Mechanisms of thermal degradation of polystyrene,polymethacrylonitrile, and their copolymers on flash pyrolysis

The mechanism of thermal degradation of homopolymers of styrene (St) and methacrylonitrile (MAN) and their copolymers was investigated theoretically and experimentally by the pyrolysis gas chromatography using a Curie-point pyrolyzer. Poly(St-co-MAN)s generate dimers and trimers as well as monomers by flash pyrolysis. Parameter α was proposed to account for the competition between the back-biting reaction and depolymerization. The back-biting parameter α is defined as the ratio of rate constants, α = k_bb/k_dp, where k_bb is the rate constant for the back-biting reaction and k_dp is that for depolymerization. The back-biting process is followed by β-scission, where dimer and trimer are generated, and directly correlated with the C—H bond dissociation energies in the polymer chain. Using the back-biting parameter α, where 1/α is equal to the zip length n in depolymerization, the boundary effect for the difference of monomer yields from the homopolymers of St and MAN and their copolymers is well explained. The calculated values of boundary effect parameters, β_St and β_MAN, agreed well with the experimental results. It was found that thermal degradation mechanisms of homo- and copolymers of vinyl compounds can be analyzed comprehensively using the back-biting parameter α and the boundary effect parameter β. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2315–2330, 1998     

Characterization of poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylonitrile)s obtained by low‐temperature radiation polymerization and thermal degradation behavior measured by Py‐GC and CRTG

Poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylonitrile)s were polymerized in solutions with different polarities (n‐hexane and THF) by low‐temperature γ‐ray irradiation polymerization in a temperature range of −83.6–30 °C. It was found by IR measurement that the composition of the copolymers changed remarkably due to the effects of the polarity of solvents and the polymerization temperature. The thermal degradation behavior in the flash pyrolysis and in the continuous heating pyrolysis of these copolymers was measured by Py‐GC and controlled rate thermogravimetry (CRTG). The effects of the copolymer composition and sequence distribution on the thermal degradation behavior were investigated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3569–3577, 2000     

Pyrolysis—gas chromatography of methyl methacrylate—styrene and methyl methacrylate—α-methylstyrene copolymers

The pyrolysis—gas chromatographic behaviour of methyl methacrylate copolymers with styrene or α-methylstyrene was investigated with a Curie-point pyrolyzer. Monomer yield from each copolymer was very high as a result of the high probability of unzipping. Though only small quantities of dimers and or trimers are formed on the pyrolysis of two copolymers, they reflect the sequence distribution of copolymers. Under some assumption, the run number of each copolymer is calculated using the amounts of dimer and or trimer formed.     

Grafting by in situ coupling of epoxy groups of a living copolymer with an anionic living polymer

A tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of the living random copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was prepared by the living anionic copolymerization of the two monomers, using 1,1‐diphenylhexyllithium (DPHLi) as initiator, in the presence of LiCl ([LiCl]/[DPHLi]₀ = 3), at −50°C. The copolymer thus obtained has a controlled composition and molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. By introduction of an anionic living polystyrene (poly(St)) or anionic living polyisoprene (poly(Is)) solution into the above system at −30°C, a coupling reaction took place and a graft copolymer with a polar backbone and nonpolar side chains was produced. The solvent used in the preparation of the living poly(St) or poly(Is) affects the coupling reaction. When benzene was the solvent, a graft copolymer of high purity, controlled graft number and molecular weight, and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.11–1.21) was obtained. In the coupling reaction, the living poly(St) reacted only with the epoxy groups and not with the carbonyls of the backbone polymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 105–112, 1999     

Preparation and properties of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid materials by the in situ sol–gel process

Poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid material has been successfully prepared from styrene–maleic anhydride copolymer and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of a coupling agent (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) by an in situ sol–gel process. It was observed that the gel time of sol–gel solution was dramatically influenced by the amount of APTES. The hybrid material exhibits optical transparency almost as good as both silica gel and the copolymer. The covalent bonds between organic and inorganic phases were introduced by the aminolysis reaction of the amino group with maleic anhydride units of copolymer to form a copolymer bearing trimethoxysilyl groups, which undergo hydrolytic polycondensation with TEOS. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the glass transition temperature of the hybrid materials increases with increasing of SiO₂ composition. Photographs of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) inferred that the size of the inorganic particles in the hybrid materials was less than 20 nm. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1607–1613, 1998     

“Living” radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with diethyl 2,3-dicyano-2,3-diphenylsuccinate as a thermal iniferter

The bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated with diethyl 2,3-dicyano-2,3-diphenylsuccinate (DCDPS) was studied. This polymerization showed some “living” characteristics; that is, both the yield and the molecular weight of the resulting polymers increased with reaction time, and the resultant polymer can be extended by adding MMA. The molecular weight distribution of PMMA obtained at high conversion is fairly narrow (M_w/M_n = 1.24≈1.34). It was confirmed that DCDPS can serve as a thermal iniferter for MMA polymerization by a “living” radical mechanism. Furthermore, the PMMA obtained can act as a macroinitiator for radical polymerization of styrene (St) to give a block copolymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4610–4615, 1999     

Synthesis of PP graft copolymers via anionic living graft-from reactions of polypropylene containing reactive p-methylstyrene units

In this article, we discuss a new chemical route for preparing polypropylene (PP) graft copolymers containing a PP backbone and several (polar and nonpolar) polymer side chains, including polybutadiene, polystyrene, poly(p-methylstyrene), poly(methyl methacrylate), and polyacrylonitrile. The new PP graft copolymers had a controlled molecular structure and a known PP molecular weight, graft density, graft length, and narrow molecular weight distribution of the side chains. The chemistry involves an intermediate poly(propylene-co-p-methylstyrene) copolymer containing few p-methylstyrene (p-MS) units. The methyl group in a p-MS unit could be lithiated selectively by alkylithium to form a stable benzylic anion. Because of the insolubility of the PP copolymer at room temperature, the excess alkylithium could be removed completely from the lithiated polymer. By the addition of the anionically polymerizable monomers, including polar and nonpolar monomers, the stable benzylic anions in PP initiated a living anionic graft-from polymerization at ambient temperature to produce PP graft copolymers without any significant side reactions. The side-chain length was basically proportional to the reaction time and monomer concentration. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4176–4183, 1999     

Hydrolysis of 4‐acetoxystyrene polymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

Hydrolysis of 4‐acetoxystyrene polymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization was carried out under various reaction conditions. It was found that hydrazinolysis of 4‐acetoxystyrene homopolymers, random and block copolymers with styrene in 1,4‐dioxane, afforded the corresponding narrow dispersed materials with phenolic groups which were substantially free from crosslinkages. Gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) analysis of these polymers revealed different extents of molecular weight distribution (MWD) broadening for the hydrolysis products for the different structures. On the other hand, by NaOH catalyzed deprotection, the 4‐acetoxystyrene polymers including triblock copolymer poly(4‐acetoxystyrene‐b‐isobutylene‐b‐4‐acetoxystyrene) suffered from some degrees of coupling or even gelation, except for poly(styrene‐b‐4‐acetoxystyrene‐b‐styrene) which also by this method could be conveniently converted to its phenolic product. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 627–633, 1999     

Dispersion copolymerization of polyoxyethylene macronomer and styrene 4. Solution properties of polystyrene-graft-polyoxyethylene copolymers

The graft copolymers (polystyrene-graft-polyoxyethylene) (PSt-graft-PEO) were prepared by the radical dispersion copolymerization of methacryloyl (MA)-terminated PEO macromonomer and styrene. By means of size-exclusion chromatography, liquid chromatography at the critical adsorption point, and light scattering, the molecular weight parameters and the solution properties of PSt-graft-PEO were investigated. The apparent average molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of graft copolymers were found to decrease with increasing molecular weight of PEO-MA macromonomer. This decreased molecular weight was attributed to the chain transfer to PEO unit and increased contribution of the solution polymerization. The broad MWD varied with the ratio of the polymerization in the continuous phase and the polymer particles. The number of PEO grafts per PSt backbone decreased with increasing molecular weight of the PSt-graft-PEO copolymer, which was attributed to the intramolecular association of PEO segments. The intrinsic viscosity or the coil size of graft copolymer molecules varied with temperature as a result of the dehydration of PEO segments. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3087–3097, 1999     

Microstructure analysis and thermal property of copolymers made of glycolide and ϵ‐caprolactone by stannous octoate

Glycolide (GL) and ?‐caprolactone (CL) were copolymerized in bulk at relatively high temperatures using stannous octoate as a catalyst. To investigate the relationship among microstructure, thermal properties, and crystallinity, three series of copolymers prepared at various reaction temperatures, times, and comonomer feed ratios were prepared and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, DSC, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The 600‐MHz ¹H NMR spectra provided information about not only the copolymer compositions but also about the chain microstructure. The reactivity ratios (r_G and r_C) were calculated from the monomer sequences and were 6.84 and 0.13, respectively. In terms of overall feed compositions, the sequence lengths of the glycolyl units calculated from the reactivity ratios exceeded those measured from the polymeric products. Mechanistic considerations based on reactivity ratios, monomer consumption data, and average sequence lengths are discussed. The unusual phase diagram of GL/CL copolymers implies that the copolymer melting temperature does not depend on its composition alone but rather on the nature of the sequence distribution. The DSC and WAXD measurements show a close relationship between polymer crystallinity and the nature of the polymer sequence. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 544–554, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10123     

Sequencing of trans-4-methacryloyloxyazobenzene/vinylidene chloride copolymers by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy

Trans-4-methacryloyloxyazobenzene/Vinylidene Chloride (M/V) copolymers of different monomer concentrations were prepared by solution polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition was determined from the ¹³C{¹H}-NMR spectrum. The quaternary carbon of M- and V-centered resonances were used for determining the sequences in terms of the distribution of M- and V-centered triads. The sequence distribution of M- and V-centered triads determined from ¹³C{¹H}-NMR spectra of the copolymer is in good agreement with the triad concentration calculated from the statistical model. The comonomer reactivity ratios, determined by both the Kelen Tudos (KT) and the nonlinear error in variables (EVM) methods are r_M = 3.59 ± 0.19, r_V = 0.89 ± 0.07; r_M = 3.76, and r_V = 0.93, respectively. ¹³C Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT) spectrum was used to differentiate between the resonance signals of M- and V-methylene and methyl carbon units. Assignments to the methylene resonance signals have been assigned up to the tetrad levels using 2D HSQC experiments. The geminal couplings in the methylene proton region is shown in the 2D DQF-COSY spectrum. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3179–3185, 1999     

Glass transition temperatures of butyl acrylate–methyl methacrylate copolymers

The glass transition temperatures T_g of butyl acrylate–methyl methacrylate copolymers obtained by free radical polymerization in 3 and 5 mol/L benzene solution have been measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the values have been correlated using Johnston's equation with inter‐intramolecular copolymer structure. From the data calculated with copolymer prepared at low conversion, the variation of glass transition temperature with copolymer conversion has been theoretically predicted. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2512–2520, 1999     

Grafting of polymers onto a carbon‐fiber surface by ligand‐exchange reaction of poly(vinyl ferrocene‐co‐vinyl monomer) with polycondensed aromatic rings of the surface

To improve the surface of carbon fiber, the grafting reaction of copolymer containing vinyl ferrocene (VFE) onto a carbon‐fiber surface by a ligand‐exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of carbon fiber was investigated. The copolymer containing VFE was prepared by the radical copolymerization of VFE with vinyl monomers, such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene, using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. By heating the carbon fiber with poly(VFE‐co‐MMA) (number‐average molecular weight: 2.1 × 10⁴) in the presence of aluminum chloride and aluminum powder, the copolymer was grafted onto the surface. The percentage of grafting reached 46.1%. On the contrary, in the absence of aluminum chloride, no grafting of the copolymer was observed. Therefore, it is considered that the copolymer was grafted onto the carbon‐fiber surface by a ligand‐exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of carbon fiber. The molar number of grafted polymer chain on the carbon‐fiber surface decreased with increasing molecular weight of poly(VFE‐co‐MMA) because the steric hindrance of grafted copolymer on the carbon‐fiber surface increases with increasing molecular weight of poly(VFE‐co‐MMA). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1868–1875, 2002     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Dimorphic Dibenzo[cde,opq]rubicene

Dibenzo[cde,opq]rubicene has been synthesized by an eight-step reaction sequence including an iron-mediated [2+2+1] cycloaddition and a flash vacuum pyrolysis as key steps. Two crystal modifications of the S-shaped, planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon have been obtained and characterized by X-ray diffractometry.     

Cationic copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran with ethylene oxide in the presence of diols: Composition,microstructure, and properties of copolymers

Cationic copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with ethylene oxide (EO) in the presence of diols leads to dihydroxy terminated telechelic copolymers. In the present article the influence of copolymerization conditions on the copolymer structure was studied in view of conclusions derived from studies of copolymerization kinetics and mechanism. It was shown that according to established copolymerization mechanism, the number average molecular weights increase linearly with conversion up to M_n ≅ 2500, hydroxyl end groups are bound exclusively to EO units and copolymers are composed of [EO]–[THF]_y segments. Microstructure of copolymers may be to some extent regulated by changing reaction conditions. Some physical properties of copolymers also were studied. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3455–3463, 1999     

Composition and Microstructure Determination of the Syndiotactic Copolymer of para-Methylstyrene and Styrene by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography

The composition and microstructure of syndiotactic para-methylstyrene/styrene copolymer was determined by a pyrolysis gas chromatography (Py-GC) method. This method uses the styrene and para-methylstyrene monomer peak intensities to determine the styrene and para-methylstyrene composition in the copolymer. The number average sequence length of styrene was calculated by using the triad peak intensities. Because of the low concentration of para-methylstyrene in the copolymer, the number average sequence length of para-methylstyrene was determined with formulas that incorporate the copolymer composition and the number average sequence length of styrene. The distribution of para-methylstyrene defined by the terms “percent of single units” and “percent of desired distribution” was calculated by the number average sequence of para-methylstyrene. This method has been tested with copolymers containing up to 24 mole% of para-methylstyrene. The composition results from Py-GC of para-methylstyrene and styrene copolymers used in this study were in excellent agreement with ¹H-NMR results.     

Isomeric structure of styrene-acrylonitrile and styrene-methylcrylate copolymer pyrolysis products

Summary Gas chromatographic retention indices of pyrolysis products of styrene-acrylonitrile and styrene-methylacrylate copolymers were measured on two columns prepared with different stationary phases. A retention index against retention index diagram proved to be useful to define the composition of product molecules, as the points of homologous series form straight lines. We identified the isomeric structure of dimers and trimers consisting of two kind of monomer units by comparing their retention indices. This comparison was based on the determination of the retention index increments of cyano, methoxy-carbonyl and phenyl groups bounded to primary, secondary or olefinic carbon atom. The isomeric structures of styrene-acrylonitrile dimers and trimers were confirmed by mass spectroscopy.     

Anionic ring-opening polymerization behavior of a seven-membered cyclic carbonate; 1, 3-dioxepan-2-one

Anionic ring-opening polymerization of a seven-membered cyclic carbonate, 1,3-dioxepan-2-one ( 1 ), was carried out to observe that the higher the polymerization temperature and lower the initial monomer concentration were, the lower the yield and molecular weight, and wider the molecular weight distribution of the obtained polymers were. The back-biting reaction and the formation of cyclic oligomers of 1 were observed during the polymerization of 1 . The relative polymerization rate of 1 was about 35 times faster than that of six-membered carbonate, 1,3-dioxan-2-one ( 3 ). The ΔHps of 1 and 3 estimated by MO (PM3) calculations were −9.8 and −4.4 kcal/mol, respectively. 1 could easily undergo the ring-opening polymerization based on larger ring strain. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1375–1380, 1997     

Thermosensitive and redox-active polymers: Preparation and properties of poly(N-ethylacrylamide-co-vinylferrocene) and poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-vinylferrocene)

Thermosensitive and redox-active polymers were prepared by copolymerization of N-ethyl- or N,N-diethylacrylamides with vinylferrocene (VFc). LCST (lower critical solution temperature) of the aqueous copolymer solution was decreased by increasing the ferrocene content in the copolymer. The oxidation of ferrocene led to a significant increase in LCST due to the transition from hydrophobic to hydrophilic character of the ferrocene moiety in the copolymer. The ferrocene content in the copolymer increases with increasing differences between the LCST's of the oxidation and reduction states. The transition could be made reversible by redox reaction using L -ascorbic acid as an oxidant and cerium sulfate as a reductant. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1967–1972, 1997     

Characterization of chloroprene and maleic anhydride copolymer by 13C-NMR spectroscopy and pyrolysis GC/MS

The radical copolymerizations of chloroprene (CP) and maleic anhydride (MAH) were carried out with AIBN in 1,4-dioxane at 60°C. The monomer reactivity ratios were estimated as r₁ (CP) = 0.38 and r₂ (MAH) = 0.07. Microstructures in the copolymer of chloroprene (CP) and maleic anhydride (MAH) were investigated by 75.4 MHz ¹³C-and 300 MHz ¹H-NMR spectroscopies. Resonances were assigned to the monomer sequence dyads CC, CM, and MC (C = chloroprene, M = maleic anhydride). Well resolved fine structure in the ¹³C-NMR spectra showed that 1,2- and 3,4-structural chloroprene units were negligible in the copolymer. The pyrolysis characterization of the copolymer was also investigated by the pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The fragments of CP and MAH monomers and CP-MAH hybrid dimer, CO, and CO₂ were identified after pyrolysis of the copolymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.