Solvent Effect in Binary Copolymerization

Recently published experimental data concerning the solvent effect in binary copolymerization are re‐analyzed. Newer, more accurate, reactivity ratios were calculated using a non‐linear method (PROCOP), which involves all experimental data, conversion values included. The differences between the reactivity ratios provided by the recalculated values are discussed in terms of solvent effect. Based on the existing experimental data, the solvent effect was identified only for a few binary copolymerization systems.     

Copolymerization of methacrylonitrile with p-methylstyrene

Methacrylonitrile was copolymerized with p-methylstyrene in methyl ethyl ketone at 80°C initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile. Monomer reactivity ratios of methacrylonitrile and p-methylstyrene were found to be 0.205 and 0.377, respectively, using the Kelen-Tüdos method. Triad fractions and monomer sequence lengths of three copolymers were determined from ¹³C-NMR spectra and were found to be in good agreement with those calculated from reactivity ratios. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Random copolycondensation of isophthalic acid/terephthalic acid with bisphenols by tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine in terms of the monomer reactivity ratios of bisphenols

The random copolycondensation of isophthalic acid/terephthalic acid with various combinations of bisphenols (M₁ and M₂) with a tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine condensing agent was carried out to investigate the effects of the monomer reactivity ratios, r₁′ and r₂′, on the reaction, like r₁ and r₂ in radical copolymerization. The ratios were calculated from the probabilities of finding an M₂ unit next to an M₁ unit and of finding an M₁ unit next to an M₂ unit, which were determined by an NMR analysis of the resultant copolymers. They were discussed with respect to the inherent viscosities (molecular weights) of the resultant copolymers. There was a fairly good relationship between r₁′ and r₂′ and the inherent viscosity values of the copolymers, indicating that copolycondensation could be facilitated by a combination of bisphenols; the lowering of r₁′ and r₂′ was indicative of random distributions in the copolymers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3908–3915, 2003     

Real-Time FTIR Monitoring of the Carbocationic Copolymerization of Isobutylene with Styrene

The carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) and styrene (St) was investigated using real time FTIR monitoring. Depending on the concentration of the individual monomers, and their ratio in the feed, initial rapid monomer consumption was observed. Instantaneous reactivity ratios (r_IB(inst) and r_St(inst)) obtained from apparent rate constants of monomer consumption strongly depended on concentration.     

Estimation of Reactivity Ratios in the Copolymerization of Styrene and VeoVa‐10

The styrene and vinyl neodecanoate copolymerization system shows a strong tendency to form two separate homopolymers. In order to improve the feeding strategies and hence the copolymer uniformity, it is necessary to know the reactivity ratios between these monomers. The error‐in‐variables‐method (EVM) is the most recommended mathematical procedure for estimating these parameters. Experiments on free‐radical copolymerization in solution in sealed ampoules are carried out to provide data for the conversion (via gravimetry) and fractional monomer compositions (via Fourier transform mid‐infrared (mid‐FT‐IR) spectroscopy). These data allow estimation of the reactivity ratios. EVM appropriately takes into account the experimental errors in the data and allows determination of the reactivity ratio values by the Mayo–Lewis model (r₁ = 28.60 and r₂ = 1.23). The convergence and robustness of the method decrease considerably with a larger discrepancy between the reactivity values.     

Kinetic Studies on the Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile and Itaconic Acid in Dimethylsulfoxide

The free radical copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with itaconic acid (IA) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) has been found to be chemically controlled even at high conversion. In order to explain this specific finding by Walling's kinetic model, a detailed study on the monomer reactivity ratios (MMRs), decomposition kinetics of AIBN and homopolymerization kinetics of AN was carried out in DMSO from 50 to 80°C. The results suggest that the reactivity ratio of IA is less than unity and always larger than that of AN. Thus, the reaction has an ideal copolymerization behavior when the temperature is increased. It is also found that decomposition of AIBN in DMSO is strictly first order and the decomposition rate constants (k _d) determined by nitrogen evolution technique are acceptable. k_p /k ^0.5 _t ratios of AN were estimated from the off-line conversion data under various monomer and initiator concentration. Additionally, the temperature dependences on MRRs, k _d and k_p /k ^0.5 _t were believed to follow the Arrhenius's law very well.     

Reactivity Ratios and Sequence Distribution Characterization by Quantitative 13C NMR for RAFT Synthesis of Styrene‐Acrylonitrile Copolymers

The kinetics and reactivity ratios of styrene‐acrylonitrile (SA) copolymerization have been studied extensively in bulk and in a variety of solution media using conventional free radical polymerizations (FRPs). Due to the significant difference in the two reactivity ratios for this monomer pair, at certain feed ratios the copolymers display composition drift with conversion due to monomer depletion. In this study, the kinetics of SA copolymerization using Reversible Addition‐Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) has been studied in bulk at 80 °C. The reactivity ratios for the terminal model were calculated from the comonomer sequence distributions for the RAFT process at low conversion for nine different compositions and found to be in the same range as those reported for conventional FRP of SA. The changes in the composition and sequence distribution with conversion were studied for three feed compositions. The copolymers show compositional drift with conversion, except at the azeotropic composition, and match the predictions from the reactivity ratios obtained at low conversion. From quantitative ¹³C NMR the triad distributions of these copolymers were estimated and found to match the predicted triad distributions as conversion increased. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 919–927     

Application of the monomer reactivity ratios to the kinetic‐model discrimination and the solvent‐effect determination for the styrene/acrylonitrile monomer system

The impact of reactivity ratios determined with the Nelder and Mead simplex method on the kinetic‐model discrimination and the solvent‐effect determination for the styrene/acrylonitrile monomer system was investigated. For the monomer system, the penultimate unit effect was inversely proportional to the polarity of the solvent: acetonitrile < N,N‐dimethylformamide < methyl ethyl ketone < toluene. Quantitatively, the penultimate unit effect could be correlated with an absolute value of the difference between the standard deviation of the reactivity ratios determined for the terminal and penultimate models. By application of the F test, the penultimate model was justified for copolymerization in toluene. The conclusion was less certain for polymerization in methyl ethyl ketone. With a scanning procedure based on the simplex method, it was found that an equivalent representation of the copolymer‐composition data could be achieved with multiple sets of penultimate‐model reactivity ratios. However, the relationship between the triad‐sequence distribution and copolymer composition depended on the reactivity‐ratio set chosen for the microstructure determination. The microstructure calculated with the penultimate‐model reactivity ratios determined with the simplex method from the initial guess (r₁₁ = r₁, r₂₁ = 1/r₂, r₂₂ = r₂, r₁₂ = 1/r₁) did not obey the general “bootstrap effect” rule. This observation still requires some theoretical interpretation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 846–854, 2000     

Synthesis and monomer reactivity ratios of methyl methacrylate and 2‐vinyl‐4,4′‐dimethylazlactone copolymers

We report the monomer reactivity ratios for copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a reactive monomer, 2‐vinyl‐4,4′‐dimethylazlactone (VDMA), using the Fineman–Ross, inverted Fineman–Ross, Kelen–Tudos, extended Kelen–Tudos, and Tidwell–Mortimer methods at low and high polymer conversions. Copolymers were obtained by radical polymerization initiated by 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile in methyl ethyl ketone solutions and were analyzed by NMR, gas chromatography (GC), and gel permeation chromatography. ¹H NMR analysis was used to determine the molar fractions of MMA and VDMA in the copolymers at both low and high conversions. GC analysis determined the molar fractions of the monomers at conversions of less than 27% and greater than 65% for the low‐ and high‐conversion copolymers, respectively. The reactivity ratios indicated a tendency toward random copolymerization, with a higher rate of consumption of VDMA at high conversions. For both low‐ and high‐conversion copolymers, the molecular weights increased with increasing molar fractions of VDMA, and this was consistent with the faster consumption of VDMA (compared with that of MMA). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3027–3037, 2003     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: A new method for determination of copolymer composition,and monomer reactivity ratios and monomer sequence distribution therefrom

Copolymer compositions and reactivity ratios for the radical copolymerization of styrene with acrylonitrile have been determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results obtained by this technique were confirmed by elemental as well as ¹H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) analysis. The monomer sequence distributions have also been calculated utilizing the monomer reactivity ratio values obtained by three different techniques viz., XPS, ¹H-NMR, and elemental analysis. The agreement between the monomer sequence distributions in the copolymer chain by these methods is very satisfactory. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 2049–2056, 1997     

Copolymerization of a dendronized monomer with styrene and different acrylates: Determination of reactivity ratios

The reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of a first‐generation dendronized monomer with styrene and different acrylates are determined. The obtained ratios as well as the copolymer compositions that can be expected are discussed in detail. The influence of the dendron on the polymerization potential of the monomer is estimated by comparing its reactivity to those of linear systems as well as using higher generations of the dendronized monomer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

A study of the copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate

The free radical copolymerizations of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate have been investigated at 50°C. The compositions of polymers prepared at low conversions have been determined using ¹³C-NMR, and the glass transition temperatures determined by DSC. The copolymerizations were found to be best described by a terminal model with reactivity ratios of r_H = 1.79 and r_T = 0.76. The triad fraction sequence distributions have been calculated based on the terminal model and the calculated reactivity ratios. The glass transitions have been fitted to the Gordon–Taylor equation. The best value of the Gordon–Taylor constant was found to be k_H = 1.42 ± 0.2, indicating nonideal mixing of the two monomer components in the copolymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3730–3737, 1999     

Low- and high-conversion studies of the free radical copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with styrene in N,N′-dimethylformamide solution

2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and styrene (S) have been copolymerized in a 3 mol · L⁻¹N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution using 2,2′azobis (isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as an initiator over a wide composition and conversion range. From low-conversion experiments and ¹H-NMR analysis, the monomer reactivity ratios were determined according to the Mayo–Lewis terminal model. The comparison of the obtained results with those previously reported for copolymerization in bulk and in toluene reveals a relatively small but noticeable solvent effect that can be qualitatively explained by the bootstrap model. Cumulative copolymer composition as a function of conversion is satisfactorily described by the integrated Mayo–Lewis equation; overall copolymerization rate increases with increasing the HEMA/S ratio, and individual monomer conversion is closely related to the monomer molar fraction in the feed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2941–2948, 1999     

Reactivity ratios and sequence structures of the copolymers prepared using photo‐induced copolymerization of MMA with MTMP

4‐Methacryloyl‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐piperidine (MTMP) was applied as reactive hindered amine piperidine. Photo‐induced copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA, M₁) with MTMP (M₂) was carried out in benzene solution at ambient temperature. The reactivity ratios for these monomers were measured by running a series of reactions at various feed ratios of initial monomers, and the monomer incorporation into copolymer was determined using ¹H NMR. Reactivity ratios of the MMA/MTMP system were measured to be r₁ = 0.37 and r₂ = 1.14 from extended Kelen‐Tüdos method. The results show that monomer MTMP prefers homopolymerization to copolymerization in the system, whereas monomer MMA prefers copolymerization to homopolymerization. Sequence structures of the MMA/MTMP copolymers were characterized using ¹H NMR. The results show that the sequence structure for the main chain of the MMA/MTMP copolymers is mainly composed of a syndiotactic configuration, only with a little heterotactic configuration. Three kinds of the sequences of rr, rr′, and lr′ in the syndiotactic configuration are found. The sequence‐length distribution in the MMA/MTMP copolymers is also obtained. For f₁ = 0.2, the monomer unit of MMA is mostly separated by MTMP units, and for f₁ = 0.6, the alternating tendency prevails and a large number of mono‐sequences are formed; further up to f₁ = 0.8, the monomer unit of MTMP with the sequence of one unit is interspersed among the chain of MMA. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evolution of molecular weight distributions in the catalytic chain transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate up to high monomer conversions

The evolution of molecular weight distributions (MWDs) with monomer conversion in the catalytic chain transfer (CCT) polymerization of methyl methacrylate at 60 °C is investigated by simulation (via the program package PREDICI®) and experiment. A Co(III)‐based complex is used as the precursor for the CCT agent, which is formed in situ by initiator‐derived (2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile) radicals to yield the catalytically active Co(II) species. The small shifts seen in the MWD toward lower molecular weights with increasing monomer conversion are shown to be of the same order of magnitude as the associated changes in the MWD in non‐CCT controlled free‐radical polymerization, indicating that no significant change in the MWD with monomer conversion is associated with the CCT process. These results are compared to the evolution of MWDs in conventional chain transfer polymerizations with thiols as transfer agents. A clear shift toward higher molecular weights is seen with increasing monomer conversion, indicating disparate rates of thiol and monomer consumption. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3303–3312, 2000     

茂锆载体催化剂下的乙烯／辛烯共聚及聚合物的^13C NMR研究

茂锆载体催化剂下的乙烯／辛烯共聚及聚合物的~（１３）ＣＮＭＲ研究刘胜生，于广谦，黄葆同（中国科学院长春应用化学研究所长春１３００２２）关键词茂锆载体催化剂，共聚，序列分布，~（１３）ＣＮＭＲ由于茂锆催化剂具有高活性，单一活性中心等特点［１，２］，并且能...     

Effect of copolymer composition and conversion on the glass transition of methyl acrylate–methyl methacrylate copolymers

The glass transition of methyl methacrylate methyl acrylate copolymers over a wide range of conversion and sequence distribution have been analyzed with the only purpose of predicting the change in the glass transition in copolymers as a function of conversion and consequently of comonomer sequence distribution. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Visualization of Bivariate Sequence Length–Chain Length Distribution in Free Radical Copolymerization

Copolymer properties and processability depend on copolymer microstructure, i.e., copolymer composition and monomer unit arrangements along the copolymer chains. To predict the ultimate properties of copolymers, one needs complete information on the length and position of sequences of each monomer type in every chain. A versatile kinetic Monte Carlo code is developed and applied for the simulation of typical free radical copolymerizations. The code allows explicit monitoring of every growing chain during the course and at the end of polymerization, can account for comonomer systems of any arbitrary reactivity ratios (r ₁ and r ₂) over the full range of monomer composition. Meanwhile, it eliminates the need for solving arrays of differential equations arising from deterministic modeling approaches. Since the code virtually synthesizes billions of copolymer molecules and keeps in storage information on each and every copolymer chain in the system, it allows for detailed statistical analysis. The simulator visualizes the bivariate sequence length–chain length distribution for typical copolymerization systems and examples with: r ₁ < 1 and r ₂ < 1; r ₁ > 1 and r ₂ < 1; (r ₁ × r ₂) = 1; and r ₁ = r ₂ = 1, and is also applied successfully to an experimental scenario described in the literature.     

Copolymerization with the feeding of one of the comonomers: Cationic activated monomer copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with ethylene oxide

The cationic copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with ethylene oxide (EO) under the conditions of activated monomer polymerization, that is, with a low‐molecular‐weight diol as an initiator and BF₃ etherate as a catalyst, was studied. To ensure the uniform composition of the resulting copolymers (telechelic oligodiols), the copolymerization was conducted with incremental feeding of the EO comonomer, which was more reactive in the cationic process. ¹H NMR analysis of samples isolated at different stages of the copolymerization indicated that the average composition of the copolymer was indeed nearly constant over the course of the copolymerization. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight spectra of the products revealed, however, that for the same degree of polymerization, macromolecules containing different numbers of EO units were present. The observed distribution was compared with the distribution simulated under the assumption that the probability of incorporating a given unit depended only on the feed composition (nearly constant during the copolymerization). With this assumption, a good agreement between the observed and simulated spectra was obtained. This indicated that, even when the optimum conditions for the formation of a uniform copolymer were created, the individual macromolecules differed in composition because of the statistical character of the copolymerization. The results of differential scanning calorimetry analysis were compatible with such a conclusion; two melting peaks appeared on differential scanning calorimetry curves when a sample was heated immediately after fast cooling, and this may indicate the presence of different types of crystallites. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3788–3796, 2005