Interaction of inorganic salts with polar polymers. II. Infrared studies of polymer–inorganic nitrate systems

Certain inorganic nitrate salts are quite soluble in the polymers studied, namely, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(methyl acrylate). Large effects upon the glass-transition temperature were observed in those systems where the transition could be readily measured. Large shifts in the infrared spectra of both the inorganic nitrate salts and in the polymer carbonyl and ester ether frequencies have been observed. These observations have been interpreted in terms of complex formation between these polymers and salts in the solid state. The proposed structure of the complex explains the nature of the infrared shifts both for the nitrate salts and the polymers as well as explaining the concentration effects observed. Effects of the solvating environment upon the salt and polymer spectra remain unexplained. The large glass-transition effects are a result of the degree of solubility of the salts in the polymers and the interactions between them. However, the reason why, in some cases, the change in the transition temperature as a function of concentration goes through a maximum is unclear.     

Conformational properties of polar polymers. I. Poly(vinyl chloride)

A recently developed method for including polar bonds in conformational energy calculations is applied to poly(vinyl chloride). Inductive effects on dipole moments and the effects of intervening atoms on electrostatic interaction energies are represented by polarizability centers in conjunction with bond centered dipoles. Solvation energies are estimated by means of a continuum dipole–quadrupole electrostatic model. Calculated energies of a number of conformations of meso and racemic 2,4-dichloropentane and the iso, syndio, and hetero forms of 2,4,6-trichloroheptane give satisfactory representations of isomer and conformer populations. Electrostatic effects are found to be quite important. However they appear to be effectively of sufficiently short range that the calculated conformer energies are found to be fit well by a linear combination of interaction parameters (consisting of gauche, skew chlorine, four-bond CH₂…CH₂, CH₂…Cl, and Cl…Cl interactions) conventional to vinyl polymers and a special four-bond interaction that arises when the bond sequence Cl? CH? CH²? CH? Cl is (nearly) coplanar. These interaction parameters when assembled into statistical weight matrices lead to calculated values of both the characteristic ratio and the dipole moment ratio in satisfactory agreement with experiment. Least energy paths for transitions between the most stable conformations are also calculated.     

Organic–inorganic bonding in chitosan–silica hybrid networks: Physical properties

Novel biomaterials are needed for bone tissue repair with improved mechanical performance compared to classical bioceramics. The objective of this work was to characterize a hybrid filler material, which is capable to coat as a thin film porous scaffolds improving their mechanical properties for bone tissue engineering. The hybrid filler material is a blend of chitosan and silica network formed through in situ sol–gel using tetraethylortosilicate and 3‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) as silica precursors. The hypothesis was that the epoxy ring of GPTMS could react with the amino groups of chitosan in acidic media while it is also reacting the siloxane groups of hydrolyzed silica precursors. The formation of the hybrid organic–inorganic network was assessed by different physical techniques revealing changes in molecular mobility and hydrophilicity upon chemical reaction. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the samples was also evaluated by MTT assay. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1391–1400     

Structure of diepoxide–diamine network polymers. I. Average network properties

A study of some of the average chemical properties of a variety of diepoxide–diamine network polymers has been carried out. The weight fraction of sol, the quantity of unreacted epoxide in the sol, and the number-average molecular weight of the sol have been measured for polymers prepared from both stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric ratios of diamine and diepoxide. Theoretical expressions for these quantities have been calculated using the methods recently developed by Macosko and Miller. These relationships were found to give close agreement with the experimental behavior.     

Aqueous biphasic systems formed by nonionic polymers I. Effects of inorganic salts on phase separation

The effect of salts KSCN, KI, KBr, KCl, KClO₄, KF, K₂SO₄ and NH₄Cl, LiCl, NaCl, KCl, CsCl on the binodials of the phase diagrams for aqueous biphasic dextranpolyvinylpyrrolidone, dextran-polyvinyl alcohol, dextran-ficoll and dextran-polyethylene glycol systems was studied. It is established that the K-salts present at the concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mol/kg alter the binodials of the phase diagrams for the above systems. The effect of a salt is found to be related to the lyotropy of the salt quantified by the salt molal surface tension increment. It is assumed that phase separation in an aqueous polymer biphasic system is affected by the presence of a salt mainly due to the effect of the salt on the structure and/or state of water in the system.     

Liquid‐crystalline organic–inorganic hybrid polymers with functionalized silsesquioxanes

Liquid‐crystalline (LC) hybrid polymers with functionalized silsesquioxanes with various proportions of LC monomer were synthesized by the reaction of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) macromonomer with methacrylate monomer having an LC moiety under common free‐radical conditions. The obtained LC hybrid polymers were soluble in common solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and chloroform, and their structures were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and ²⁹Si NMR. The thermal stability of the hybrid polymers was increased with an increasing ratio of POSS moieties as the inorganic part. Because of the steric hindrance caused by the bulkiness of the POSS macromonomer, the number‐average molecular weight of the hybrid polymers gradually decreased as the molar percentage of POSS in the feed increased. Their liquid crystallinities were very dependent on the POSS segments of the hybrid polymers behaving as hard, compact components. The hybrid polymer with 90 mol % LC moiety (Cube‐LC90) showed liquid crystallinity, larger glass‐transition temperatures, and better stability with respect to the LC homopolymer. The results of differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarizing microscopy showed that Cube‐LC90 had a smectic‐mesophase‐like fine‐grained texture. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4035–4043, 2001     

Gas‐transport properties in crosslinked polymers. I. Aliphatic polyurethane–acrylate‐based adhesives

The gas‐transport properties of one of a family of well‐known adhesives, Loctite 350^®, were studied. Permeability, solubility, and diffusivity coefficients, together with the activation energies of diffusion and permeation and the solution enthalpy, were determined from 20 to 40 °C for oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane. Loctite 350^® showed relatively high permselectivity and permeability for the gas pairs O₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄, especially for the former. The possibility of preparing very thin layers on various kinds of supports from these photocurable polymers makes them promising materials for gas‐separation devices. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 786–795, 2001     

Boron–nitrogen polymers. I. Mechanistic studies of borazine pyrolyses

Pyrolyses of B-triamino-N-triphenyl-, B-triamino-N-trimethyl-, and B-trianilino-borazines were performed between 150 and 300°C. Initial stages of degradation were accompanied by liberation of ammonia in addition to the expected aniline or methylamine; this was most pronounced for the methyl borazine. Aniline elimination proceeded more readily with the B-anilino than the B-amino isomer. Data obtained support a ring opening mechanism resulting in telomerizaton accompanied by aniline liberation and formation first of singly then doubly bridged dimers and finally doubly bridged tetramers. Thermal exposure up to 1000°C failed to give pure boron nitride; carbon was invariably retained.     

Crystallization of branched polymers. I. Ethylene–vinyl acetate and ethylene–acrylic acid copolymers

The following quantities were measured on a number of ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene–acrylic acid (EAA) copolymers: (1) the small-angle x-ray scattering invariant, (2) the overall density, and (3) the crystallinity. Assuming a two-phase structure, the separate values of the densities of the crystalline and amorphous regions can be calculated from these data. Of these, the crystalline density is compared with the value obtained from the lattice constants. A systematic difference is observed which is ascribed to the presence of comonomeric side groups in the crystalline regions. For the EVA and EAA samples, their concentration is at least 0.3 and 0.5 times the overall concentration, respectively. The amorphous densities are found to be higher than the values calculated from completely amorphous copolymers by extrapolation procedures.     

Polyurethane cationomers. I. Structure–properties relationships

Polyurethane (PU) cationomers have been synthesized by quaternizing tertiary amine-containing linear polyurethanes using different quaternizers containing acid groups. The effect of chemical structure of PU cationomers on the physical properties was studied. The mechanical properties of PU cationomers were improved with decreasing molecular weight of poly(caprolactone) glycol, and increasing concentration of quaternary ammonium. Decreasing the carbon number in the alkyl group of the N-alkyl diethanol-amine chain-extenders, and using rigid symmetrical diisocyanates, the mechanical properties of the PU cationomers were increased. The effects of these factors on the glass transition temperature of PU cationomers were also examined. The mechanical properties of the PU cationomers decreased by immersion in water and recovered after removal of the water.     

Thermal properties of betulin dipropionate and its mixtures with polymers

Melting of betulin dipropionate (3β,28-di-O-propionyl-lup-20(29)-lupene) of high purity (orthorhombic P2₁2₁2₁, a = 1.27409(2), b = 1.57316(3), c = 1.59810(3) nm) and its mixtures with four excipients was investigated with DSC and TG. Melting point is 163.6 °C (?_f H = 33 kJ mol^?1). Smaller values reported recently were measured for not pure samples. The melt of betulin dipropionate remains glassy under ambient conditions and does not crystallize during the second heating. In mixture with excipients (arabinogalactan, polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and fumed silica), the betulin dipropionate loses its crystal structure after mechanical activation.     

Conformational properties of polar polymers. II. Poly(vinylidene chloride)

A recently developed polarization model for representing polar bond effects in conformational energy calculations is applied to poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC). The geometries and conformational energies of a number of conformers of 2,2,4,4,6,6-hexachloroheptane were calculated. The geometries were found to be similar to the hydrocarbon analog polyisobutylene (PIB) in that steric crowding results in the usual T, G, G′ states being split into + or ? distortions of the torsional angles away from the traditional values. Only distortions of the same sign occur in the same pair of bonds interior to CCl₂ groups. Distortions of G states towards eclipsed were found to be much more stable than those away. The interior skeletal valence angle is also distorted to an unusually large value, ca. 121°. The calculated dipole moments were used to infer a group moment for CCl₂ of 1.56 D. The calculated conformational energies were fitted by linear combinations of interaction parameters representing the stabilities of G₊, G_? bonds (relative to T₊, T_?) and the interactions between bonds across intervening CCl₂ groups. These parameters were used in statistical mechanical calculations of the characteristic and dipole-moment ratios. In order to make comparison with experiment, the dipole-moment/repeat unit of a 90% (by weight) PVDC copolymer with PVC was measured and found to be 1.42 ± 0.05 D. From this, the dipole-moment ratio for PVDC homopolymer is inferred to be ca. 0.8. The characteristic and dipole-moment ratios calculated from the interaction parameter set were somewhat too high but adjustment of the gauche energies downward brings the calculated ratios into agreement with experiment. The same statistical model along with energy parameters previously calculated also gives agreement with experiment for the characteristic ratio of PIB. The calculated geometries are in agreement with the conformation in the crystal being ? (T₊G′₊T_?G_?)? .     

Solid polymers doped with rare earth metal salts. I. Complex formation and morphology in the neodymium chloride–poly(ethylene oxide) system

The complex formation and morphology of the NdCl₃?PEO system have been investigated. Peak shifts, peak broadening, and the appearance of new peaks in the 800–1200 cm^?1 range of the infrared (IR) spectra, by comparison with what is observed with pure PEO, unequivocally demonstrates complex formation. Although the NdCl₃?PEO complex is found to be highly hygroscopic, residual moisture can be removed reversibly, thereby permitting the role of water in affecting the morphology of the solid film to be examined. As elucidated with infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and hot-stage polarized optical microscopy, under anhydrous conditions the resultant complex is amorphous at an EO/NdCl₃ ratio approximately less than ca. 8; but above this critical value the PEO in excess of the stoichiometric ratio required for complexation tends to form a separate crystalline phase. Furthermore, water was found to compete with the ethylene oxide unit for complexation with Nd³⁺, resulting in phase-separated PEO with a tendency toward crystallinity. The glass transition temperature of the complex is found to increase sigmoidally with the NdCl₃ content, an observation further substantiating complexation between NdCl₃ and PEO.     

Esca applied to polymers. XXIII. RF glow discharge modification of polymers in pure oxygen and helium–oxygen mixtures

The oxidation of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene by exposure to plasmas excited in pure oxygen and helium–oxygen mixtures at low power levels has been studied. A detailed curve resolution procedure is outlined, and the rate of oxidation is shown to be a strong function of the polymer structure for pure oxygen plasmas, as is the composition of the oxidized layer; this is not the case, however, for oxidation effected by helium–oxygen mixtures. It seems likely, from a consideration of the available data, that the oxidation is confined to the outermost monolayer and is initiated by a crosslinking mechanism that involves oxygen-containing functionalities.     

Interaction of Dowex A-1 chelating resin with sparingly soluble calcium salts

The interaction between Dowex A-1 and sparingly soluble salts obeys the mass action law if no other salts are present in the solution. Increasing the total amount of charged species in the solution causes a decrease in the distribution coefficients of calcium, the decrease being in accordance with a simple function of the concentrations of the sodium ion and the precipitating anion in solution. The relations between the adsorbability and the solubility products have also been derived.     

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials. I. Characterization and degradation of poly(imide–silica) hybrids

Poly(imide–silica) hybrid materials with covalent bonds were prepared by (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane (APrMDEOS) terminated amic acid, water, and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) via a sol–gel technique. Infrared (IR), ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP/MAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to study hybrids containing various proportions of TMOS and hydrolysis ratios. The microstructure and chain mobility of hybrids were investigated by proton spin–spin relaxation T₂ measurements. The apparent activation energy E_a for degradation of hybrids in air was studied by the van Krevelen method. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2275–2284, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of new coordination polymers generated from oxadiazole-containing organic ligands and inorganic silver(I) salts

The coordination chemistry of the oxadiazole-containing rigid bidentate ligands 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L2) and 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L3) with inorganic Ag(I) salts has been investigated. Four new coordination polymers were prepared by solution reactions and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [[Ag(L2)]SO3CF3]n (1)(triclinic, P1; a = 10.1231(7) A, b = 13.9340-(10) A, c = 13.9284(10) A, alpha = 116.7300(10) degrees, beta = 94.6890(10) degrees, gamma = 108.7540(10) degrees, Z = 4) was obtained by the combination of L2 with AgOTf in a CH2Cl2/CH3OH mixed-solvent system and features a unique one-dimensional elliptical macrocycle-containing chain motif. The approximate dimensions of the rings are ca. 22 x 11 A. [[Ag-(L2)](ClO4)(CH3OH)0.5(H2O)0.5]n (2) (triclinic, P1; a = 8.4894(5) A, b = 13.9092(8) A, c = 14.1596(8) A, alpha = 71.1410(10) degrees, beta = 77.3350(10) degrees, gamma = 81.5370(10) degrees, Z = 4) was generated from the reaction of L2 with AgClO4 in a H2O/CH3OH mixed-solvent system and consists of one-dimensional chains that are linked to each other by weak noncovalent pi-pi interactions into two-dimensional sheets. Uncoordinated ClO4-counterions and guest solvent molecules are located between the layers. [[Ag(L2)]NO3]n (3) was obtained by the combination of L2 with Ag(NO3)2 in a MeOH/H2O mixed-solvent system (triclinic, P1; a = 8.3155(6) A, b = 8.8521(6) A, c = 9.8070(7) A, alpha = 74.8420(10) degrees, beta = 77.2800(10) degrees, gamma = 68.6760(10) degrees, Z = 2). In the solid state, it exhibits an interesting pair of chains associated with C-H...O hydrogen bonds. [[Ag(L3)]SO3CF3]n (4) is generated from L3 and AgSO3CF3 in a CH2Cl2/MeOH mixed-solvent system and crystallizes in the unusual space group Pnnm, with a = 7.9341(4) A, b = 11.5500(5) A, c = 18.1157(8) A, and Z = 4. It adopts a novel three-dimensional structural motif in the solid state with big rhombic channels (ca. 15 x 10 A).     

Polymer–monomer binary mixtures. I. Eutectic and epitaxial crystallization in poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–trioxane mixtures

Binary mixtures of a linear polyester (poly(?-caprolactone)) and a crystallizable monomer (trioxane) have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and optical and electron microscopy. The phase diagram indicates the existence of a eutectic at a temperature T_mE = 314°K and for a polymer volume fraction ?_2E = 0.70, values close to those predicated by the Flory–Huggins theory (using χ = 0.3). Microscopic studies reveal unusual morphologies: (1) In hypoeutectic mixtures, at room temperature, the solvent crystallizes as highly ramified or branched needles. When the remaining melt reaches the eutectic composition, transcrystallization of the polymer is induced by the epitaxial deposition (as established by electron diffraction) of polycaprolactone on the existing trioxane crystals, and leads to highly ordered structures. (2) In hypereutectic mixtures a predominantly spherulitic texture is observed. Blends of trioxane and several other linear polyesters are found to exhibit similar behavior.     

Study of properties of vulcanizates for binary mixtures of polar caoutchouck with polyisoprene

Effect of the extender, commercial N-330 carbon, on strength and thermal properties of vulcanizates for binary mixtures of polar caoutchoucks with polyisoprene was studied.