Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate)–cellulose acetate blends as novel pervaporation membranes for ethanol–ethyl tertio-butyl ether separation

The design of high-performance pervaporation membranes for the selective removal of ethanol from ethyl t-butyl ether (ETBE) was performed by using the polymer blending method. Binary blends of cellulose acetate or cellulose triacetate with a specific copolymer, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate), were studied by pycnometry, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, solvent–mixture sorption and pervaporation.The sorption extent and especially the permeability of the blend membranes to the ethanol–ETBE azeotropic mixture increases greatly with the copolymer content with quasi-constant and high selectivity. This behavior is attributed to the specific interactions of amide C=O groups (a strong Lewis-base) in the copolymer with ethanol. The resulting high-performance membranes were stable at low temperatures but showed some performance alteration, at temperatures exceeding 80°C, because of copolymer extraction by the solvent mixture. The different behaviors of the same membrane at high and low temperatures were explained in terms of copolymer chain reptation, which was possible in the rubbery state but not in the glassy state. A crosslinking of the two polymers via urethane bonds led to perfectly stable high-performance membranes for the target application. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic mechanical and rheological properties of binary S–(S/B)–S triblock copolymer blends

The rheology and dynamic mechanical properties of binary block copolymer blends consisting of a symmetrical triblock copolymer with thermoplastic elastomeric behavior (LN4) and an asymmetrical thermoplastic triblock copolymer (LN3) were investigated. TEM images of the blends show a systematic variation in the morphologies from worms (～20–0 wt % LN3) to cylinders (～60–30 wt % LN3) to lamellae (100–70 wt % LN3) as a function of LN3 content. DMA analysis has revealed that the increase in LN3 content leads to a decrease in miscibility between the PS end blocks and the S/B middle block. The frequency and temperature dependence of the storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (|η*|) has been studied for LN4 (weakly segregated) and LN3 (strongly segregated) from their master curves. By comparing the rheological properties of these blend compositions at low‐frequency regime, it is observed that with the increase in LN3 content the shear modulus and complex viscosity increase. Blend compositions with 70–100 wt % of LN3 show nonterminal behavior at reduced frequencies due to the presence of highly ordered microdomains when compared to blends with ～0–20 wt % of LN3 content. van Gurp–Palmen plots were constructed to observe the transition from liquid‐ to solid‐like behavior in the vicinity of order‐to‐disorder transition (ODT) temperature. ODT temperature increases as the thermoplastic LN3 content increases which are also confirmed by the Han plots. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 329–343, 2008     

Synthesis and properties of poly(aryl ether ether ketone) copolymers with pendant methyl groups

Polyether ether ketone and polyether ether ketone copolymers were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone with hydroquinone and with varying mole proportions of hydroquinone and methyl hydroquinone using sulfolane solvent in the presence of anhydrous K₂CO₃. The polymers were characterised by different physico-chemical techniques. The crystallinity of the polymers was found to decrease with increase in concentration of the methyl hydroquinone units in the polymer. Thermogravimetric studies showed that all the polymers were stable upto 430 °C with a char yield above 49% at 900 °C in N₂ atmosphere. The glass transition temperature was found to increase and the crystalline melting temperature and activation energy were found to decrease with increase in concentration of the methyl hydroquinone units in the polymer.     

Melting behavior of ethylene oxide–propylene oxide (sym-EPE) block copolymers

Melting points have been measured for several ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers (sym-EPE) chosen from the Pluronic range. Melting points of the block copolymers are lower than those of the corresponding poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer by up to 4°C. The melting point depressions are much smaller than those observed for comparable sym-PEP block copolymers.     

Melting behavior of ethylene oxide–propylene oxide (sym-PEP) block copolymers

Melting points and lamellar thicknesses have been measured for ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers (sym-PEP) with central poly(ethylene oxide) block lengths of 70–100 chain units and end poly(propylene oxide) block lengths of 0–30 chain units. Melting points of the block copolymers are lower than those of the corresponding poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer by an amount (up to 15°C) which increases as the poly(propylene oxide) block length increases. Most samples have more than one melting transition, which can be assigned to variously folded chain crystals. End interfacial free energies σ_e for the various crystals have been estimated by use of Flory's theory of melting of block copolymers. For a given crystal type (e.g., once-folded-chain) σ_e is higher the longer the chain length of the end poly(propylene oxide) blocks. For a given copolymer σ_e is lower, the more highly folded the poly(ethylene oxide) chain.     

Influence of molecular architecture of S–S/B–S triblock copolymers on rheological properties

The influence of middle and outer block composition of symmetric triblock copolymers consisting of a polystyrene–polybutadiene (S/B) random middle block and two polystyrene (PS) outer blocks on morphology and rheological behavior has been investigated. Master curves are obtained by shifting the experimental data measured at different temperatures using time‐temperature superposition principle, the validity of which was confirmed in the linear viscoelastic regime. The rheological properties are observed to be strongly influenced by the relative composition of the S‐SB‐S triblock copolymers. Increasing the S/B ratio from 1:1 to 1:2 in the middle block has lead to a change in morphology from wormlike to lamellar, which is also accompanied with broad and sharp tan δ peaks in the dynamic mechanical measurements, respectively. The storage and loss modulus have been observed to increase with the increase in PS contents in the outer blocks and PB content in the middle block. The triblock copolymer with wormlike structure showed terminal linear viscoelastic behavior, whereas the ones with lamellar morphology showed nonterminal flow behavior in the similar low‐frequency regime. The relaxation modulus (G_t) has been observed to increase four times when the S/B ratio is increased from 1:1 to 1:2, whereas it increases threefold when the PS‐content in the outer block was increased by just 8 wt %. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2776–2788, 2006     

Properties of polymer blends and triblock copolymers obtained by neutron scattering

Static and dynamic scattering properties of polymer blends and block copolymers are examined within the random phase approximation (RPA). A self-consistent theoretical scheme for a simultaneous analysis of elastic and quasielastic scattering data is presented. The case of a triblock copolymer made of an ordinary central block and two deuterated lateral blocks in a matrix of deuterated homopolymers is considered in detail. The theoretical predictions of the RPA are compared with the experimental data obtained by elastic neutron scattering experiments using mixtures of deuterated poly(dimethylsiloxane) homopolymers and copolymers made of three blocks of approximately equal sizes. The lateral blocks are deuterated poly(dimethylsiloxane) and the central one is an ordinary poly(dimethylsiloxane). A good agreement is found in the whole range of wavevectors covered by the experiments. An extension of the RPA to the analysis of the dynamical scattering data for the same systems is put forward. It is shown how the time relaxations of the bare response functions obtained from the single chain dynamics are used to extract the intermediate scattering function characterizing the system of interacting chains. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Solution properties of polystyrene–polybutadiene block copolymers

Dilute solution viscosity and osmotic pressure measurements were performed on polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB), polystyrene–polybutadiene (SB) diblock and polystyrene–polybutadiene (SBS) triblock copolymers. Anionic polymerization was used in such a way that the molecular weight of the PS block was kept constant (ca. 10 000), while the molecular weight of the PB block varied from 18000 to 450000. The measurements were carried out at a fixed temperature of 34.20°C in three solvents, namely toluene, a good solvent for PS as well as for PB, dioxane, which is a good solvent for PS and almost a theta solvent for PB, and cyclohexane, which is nearly a theta solvent for PS and a good solvent for PB. The compositions of SB and SBS, as derived from kinetic data agree with ultraviolet measurements in CHCl₃ solutions. The viscosity and osmotic pressure results indicate that the properties of SB and SBS are similar. Their intrinsic viscosities and second virial coefficients can be calculated from their chemical compositions, molecular weight, properties of parent polymers, and values of the interaction parameter \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar \beta _{{\rm SB}}$\end{document} between styrene and butadiene units, for molecular weights not exceeding approximately 10⁵. The magnitude of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar \beta _{{\rm SB}} $\end{document} varies with the solvent. The results suggest that the domains of the PS and PB blocks overlap to a great extent.     

Synthesis and properties of polyethersulphone–polydimethyisiloxane block copolymers

High molecular weight alternating block copolymers of polyethesulphone (PES) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were prepared by the condensation of dimethylamino-terminated PDMS oligomers and hydroxy-terminated PES oligomers in 1,2-dichlorobenzene. Microphase separation of the block copolymers at exceptionally short block lengths was observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Si? O? C intersegment linkage in these materials appeared to display poor hydrolytic stability which is contrary to results obtained for other block copolymers.     

Synthesis and properties of polyetheretherketone–polydimethylsiloxane block copolymers

Polyetheretherketone-polydimethylsiloxane (PEEK–PDMS) block copolymers were synthesized from the condensation of dimethylamino terminated PDMS and hydroxy terminated PEEK oligomers in 1-chloronapthalene. Yields for block copolymers synthesised from low molecular weight PDMS oligomers were good but yields were significantly reduced when higher molecular weight PDMS oligomers were used. This was related to the limited solubility of higher molecular weight PDMS in the reaction solvent. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies indicated that phase separation of the block copolymers occurred at very short segment length (M?_n < 4000). A depression in the crystallinity of both the PEEK and PDMS phases in the block copolymer was observed. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) studies indicated that the PEEK–PDMS block copolymers displayed insufficient thermo-oxidative stability to be melt-processed successfully in PEEK based blends.     

Processing, characterization and properties of conducting polyaniline-sulfonated SEBS block copolymers

Incorporation of polyaniline (PAni) into thermoplastic elastomers can be used to produce materials that potentially combine the good mechanical properties and processability of thermoplastic elastomers with electrical, magnetic and optical characteristics of PAni. In this work, a polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene copolymer (SEBS) was chemically modified by grafting a sulfonic group onto the chain backbone in order to promote higher levels of compatibility between the thermoplastic elastomer and polyaniline. The sulfonation process was performed by reacting SEBS with acetyl sulfate. Infrared spectroscopy and titration were used to monitor the amount of sulfonic groups successfully grafted on SEBS. Mechanical tests performed in sulfonated SEBS showed that sulfonation levels lower than 15% did not reduce substantially the mechanical properties of SEBS. PAni doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (PAni·DBSA), used in the preparation of the blends, was prepared by the “in situ doping polymerization” method. PAni·DBSA was then blended in solution with SEBS having different levels of sulfonation. The introduction of sulfonic group into the structure of SEBS improved coulombic interactions between the phases in the blend and enhanced compatibility. As a consequence, higher values of electrical conductivity (measured by the four-probe method) were achieved in blends with sulfonic groups grafted onto polymer chains. Concentrations as low as 20 wt% of PAni were able to lead to electrical conductivities of PAni·DBSA/sulfonated SEBS blends close to 1.2 S/cm. Optical micrographs of the blends showed that PAni·DBSA/sulfonated SEBS microstructure is composed of a very disperse group of small conducting particles. This type of microstructure would then be responsible for the enhanced electrical conductivity and low percolation threshold of PAni·DBSA/sulfonated SEBS, when compared to PAni·DBSA/SEBS blends.     

Molecular design of multicomponent polymer systems XIX: Stability of cocontinuous phase morphologies in low-density polyethylene–polystyrene blends emulsified by block copolymers

Polyethylene–polystyrene blends containing small amounts of polyethylene (20 wt %) display a cocontinuous phase morphology that is very unstable in the absence of an emulsifier. The kinetics of coalescence at high temperature is therefore very sensitive to differences in the interfacial activity of added polymeric emulsifiers. The morphology of blends added with a pure or a tapered hydrogenated polybutadiene-b-polystyrene block copolymer is investigated as a function of annealing time at 180°C. Various image treatments (standard granulometry, opening size granulometry distribution, and multiscaling analysis) were used to quantify the morphological evolution of these blends. The results clearly demonstrate that the tapered block copolymer is definitely more efficient than the corresponding pure diblock for stabilizing the cocontinuous structure of these blends. The differential behavior is assumed to results from differences in the tendency of the two copolymers to segregate and form their own domains. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Diblock copolymers as emulsifying agents in polymer blends: Influence of molecular weight,architecture, and chemical composition

Interfacial agents used in the compatibilization of immiscible polymer blends often consist of block copolymers containing at least one segment compatible with each of the two phases of the blend. This work examines the influence of the molecular weight, architecture, and chemical composition of the interfacial agent on its ability to emulsify a polymer blend. The system chosen is a blend containing 80% polystyrene and 20% ethylene-propylene rubber, compatibilized by diblock copolymers of poly(styrene-hydrogenated butadiene). The emulsification curve, which relates the dispersed phase particle size to the concentration of interfacial agent added to the system, was used as a tool to characterize the efficacy of the different interfacial agents. The observed behavior is similar to that of classical emulsions: a rapid drop in phase size at low concentrations of interfacial modifier, followed by a levelling off to an equilibrium diameter value once a “critical” concentration has been reached. For systems compatibilized by symmetrical diblocks (i.e., containing approximately 50% styrene by weight), the volume average particle diameter decreased from 2.7 μm for the unmodified system to about 0.4 μm once interfacial saturation is reached. The critical concentration for emulsification decreased with increasing interfacial agent molecular weight, due to the higher interfacial area occupied by longer molecules; however, this parameter did not affect the equilibrium particle diameter. The asymmetrical diblock copolymer (30% styrene) was found to be less effective than the symmetrical ones over the entire range of concentrations studied (5 to 35% modifier, based on the volume of the minor phase). Asymmetrical diblock copolymers would tend to form micelles, whereas symmetrical copolymers are less constrained at the interface. No significant difference was observed between the emulsifying capability of tapered and pure diblocks of similar composition and molecular weight. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Surface properties of styrene–ethylene oxide block copolymers

Hydrophobic–hydrophilic block copolymers were prepared by “living” anionic polymerization. They consist of polystyrene and poly(ethylene oxide) blocks, and are soluble in water. Their interfacial properties were investigated, employing aqueous solutions. The block copolymers lowered the surface tension of water in analogy with the low molecular weight surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and heptaethylene oxide n-dodecyl ether. Their aqueous solutions exhibited solubilization properties differing from those of polyethylene glycol. Therefore, it is thought that the polystyrene blocks produce solubilization phenomena. In samples of the same styrene content, the precipitation temperature of a high molecular weight copolymer in water was lower than that of a low molecular weight copolymer at the same concentration in the same solvent. The surface tension and precipitation temperature of aqueous solutions seem to be influenced by molecular weight and composition.     

Solubilization of hydrocarbons and resulting aggregate shape transitions in aqueous solutions of Pluronic (PEO–PPO–PEO) block copolymers

Pluronic^® block copolymers are commercially available symmetric triblock copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, as the hydrophilic end blocks and poly(propylene oxide), PPO, as the hydrophobic middle block. In this paper, the solubilization of hydrocarbons by aggregates of Pluronic^® block copolymers in water is examined in the framework of a simple molecular theory of solubilization. The aggregates have an inner core region made up of PPO and the solubilizate and an outer corona region made up of PEO and water. Expressions for the standard state free energy change associated with solubilization of hydrocarbons by aggregates having spherical, cylindrical, and lamellar shapes are presented. These free energy contributions account for the mixing of the core block with the solubilizate, the consequent changes in the state of deformation of the core block, the changes in the state of dilution and deformation of the corona block, the formation of the core-solvent interface, and the backfolding of the triblock copolymer which ensures that the two end blocks are in contact with the solvent. Utilizing these free energy expressions, we predict the core size, the corona thickness, and the aggregation number of the micelle and also the volume fraction of the hydrocarbon solubilized in the core, for seven aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon solubilizates incorporated within numerous Pluronic^® compounds. The calculated results show that a growth in aggregate size occurs both because of the incorporation of the hydrocarbon and also the increase in the intrinsic number of block copolymer molecules per aggregate. More interestingly, solubilization is shown to induce a transition in aggregate shapes from spheres to cylinders and then to lamellae. The shape transition is found to be critically controlled by the free energy of mixing of the solubilizate with the core forming PPO block.     

Composition and solution properties of fluorinated block copolymers and their surface structures in the solid state

A series of diblock copolymers composed of methyl methacrylate and 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate (PMMA₁₄₄-b-PFMA _n ) with various PFMA block lengths were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The surface structures and properties of these polymers in the solid state and in solution were investigated using contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy, surface tension and dynamic laser light scattering (DLS). It was found that with increasing PFMA block length, water and oil repellency decreased, the ratio of F/C increased with increasing film depth, and the degree of ordered packing of the perfluoroalkyl side chains at the surface decreased. When the number of PFMA block units reached 10, PMMA segments were detected at the copolymer surface, which was attributed to the PFMA block length affecting molecular aggregation structure of the copolymer in the solution and the interfacial structure at the air/liquid interface, which in turn affects surface structure formation during solution solidification. The results suggest that copolymer solution properties play an important role in structure formation on the solid surface. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50573069 and 20704038) and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (Grant No.IRT 0654)     

Mechanical properties and the two-phase structure inside the heterophase domains of blends from HDPE and SBS star block copolymers

Blends from polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene star block copolymers (SBS) (thermoplastic elastomers) are studied with polyolefine recycling in view. Each component, dispersed in a heterogeneous blend, exhibits a two-phase morphology. This structure is investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and compared to mechanical properties as a function of SBS grade and content. Increasing the SBS content one observes a vanishing PE-related long period reflection, while an SBS-related peak emerges. Best mechanical properties are obtained at concentrations, where the width of the observed long period reflection is broadest. For a quantitative analysis of the SAXS, the interface distribution function (IDF) analysis is employed. Data are fitted with a function modeling arrangement as well as disorder of domains inside the two different kinds of dispersed grains. The analysis yields that the observed broadening of the long spacing peak is caused only by an increased fluctuation of the thicknesses of amorphous layers in the PE stacks. This fluctuation again decreases for SBS concentrations beyond 15 wt %. The effect is strongest for blends containing the SBS grade with the lowest molecular weight and is discussed in terms of its compatibilization effect. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1423–1432, 1998     

Structure and properties of propylene-ethylene block copolymers and the corresponding blends

Structure and properties of presumed polypropylene(PP)-b-polyethylene(PE) block copolymers (PPPE) and the corresponding blends (PP/PE) have been investigated by wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), torsional pendulum apparatus, and other techniques measuring mechanical properties. Crystallinity, morphological structure, and mechanical properties of the block copolymers and blends vary with the PP and PE compositions. Compared with PP homopolymers and PP/PE blends, PP and PE segments in PP-PE block copolymers have a reduced crystallinity, especially PE segments. An additional peak at about ?40°C is observed in dynamic relaxation spectra; substantially different morphology is revealed; and mechanical properties are greatly improved for the sequentially copolymerized PP-PE block copolymers, indicating the existence of PP-PE block structure.     

Mechanical properties and structure relationships in drawn fibers of elastomer–polyoxymethylene blends

Superdrawn fibers of an elastomer–poly(oxymethylene) (POM) blend have been prepared and investigated in terms of the structure and mechanical properties. The development of the mechanical properties along the fiber axis and the formation of a higher order structure during drawing were slightly retarded by blending, but the loop tenacity increased greatly with the elastomer content. The blend microtextures had an immiscible and phase-separated morphology in which the elastomer was dispersed in the form of streaks between the oriented POM layers, which allowed the fiber to split into smaller filaments on bending. The high loop tenacity of the blend fibers is due to an increase in the radius of curvature resulting from the filament splitting on bending, because the shear stress at the bending corner becomes higher as the radius of curvature increases. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Roll-Casting of block copolymers and of block copolymer-homopolymer blends

An improved technique for casting highly oriented films of block copolymers from solutions subjected to flow is presented. Polymer solutions were rolled between two counter-rotating adjacent cylinders while at the same time the solvent was allowed to evaporate. As the solvent evaporated, the block copolymers microphase separated into globally oriented structures. Using this method known as ‘roll-casting’ we present in this paper a study of the morphology of polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene (PS/PB/PS) triblock copolymer cast with and without additional high molecular weight homopolymers. The pure copolymer films consisted of polystyrene cylinders assembled on a hexagonal lattice in a polybutadiene matrix in a near single-crystal structure. Blends of copolymer with high molecular weight polystyrene and/or polybutadiene, phase separated into ellipsoidal regions of homopolymer embedded in an oriented block copolymer matrix. Annealing the films resulted in conversion of the homopolymer regions to spheres accompanied by some misalignment of the copolymer microdomains. The morphology of these films as revealed by TEM is discussed. A brief discussion of the flow field that develops in the experimental system is also presented and its similarity to the flow field of our previous work is shown. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.