Synthesis and characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methylphenylsilane)‐ block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) by atom transfer radical polymerization

ABA block copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methylphenylsilane were synthesized with a methodology based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The reaction of samples of α,ω‐dihalopoly(methylphenylsilane) with 2‐hydroxyethyl‐2‐methyl‐2‐bromoproprionate gave suitable macroinitiators for the ATRP of methyl methacrylate. The latter procedure was carried out at 95 °C in a xylene solution with CuBr and 2,2‐bipyridine as the initiating system. The rate of the polymerization was first‐order with respect to monomer conversion. The block copolymers were characterized with ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry was used to obtain preliminary evidence of phase separation in the copolymer products. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 30–40, 2003     

Compatibilization of blends of polybutadiene and poly(methyl methacrylate) with poly(butadiene-block-methyl methacrylate)

Compatibilization of blends of polybutadiene and poly(methyl methacrylate) with butadiene-methyl methacrylate diblock copolymers has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. When the diblock copolymers are added to the blends, the size of PB particles decreases and their size distribution gets narrower. In PB/PMMA7.6K blends with P(B-b-MMA)25.2K as a compatibilizer, most of micelles exist in the PMMA phase. However, using P(B-b-MMA)38K as a compatibilizer, the micellar aggregation exists in PB particles besides that existing in the PMMA phase. The core of a micelle in the PMMA phase is about 10 nm. In this article the influences of temperature and homo-PMMA molecular weight on compatibilization were also examined. At a high temperature PB particles in blends tend to agglomerate into bigger particles. When the molecular weight of PMMA is close to that of the corresponding block of the copolymer, the best compatibilization result would be achieved. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 85–93, 1998     

Pulse radiolysis studies of poly(methyl methacrylate) containing pyrene

A pulse radiolysis study of poly(methyl methacrylate) in the presence of pyrene has been carried out in the temperature range 100–295 K. The concentration of pyrene was changed from 10⁻³ to 10⁻¹ mol dm⁻³. The absorption/emission spectra and kinetics of solute excited states and solute radical ions were investigated. It was found that pyrene excited states were formed as a result of their radical ion recombination in a time scale up to seconds. The decay of solute radical ions was influenced by photobleaching and can be described by a time-dependent rate constant. The activation energy of Py ions decay was temperature dependent and was equal to 35.7 and 1.2 kJ/mol for temperatures >T_γ and <T_γ, respectively, where T_γ ∼ 175 K represented the transition temperature responsible for γ-relaxation. The reaction mechanism was proposed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1209–1215, 1998     

Block copolymers of thiophene-capped poly(methyl methacrylate) with pyrrole

Poly(methyl methacrylate) with a thiophene end group having narrow polydispersity was prepared by the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) technique. Subsequently, electrically conducting block copolymers of thiophene-capped poly(methyl methacrylate) with pyrrole were synthesized by using p-toluene sulfonic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the supporting electrolytes via constant potential electrolysis. Characterization of the block copolymers were performed by CV, FTIR, SEM, TGA, and DSC analyses. Electrical conductivities were evaluated by the four-probe technique. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4218–4225, 1999     

A novel route to poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and its amphiphilic block copolymers

The vinyl of the ester group of 2-vinyloxyethyl methacrylate was first selectively reacted with acetic acid to obtain 2-[1-(acetoxy)ethoxy]ethyl methacrylate ( 2 ). This protected monomer was subjected to anionic polymerization in tetrahydrofuran at −60°C in the presence of LiCl, using 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium as initiator. The molecular weight of the polymer could thus be controlled and a narrow molecular weight distribution obtained. The protecting group, 1-(acetoxy)ethyl, could be easily eliminated (by quenching the polymerization reaction with methanol and water) to generate poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)). Block copolymers were also prepared by the sequential anionic polymerization of MMA and 2 or styrene and 2 . They possess narrow molecular weight distributions, and controlled molecular weights and compositions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1865–1872, 1998     

Synthesis of graft copolymer by ATRP of MMA from poly(phenylacetylene)

The present report describes the synthesis of a densely grafted copolymer consisting of a rigid main chain and flexible side chains by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) from an ATRP initiator‐bearing poly(phenylacetylene) [poly(BrPA)]. Poly(BrPA) was obtained by the polymerization of 4‐ethynylbenzyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate using [Rh(NBD)Cl]₂ in the presence of Et₃N. The ¹H NMR spectrum showed that poly(BrPA) was in the cis‐transoid form. Upon heating at 30 °C for 24 h the cis‐transoid form was maintained. ATRP of MMA from the poly(BrPA) was carried out at 30 °C using CuX (X = Br, Cl) as the catalyst and N,N,N′,N′,N′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as the ligand, and the resulting graft copolymers were investigated with ¹H NMR and SEC. To analyze the graft structure in more detail, the graft copolymers were hydrolyzed with KOH and the resultant poly(MMA) part was investigated with ¹H NMR and SEC. The polydispersity indexes of 1.25–1.45 indicated that the graft copolymers have well‐controlled side chains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6697–6707, 2006     

Synthesis of bis-allyloxy functionalized polystyrene and poly (methyl methacrylate) macromonomers using a new ATRP initiator

A new bis-allyloxy functionalized ATRP initiator, viz, 4,4-bis (4-(allyloxy) phenyl) pentyl-2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate was synthesized starting from commercially available 4,4-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) pentanoic acid. Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene in bulk and that of methyl methacrylate in anisole using CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine system was carried out. The kinetic study of styrene polymerization showed controlled polymerization behavior. Bis-allyloxy functionalized well-defined polystyrene (M_n^GPC: 13,600–28,250, PDI: 1.07–1.09) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (M_n^GPC: 10,100–18,450, PDI: 1.23–1.34) macromonomers were obtained. The presence of allyloxy functionality was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The reactivity of allyloxy functionality was demonstrated by carrying out organic reactions such as addition of bromine and hydrosilylation on polystyrene macromonomer. Polystyrene macromonomer with bis-allyloxy functionality was transformed into bis-epoxy functionalized polystyrene macromonomer using 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid.     

Synthesis of Polystyrene and Polystyrene/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanoparticles

Summary: Polystyrene nanosize particles have been synthesized by a differential microemulsion polymerization process involving the use of a small amount of poly(methyl methacrylate) as the seeds. Sodium dodecyl sulfate and ammonium persulfate were used as the surfactant and initiator, respectively. The effects of various reaction conditions on the particle size have been investigated. Particle sizes of less than 20 nm have been achieved at milder conditions than those previously reported in the literature.

An HRTEM image of PS/PMMA nanoparticles.     

Methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate oligomers adsorbed to porous isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) ultrathin films and mechanistic studies of living template polymerization

Methacrylic acid (MAA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), methacrylamide, and oligomers of MAA and MMA were selected as a model of active radical species in living template polymerization using stereocomplex formation. The adsorption behaviors of the aforementioned model compounds were examined toward porous isotactic‐(it‐) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) ultrathin films on a quartz crystal microbalance, which was prepared by the extracting of syndiotactic‐(st‐) poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) from it‐PMMA/st‐PMAA stereocomplexes. The apparent predominant adsorption of oligomers to monomers was observed in both PMAA and PMMA oligomers, suggesting that the mechanism of template polymerization follows the pick up mechanism. Although vinyl monomers were not incorporated into the porous it‐PMMA ultrathin film, both PMMA and PMAA oligomers were adsorbed at the initial stages. However, adsorbed amounts were limited to about 5 and 15% at 0.1 mol L^?1, respectively, which are much smaller values than corresponding st‐polymers. The results imply that radical coupling reaction is prevented during template polymerization to support the resulting living polymerization. ATR‐IR spectral patterns of oligomer complexes and it‐PMMA slightly changed in both cases, suggesting complex formation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5879–5886, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of new poly(N-1-adamantylmaleimide) and poly(N-1-diamantylmaleimide)

N-l-Diamantylmaleimide was synthesized by reaction of maleic anhydride with 1-aminodiamantane, followed by dehydration with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate. Poly(N-1-adamantylmaleimide) ( IIa ) and poly(N-l-diamantylmaleimide) ( IIb ) were polymerized using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator under different experimental conditions such as various initiator concentrations, solvents, polymerization temperatures, and polymerization times. Polymerizations of N-l-adamantylmaleimide in benzene at 60°C or in bulk gave polymers with molecular weights (2000–9500). The experimental results indicated that the propagation may be interrupted by steric hindrance of bulky and rigid substituents such as the adamantyl or diamantyl groups. In addition, the effect of chain transfer to monomer contributes to the relatively low activation energy. The glass transition temperatures of Ia and Ib were 204 and 216°C, respectively. The temperatures at 5% weight loss of the polymers IIa and IIb were above 412°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Octafunctional cubic silsesquioxane (CSSQ)/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites: Synthesis by atom transfer radical polymerization at mild conditions and the influence of CSSQ on nanocomposites

Organic/inorganic hybrid star‐like nanocomposites from two different octafunctional cubic silsesquioxane (CSSQ) nano‐cage cores and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) at mild conditions, in which octafunctional octakis(3‐hydroxypropyldimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane (OHPS) and octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS) nano‐cages were used as ATRP initiators. The polymerization was carried out at 50 °C in acetonitrile/water mixture. ¹H‐NMR and GPC were employed to characterize the obtained nanocomposites. GPC data revealed that the resulting nanocomposites exhibit unimodal and narrow molecular weight distributions indicating well‐controlled synthesis and well‐defined hybrid nanocomposites with star architecture. The influence of CSSQ nano‐cages on the thermal property of nanocomposites was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). It was observed that the nanocomposites exhibit significantly higher glass transition temperature compared with its linear counterpart because of slow relaxation caused by the star‐like architecture. TGA study, however, did not reveal any significant improvement in thermal stability of nanocomposites as compared with linear PMMA. Finally, field emission scanning electron microscopy images of fractured surfaces of nanocomposite sample films showed well dispersed CSSQ nano‐cages in PMMA matrix without phase separation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 766–776, 2008     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) in a pyridine solution by atom transfer radical polymerization

Pyridine was used as a solvent for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate. The homopolymerizations were carried out with methyl 2‐halopropionate (MeXPr, where X was Cl or Br) as an initiator, copper halide (CuX) as a catalyst, and 2,2′‐bipyridine as a ligand from 80 to 120 °C. The mixed halogen system methyl 2‐bromopropionate/copper chloride was also used. For all the initiator systems used, the polymerization reaction showed linear first‐order rate plots, a linear increase in the number‐average molecular weight with conversion, and relatively low polydispersities. In addition, the dependence of the polymerization rate on the temperature is presented. These data are compared with those obtained in bulk, demonstrating the effectiveness of this solvent for this monomer in ATRP. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3443–3450, 2001     

Synthesis of Comblike Poly（methyl methacrylate） by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with Poly（ethyl 2-bromoacrylate） as Macroinitiator

Comblike poly(methyl methacrylate) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethyl 2-bromoacrylate) as a macroinitiator, which was prepared by conventional free radical polymerization of ethyl 2-bromoacrylate. The obtained comblike polymers were characterized by GPC and ^1H NMR.     

聚甲基丙烯酸乙酯的合成与性能研究

通过阴离子聚合反应合成了窄分子量分布(D=1．05-1．2)聚甲基丙烯酸乙酯CPEMA）。运用IR谱、^1HNMR和GPC等手段对合成产物进行了表征,探讨了影响甲基丙烯酸乙酯(EMA)阴离子聚合反应的因素,测定了该聚合物的玻璃化温度Tg,并研究了聚甲基丙烯酸乙酯在不同pH溶液中的降解性能。     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(dimethyl siloxane–urethane) and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Simultaneous IPNs of poly(dimethyl siloxane-urethane) (PDMSU)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and related isomers have been prepared by using new oligomers of bis(β-hydroxyethoxymethyl)poly(dimethyl siloxane)s (PDMS diols) and new crosslinkers biuret triisocyanate (BTI) and tris(β-hydroxylethoxymethyl dimethylsiloxy) phenylsilane (Si-triol). Their phase morphology have been characterized by DSC and SEM. The SEM phase domain size is decreased by increasing crosslink density of the PDMSU network. A single phase IPN of PDMSU/PMMA can be made at an M_c = 1000 and 80 wt % of PDMSU. All of the pseudo- or semi-IPNs and blends of PDMSU and PMMA were phase separated with phase domain sizes ranging from 0.2 to several micrometers. The full IPNs of PDMSU/PMMA have better thermal resistance compared to the blends of linear PDMSU and linear PMMA. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal degradation of poly(ethyl methacrylate) and its copolymer with poly(ethyl acrylate)

The thermal degradation behaviour of poly(ethyl methacrylate) homopolymers and poly(ethyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl acrylate) copolymers synthesized by using the benzoyl peroxide-di-methyl aniline redox pair at different temperatures (18–35C) was investigated. Contrary to some reports in the literature, the thermal degradation of PEMA was observed to take place in multi steps. These are assigned to be loss of labile end groups, side chain scission, anhydride formation and main chain degradation steps. Dominating chemical formations at the end of these steps were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy.The homopolymer samples synthesized at 18C showed a greater thermal stability against degradation. Copolymerization with small amounts of ethyl acrylate was observed to impart thermal stability to PEMA by stabilizing mainly the end groups against degradations.     

Thermal oxidation of blends of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Thermal oxidation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and its blends with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were studied using oxygen uptake measurements. The rates of oxidation and maximum oxygen uptake contents were reduced as the content of PMMA was increased in the blends. The results were indicative of a stabilizing effect by PMMA on the oxidation of PEO. The oxidation reaction at 140°C was stopped at various stages and PMMA was separated from PEO and its molecular weights were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The decrease in the number-average molecular weight of PMMA was larger as the content of PEO increased in the blends. The visual appearance of the films suggested that phase separation did not occur after thermal oxidation. The activation energy for the rates of oxidation in the blends was slightly increased compared to pure PEO. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

TEMPO-mediated radical polymerization in the synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) macromonomer

1. Download : Download high-res image (53KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Synthesis of linear and starlike polymers from poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate using controlled radical polymerization

The copper‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGM) in solution to produce linear and starlike polymers is reported, using methylethyl ketone as the solvent and a temperature of 80 °C. The ATRP system used was efficient for polymerization of the functionalized monomer without protecting hydroxyl end groups of monomer. The polymerizations were consistent with “living” or controlled processes, as revealed by the linear evolution of molecular weight with conversion. Increasing the [M]₀:[I]₀ ratio resulted in increasing molecular weights, whereas the polydispersity indices remained low (M_w/M_n < 1.4) even at high conversion. Decreasing the [CuBr]₀:[I]₀ ratio resulted in lower conversions, slightly larger polydispersities, and decreased molecular weights, likely resulting from a lower initiation efficiency. Polymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR; molecular weights of polymers with low degrees of polymerization were estimated by end‐group analysis from ¹³C NMR spectra obtained using distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and the gated decoupling techniques. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 334–343, 2002