the pore surface by plasma irradiation. The SPG substrates were treated with silane coupling agents used to control the mass of organic material bonded to the pore surface. The thickness of the grafted layer became thinner as the mass of organic material bonded to the pore surface of SPG increased. This decrease in the thickness of the grafted layer could be explained by the decrease in the penetration depth of vacuum ultraviolet rays contained in plasma having a wavelength of less than 160 nm that generated radicals in the pores of the substrate. The thickness of the grafted layer inside the SPG substrates could be controlled through the control of the mass of organic material bonded to the pore surface of the SPG substrate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 846–856, 2006     

New morphological control for thick,porous membranes with a plasma graft‐filling polymerization

Morphological control of membranes with plasma graft‐filling polymerization was proposed for thick, porous membranes. The morphology depended closely on the plasma within the membrane pore, which was determined by the plasma‐discharge power (PDP) and the gas pressure. The membrane morphology was investigated in terms of solvent composition in monomer solution, PDP, Ar pressure, and pore size of a substrate. Morphologies of membranes prepared were evaluated by a microscopic Fourier transform infrared mapping method. This study demonstrates that it is possible to control the membrane morphology by manipulating the plasma power and Ar pressure instead of morphological control by solvent‐dependent monomer activity. Additionally, through indirect methods this study reveals that plasma exists even in sub‐micropores (ca. 0.4 μm in diameter). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1216–1224, 2003     

二步法聚丙烯/丙烯酸表面接枝聚合研究

研究了二步法聚丙烯膜表面的丙烯酸接枝反应 .实验发现 ,以醋酐为溶剂的反应体系所得接枝率明显好于以水为溶剂的体系 ;接枝率随光敏剂浓度、单体浓度增大而增加 ;提高反应温度 ,可使接枝率明显增大 ;接枝后的聚丙烯膜表面亲水性可明显改善 .并用红外光谱证实了丙烯酸在聚丙烯膜表面的接枝 .     

Frontal polymerization of acrylic monomers for the consolidation of stone

Polymeric products are largely used for consolidation of stone in the field of cultural heritage. Nevertheless, the main problem of polymeric compounds is related to their macromolecular nature, it being difficult for a polymer to penetrate inside the pores which may have a very small diameter. These considerations are the starting points for in situ polymerization. According to this technique, not the pre‐formed polymer, but the monomer is introduced into the stone and it is polymerized in situ in a subsequent step. Frontal polymerization (FP) is a particular technique in which the heat released by the exothermal reaction of monomer to polymer conversion is exploited to promote the formation of a hot traveling front able to propagate and self‐sustain the reaction. In the present work, FP is performed inside the pores of the stone and the results lead to the conclusion that the hot front is still active in the presence of an inorganic material which dissipates partially the heat released during the polymerization. In addition some recent applications of FP are discussed in comparison with the traditional polymerization for the in situ consolidation and protection of stones. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamics of addition polymerization

Addition polymerizations of both acyclic and cyclic monomers show the characteristic features of any aggregation process, in particular, a ceiling temperature above which the formation of the aggregate (long‐chain polymer), under given conditions of monomer concentration, solvent, and pressure, would involve a positive change of free energy and is therefore impossible. Conversely, for a given temperature, pressure, and solvent, there is an equilibrium monomer concentration below which long‐chain polymer cannot be formed. Monomers must therefore have a negative free energy of polymerization, under given conditions, if they are to be capable of undergoing a significant extent of polymerization. The effect of monomer structure, including ring size, on thermodynamic polymerizability is discussed, as well as the possibility of copolymerizing monomers that cannot themselves give homopolymers. Examples are given for various possible mechanisms of polymerization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2137–2146, 2000     

紫外光引发LDPE膜接枝含氟丙烯酸酯的研究

通过紫外光引发表面接枝聚合反应的方法 ,把含氟丙烯酸酯单体R 5 6 1 0引到LDPE薄膜上 .对经丁酮抽提后的接枝膜进行FTIR、ESCA、SEM和DSC等表征 ,证实含氟聚合物以化学键的方式接枝在LDPE基体膜上 .在一定范围内 ,增加紫外光强、引发剂和单体浓度以及反应温度等均有利于提高接枝率 .经计算R 5 6 1 0的紫外光引发接枝聚合反应总活化能为 5 4 2kJ mol.接枝膜的接触角随着接枝率的提高逐步增大 ,直至趋于恒定 .作者提出接枝膜存在一个在接触角测定时影响基体膜与探测水滴相互作用过程的边界层 .当接枝率较低、接枝层厚度小于边界层临界厚度时 ,基体LDPE影响接触角的大小 ,但随着接枝率提高 ,接枝层逐渐变厚 ,氟聚合物层对接触角的贡献逐渐占优势 ,导致接触角随之增大 .当接枝率超过一定值以后 ,接枝层厚度超过边界层临界厚度 ,接枝层对接枝膜的接触角起全部贡献 ,接触角测定值随之稳定     

The effect of frequency on the plasma polymerization of ethane

The plasma polymerization of ethane has been studied in the frequency range of from 50 Hz to 13.56 MHz. The rate of polymer deposition is strongly dependent on frequency, with significantly higher rates being observed at frequencies below 6 MHz. The effects of frequency can be interpreted in terms of a mechanism that assumes that polymer is formed by the reaction of surface free radicals, created by the bombardment of the growing polymer by charged species, with gas phase free radicals, formed by collisions of energetic electrons with monomer molecules.     

Particle nucleation and monomer partitioning in styrene O/W microemulsion polymerization

Particle nucleation in the polymerization of styrene microemulsions was found to take place throughout the polymerization as indicated by measurements of the particle number as a function of conversion. A mechanism based on the nucleation in the microemulsion droplets was proposed to explain the experimental findings although homogeneous nucleation and coagulation during polymerization were not completely ruled out. A thermodynamic model was developed to simulate the partitioning of monomer in the different phases during polymerization. The model predicts that the oil cores of the microemulsion droplets were depleted early in the polymerization (4% conversion). Due to the high monomer/polymer swelling ratio of the polymer particles, most of the monomer resides in the polymer particles during polymerization. The termination of chain growth inside the polymer particles was attributed to the chain transfer reaction to monomer. The low n? (less than 0.5) of the microemulsion system was attributed to the fast exit of monomeric radicals.     

Some aspects of plasma polymerization investigated by pulsed R.F. discharge

The polymerization of organic compounds in glow discharge (plasma polymerization) was investigated by using pulsed R.F. discharge (100 μsec on, 900 μsec off). The effects of pulsed discharge on polymer deposition rate, pressure change in plasma, ESR signals of free spins in both plasma polymer and substrate, and the contact angle of water on the plasma polymer surface were investigated for various organic compounds. The results are correlated to the mechanisms of polymer formation in plasma (plasma polymerization) which has been postulated as repeating processes of stepwise (propagation) reactions. The effect of the pulse is different from one group of organic compounds to another depending on whether or not they contain an olefinic double bond and/or a triple bond. The main difference seems to be the addition polymerization which can occur exclusively during the off-period of pulsed discharge. Ultraviolet emission from pulsed discharge is much less than from continuous discharge. Consequently, the fragmentation of the monomer and the free-radical formation in the substrate are less with the pulsed discharge. Properties of polymers from some organic compounds formed in continuous and in pulsed discharge were found to be significantly different, and the differences were postulated from the changes of polymerization mechanisms in the pulsed discharge.     

Solventless polymerization: spatial migration of a catalyst to form polymeric thin films in microchannels

This paper reports a simple, additive process to generate patterned polymer films without using any solvent. This process involves a highly efficient catalyst, a Grubbs's catalyst, and a volatile monomer, norbornene. The catalyst and monomers have higher local concentrations inside the microchannels, formed by contacting poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamps to a solid surface, and allow the polymeric thin films to be defined by the microchannels. The patterned thin film serves as an excellent resistant to reactive ion etching, which promises that this process is a complementary, useful alternative to spin-coating and plasma polymerization in microfabrication.     

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     

Ozone-induced graft polymerization onto polymer surface

Ozone-induced graft polymerization was carried out to improve polymer surfaces. The polymers were exposed to ozone and the surface density of peroxides formed was determined by three methods; iodide, DPPH, and peroxidase method. The peroxide production could be readily controlled by the ozone concentration and the ozone exposure time. In addition, it was dependent on the kind of polymer. Further, it seemed probable that the ozone oxidation introduced peroxides not only on the outermost surface but also into a layer deeper from the outermost surface. Such polymeric peroxides were capable of initiating graft polymerization onto PU. All the physical and biological measurements on the grafted surface indicated that ozone-induced graft polymerization has effectively made the PU surface covered with the grafted water-soluble chains, their location being restricted to the film surface region. The interaction of the PU surface with blood components could be greatly reduced by the surface graft polymerization. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Surface immobilization of poly(ethylene oxide): Structure and properties

We covalently immobilized poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains onto a fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP) surface. On the FEP surface, aldehyde groups were first deposited by plasma polymerization of acetaldehyde or acrolein. Then, amino‐PEO chains were immobilized through Schiff base formation, which was followed by reduction stabilization with sodium cyanoborohydride. The PEO‐grafted polymer surfaces thus prepared were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy, contact‐angle measurements, and protein adsorption. The dramatic increase in the C O intensity of the high‐resolution XPS C 1s spectrum, together with an overall increase in oxygen content, indicated the successful attachment of PEO chains onto the acetaldehyde plasma surfaces. The amount of grafted PEO chains depended on the superfacial density of the plasma‐generated aldehyde groups. The grafted monoamino‐PEO chains formed a brushlike structure on the polymer surface, whereas the bisamino‐PEO chains predominately adopted a looplike conformation. The PEO surface had a regular morphology with greater roughness than the aldehyde surface underneath. Surface hydrophilicity increased with the grafting of PEO. Also, the bisamino‐PEO‐grafted surface had slightly higher surface hydrophilicity than its monoamino‐PEO counterpart. These PEO coatings reduced fibrinogen adsorption by 43% compared with the substrate FEP surface. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2323–2332, 2000     

Bulk polymerization of α-chloroacrylonitrile

Poly-α-chloroacrylonitrile, which may be regarded as a hybrid of poly(vinyl chloride) and polyacrylonitrile, is, like these polymers, insoluble in its own monomer. Its bulk polymerization is thus heterogeneous, showing abnormal kinetic features by comparison with homogeneous polymerizations. The polymerization exhibits autocatalytic properties. The initiator exponents at 0 and 5% polymerization are 0.45 and 0.44, respectively, and the overall energy of activation is 23.0 ± 2 Kcal./mole. There is no significant change in molecular weight with catalyst concentration in the range 0.057–0.90% nor with conversion up to 12%, but the reaction is accelerated by addition of polymer. Bulk polymerization results in colored products, the color deepening with conversion. These results have been compared with those of Bamford and Jenkins for acrylonitrile and Bengough and Norrish for vinyl chloride and are found to be in closer accord with the latter. They can be accounted for satisfactorily by Bengough and Norrish's suggestion that transfer occurs between growing polymer radicals and dead polymer molecules, the radicals thus formed on the surface of the polymer being removed by transfer to monomer.     

Surface graft polymerization of acrylamide onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) film by UV irradiation

To improve the low water wettability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) by UV irradiation was performed onto the surface of a PET film with the simultaneous irradiation method without using a photo sensitizer. The PET film immersed in a 10 wt % deaerated aqueous solution of AAm was found to become highly hydrophilic upon UV irradiation. Optical microscopy on cross sections of grafted films showed that localization of the graft polymerization was restricted to a thin surface region of the film. Both the low concentration of polymer radicals formed by UV irradiation and the monomer penetration limited to the film surface would be responsible for localization of the grafted layer to the film surface region. Pretreatment of the PET film with benzyl alcohol was effective for enhancement of the graft polymerization. Retention of high hydrophilicity of the surface even after rigorous extraction of homopolymer and a comparative study of polymerization without UV irradiation strongly suggested that UV irradiation of the PET film under immersion in the deaerated AAm aqueous solution would lead to formation of the true graft copolymer.