Phase behavior and crystallization analysis in binary crystalline blends of syndiotactic polypropylene and ethylene—Propylene random copolymer

The effects of liquid–liquid (L–L) phase separation on the crystallization behavior of binary syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) and ethylene–propylene random copolymer (PEP) mixtures are examined by phase‐contrast microscopy (PCM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and cloud point measurements. The PCM experiments reveal that blends of sPP and PEP exhibit a lower critical solution temperature behavior in the melt. The L–L phase diagram, constructed in terms of temperature (T) and composition by cloud point measurements, follows the prediction of the Flory–Huggins theory with the interaction parameter between sPP and PEP [χ(T) = 0.01153 ? 4.5738/T (K)]. When the blends are melted within the two liquid‐phase (α and β) regions, because of the fact that each phase domain reaches the equilibrium concentration ? and ? as well as the phase volume fraction ν^α and ν^β, the crystallinity of each component obeys the equation X_C,I = ν^α X + ν^β X, I = PEP, sPP. Also, the equilibrium melting temperatures of both components remain constants, slightly lower than those of neat polymers. For the sPP/PEP blends crystallized from one homogeneous phase in the melt, we observe that the crystallizability of the major component is not greatly affected upon blending. However, the crystallization behavior of the minority component in the presence of the major component is strongly dependent on the crystallization temperature (T_c). When T_c is high, because the decreasing degree of the minority mobility is much greater than the increasing degree of the formed nuclei, the crystallizability of the minor component is depressed significantly. On the other hand, the promotion of the minority crystallizability in the intermediate regime of T_c is mainly because of the large increase of the heterogeneous nuclei upon blending with a major component. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2995–3005, 2004     

Critical behavior of brittle‐ductile transition of polymers

We report that the brittle‐ductile transition of polymers induced by temperature exhibits critical behavior. When t close to 0, the critical surface to surface interparticle distance (ID_c) follows the scaling law: ID_c ∝ t^?v, where t = 1 ? T/T (T and T are the test temperature and brittle‐ductile transition temperature of matrix polymer, respectively) and v = 2/D. It is clear that the scaling exponent v only depends on dimension (D). For 2, 3, and 4 dimension, v = 1, 2/3, and 1/2 respectively. The result indicates that the ID_c follows the same scaling law as that of the correlation length (ξ), when t approach to zero. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 766–769, 2008     

Crystallization studies of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) using thermal analysis and far‐infrared spectroscopy

Crystallization of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) by annealing was examined using density measurement, differential scanning calorimetry, and far‐infrared spectroscopy (FIR). Crystallinity, measured by density, increased slowly up to the T_a of 185 °C and increases rapidly once T_a exceeds 185 °C. It was found that thermally induced crystallization is mainly temperature‐dependent above T_a = 185 °C and temperature‐ and time‐dependent below T_a = 60 °C. Two melting transitions, T and T, were observed for those samples annealed above 120 °C. No significant change in T was observed as a function of T_a while T showed strong dependency on T_a. Digital subtraction of the amorphous contribution from the semicrystalline FIR spectra provided characteristic spectra of amorphous and crystalline PTT. The bands at 373, 282, and 92 cm^?1 were assigned to the crystalline phase, while the bands at 525, 406, and 351 cm^?1 were attributed to the amorphous phase. It was shown that FIR spectroscopy can be used as a means to estimate the degree of crystallinity of PTT. The band ratio of 373 and 501 cm^?1 was plotted against crystallinity measured by density and reasonably good correlation was obtained. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1675–1682, 2007     

Investigation on LCST behavior of a new amorphous/crystalline polymer blend: Poly(n‐methyl methacrylimide)/poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The liquid–liquid phase‐separation (LLPS) behavior of poly(n‐methyl methacrylimide)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PMMI/PVDF) blend was studied by using small‐angle laser light scattering (SALLS) and phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The cloud point (T_c) of PMMI/PVDF blend was obtained using SALLS at the heating rate of 1 °C min^?1 and it was found that PMMI/PVDF exhibited a low critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior similar to that of PMMA/PVDF. Moreover, T_c of PMMI/PVDF is higher than its melting temperature (T_m) and a large temperature gap between T_c and T_m exists. At the early phase‐separation stage, the apparent diffusion coefficient (D_app) and the product (2Mk) of the molecules mobility coefficient (M) and the energy gradient coefficient (k) arising from contributions of composition gradient to the energy for PMMI/PVDF (50/50 wt) blend were calculated on the basis of linearized Cahn‐Hilliard‐Cook theory. The kinetic results showed that LLPS of PMMI/PVDF blends followed the spinodal decomposition (SD) mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1923–1931, 2008     

Synthesis and characterizations of well‐defined branched polymers with AB2 branches by combination of RAFT polymerization and ROP as well as ATRP

A well‐defined branched copolymer with PLLA‐b‐PS₂ branches was prepared by combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization, ring‐opening polymerization (ROP), and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The RAFT copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) yielded poly(MA‐co‐HEA), which was used as macro initiator in the successive ROP polymerization of LLA. After divergent reaction of poly(MA‐co‐HEA)‐g‐PLLAOH with divergent agent, the macro initiator, poly(MA‐co‐HEA)‐g‐PLLABr₂ was formed in high conversion. The following ATRP of styrene (St) produced the target polymer, poly(MA‐co‐HEA)‐g‐(PLLA‐b‐PS₂). The structures, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of the intermediates and the target polymers obtained from every step were confirmed by their ¹H NMR and GPC measurements. DSC results show one T = 3 °C for the poly(MA‐co‐HEA), T = ?5 °C, T= 122 °C, and T = 157 °C for the branched copolymers (poly(MA‐co‐HEA)‐g‐PLLA), and T = 51 °C, T = 116 °C, and T = 162 °C for poly(MA‐co‐HEA)‐g‐(PLLA‐b‐PS₂). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 549–560, 2006     

Entanglement friction and dynamics in blends of starlike and linear polymer molecules

We investigate relaxation dynamics in a series of six‐arm star/linear 1,4‐polybutadiene blends with mechanical rheometry measurements. Blend systems are formulated to systematically probe constraint release and arm relaxation dynamics. Zero shear viscosity and terminal relaxation times of star/linear polymer blends with fixed star arm molecular weights (M_a) and compositions (?_S) are found to follow nonmonotonic dependencies on the linear polymer molecular weight (M_L). At low values of ?_S, at least two scaling regimes are apparent from the data (ξ₀ ～ M and ξ₀ ～ M), where ξ₀ refers to the zero shear viscosity or terminal relaxation time of the blend. The two regimes are separated by a critical linear polymer molecular weight M^* that is more than 20 times larger than the critical molecular weight for entanglements. When the linear polymer contribution to blend properties is removed, a clear transition from dilution dynamics, ξ₀ ～ M, to Rouse‐like constraint‐release dynamics, ξ₀ ～ M, is apparent at low values of ?_S. At higher ?_S values, a new activated constraint‐release dynamic regime is evident in which ξ₀ ～ M and ξ₀ ～ ?, where α changes continuously from approximately 2 to 0.5 as ?_S increases and β varies from 2.0 to 1.0 as M_L increases. The experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions based on a drag coupling model for entangled polymer liquids. All features observed experimentally are captured by this model, including the value of M^* for the transition from dilution to Rouse constraint‐release dynamics. Predictions of the drag coupling model are also compared with published data for the zero shear viscosity and terminal relaxation time in bidisperse linear polymer blends and pure entangled starlike molecules. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2501–2518, 2001     

Thermal and ion transport properties of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymerized styrenic imidazolium ionic liquids

Polymerized ionic liquids (PILs) are a platform for fundamental studies of structure‐property relationships in single ion conductors, with potential applications in energy storage and conversion. The synthesis, thermal properties, and ionic conductivities of homologous, narrow dispersity styrenic PILs are described. Hydrophilic poly(4‐vinylbenzyl alkylimidazolium chloride) (PVBn(alkyl)ImCl) homopolymers with constant average degrees of polymerization were synthesized by post‐synthetic functionalization of a poly(4‐vinylbenzyl chloride) (M_n = 15.9 kg/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.34) master batch with N‐alkylimidazoles (alkyl = ? CH₃ (Me), ? C₄H₉ (Bu), and ? C₆H₁₃ (Hex)). The chloride counterions of PVBnHexImCl were exhaustively metathesized with BF, PF, and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI^?) to yield a series of hydrophobic PILs. Thermogravimetric analyses indicate that PVBn(alkyl)ImCl homopolymers are unstable above 220 °C, whereas the hydrophobic PILs remain stable up to 290 °C. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) decrease with both increasing alkyl side‐chain length and increasing counterion size, exemplified by T_g = 9 °C for PVBnHexImTFSI. Hydrophilic PILs exhibit high ionic conductivities (as high as ～0.10 S cm^?1) that depend on the relative humidity, water uptake, and the PIL side chain length. The hydrophobic PILs exhibit lower conductivities (up to ～5 × 10^?4 S cm^?1) that depend predominantly on the polymer T_g, however, counterion size and symmetry also contribute. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1287–1296, 2011     

Positron annihilation lifetime studies of free volume in a polymer electrolyte PEO complexed with NH4I

Positron lifetime spectroscopy has been applied to study the temperature dependence of free-volume properties in a solvent-free polymer–salt complex polyethylene oxide (PEO) doped with ammonium iodide (NH₄I, with NH ≈ 0.076) in the temperature range of 298–353 K. The observed lifetime spectra were resolved into three components and the longest lifetime, τ₃, was associated with the pick-off annihilation of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) trapped by the free volume. The lifetime component, τ₃, and its intensity, I₃, both showed a significant variation with temperature, which followed a different course in the heating and cooling cycle. Changes in the temperature coefficient of τ₃ and I₃ were observed at T ≈ 328 K, the melting point of the sample. This behaviour is correlated to the temperature variation of the electrical conductivity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 969–976, 1998     

Depolymerization kinetics of di(4‐tert‐butyl cyclohexyl) itaconate and Mark‐Houwink‐Kuhn‐Sakurada parameters of di(4‐tert‐butyl cyclohexyl) itaconate and di‐n‐butyl itaconate

Multipulse pulsed laser polymerization coupled with size exclusion chromatography (MP‐PLP‐SEC) has been employed to study the depropagation kinetics of the sterically demanding 1,1‐disubstituted monomer di(4‐tert‐butylcyclohexyl) itaconate (DBCHI). The effective rate coefficient of propagation, k, was determined for a solution of monomer in anisole at concentrations, c, 0.72 and 0.88 mol L^?1 in the temperature range 0 ≤ T ≤ 70 °C. The resulting Arrhenius plot (i.e., ln k vs. 1/RT) displayed a subtle curvature in the higher temperature regime and was analyzed in the linear part to yield the activation parameters of the forward reaction. In the temperature region where no depropagation was observed (0 ≤ T ≤ 50 °C), the following Arrhenius parameters for k_p were obtained (DBCHI, E_p = 35.5 ± 1.2 kJ mol^?1, ln A_p = 14.8 ± 0.5 L mol^?1 s^?1). In addition, the k data was analyzed in the depropagatation regime for DBCHI, resulting in estimates for the associated entropy (?ΔS = 150 J mol^?1 K^?1) of polymerization. With decreasing monomer concentration and increasing temperature, it is increasingly more difficult to obtain well structured molecular weight distributions. The Mark Houwink Kuhn Sakurada (MHKS) parameters for di‐n‐butyl itaconate (DBI) and DBCHI were determined using a triple detection GPC system incorporating online viscometry and multi‐angle laser light scattering in THF at 40 °C. The MHKS for poly‐DBI and poly‐DBCHI in the molecular weight range 35–256 kDa and 36.5–250 kDa, respectively, were determined to be K_DBI = 24.9 (10³ mL g^?1), α_DBI = 0.58, K_DBCHI = 12.8 (10³ mL g^?1), and α_DBCHI = 0.63. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1931–1943, 2007     

Thermal characterization of polycarbonate/polycaprolactone blends

In this work, we prepared blends of bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) and poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) in a wide composition range by melt mixing and solution mixing. Two different molecular weights of PCL were used (nominally, 10.000 g/mol, PCL10, and 80.000 g/mol, PCL80). The thermal behavior of both systems was studied via differential scanning calorimetry under dynamic and isothermal conditions. The blends were miscible in the entire composition range in the liquid and amorphous states, as indicated by the single glass‐transition temperature (T_g) exhibited by both the PC/PCL10 and PC/PCL80 blends. The compositional variation of the T_g was accurately described by the Fox equation for the PC/PCL80 blends, whereas slight deviations from this equation were exhibited by the PC/PCL10 blends. For blend compositions containing 40% or more PCL, either one or both blend components crystallized. Crystallization occurred during cooling from the melt or during subsequent heating in the form of cold crystallization. Although PCL crystallization was reduced and its crystallization rate decreased with the addition of PC, PCL was a very effective macromolecular plasticizer for PC, to the extent that crystallization during the scan was detected for some blend compositions. Isothermal crystallization experiments allowed the determination of equilibrium melting points (T) by the Hoffman–Weeks extrapolation method. A T depression was found for both PCL and PC components as the content of the other blend component was increased. The Avrami equation was closely obeyed by both blend components during the isothermal overall crystallization kinetics up to crystalline conversion degrees of 60–70% and with values of Avrami indices ranging from 3 to 4, depending on the crystallization temperature employed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 771–785, 2001     

Thermal,morphology, and NMR characterizations on phase behavior and miscibility in blends of isotactic polystyrene with poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate)

The miscibility and phase behavior in a binary blend of isotactic polystyrene (iPS) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy (OM), and solid‐state ¹³C cross‐polarity/magic‐angle spinning NMR. The iPS/PCHMA blend was miscible when all compositions showed a single composition‐dependent glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and when the blend went through a thermodynamic phase transition upon heating to above the lower critical solution temperature as determined by OM measurements. The ¹H NMR spin‐relaxation times in the laboratory frame (T) and in the rotating frame (T) for iPS/PCHMA blends with various compositions and neat components were directly measured through solid‐state¹³C NMR. The results of T indicated that the blends are homogeneous, at least on a scale of 75–85 nm, confirming the miscibility of the system. The single decay and composition‐dependent T values for each blend further demonstrated the blends are homogeneous on a scale of 2.5–3.5 nm. The results suggested that iPS and PCHMA are intimately mixed at the molecular level within the blends at all compositions. The tacticity of polystyrene does not seem to adversely influence the miscibility in blends of iPS/PCHMA. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 772–784, 2003     

Carbon-13 n.m.r. study of 31P?13C spin–spin coupling constants in dichloro- and monochloro-vinyl phosphate derivatives

Carbon-13 chemical shifts and J(PC) coupling constants of 29 vinyl phosphate derivatives are presented. In the series of compounds (R₁O)₂P(O)OC¹(R)?C²X₂ (where 3 in R indicates the first carbon of the R₂ substituent) large differences were found between the ³J(P, O, C-1, C-3) and ³J(P, O, C-1, C-2) coupling constants of the chlorinated (X?CI) and the unsubstituted (X?H) derivatives. A possible explanation of this phenomenon is given on the basis of Jameson's s bond character theory. Strong stereospecificity of ³J(P, O, C-1, C-3) coupling constants was observed in the series of compounds (R₁O)₂ P(O)OC¹(R)?C²HR₃. Coupling constants varied between 3.2–4.9 Hz in the E isomers, while peaks could not be resolved in the Z isomers. The ³J(P, O, C-1, C-2) coupling constants were regularly 20–30% greater in the Z than in the E isomers.     

Chiral recognition in molecular and macromolecular pairs of (S)‐ and (R)‐1‐cyano‐2‐methylpropyl‐4′‐ {[4‐(8‐vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl]oxy}biphenyl‐4‐ carboxylate enantiomers

(S)‐1‐Cyano‐2‐methylpropyl‐4′‐{[4‐(8‐vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl]oxy}biphenyl‐ 4‐carboxylate [ (S)‐11 ] and (R)‐1‐cyano‐2‐methylpropyl‐4′‐{[4‐(8‐vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl]oxy}biphenyl‐4‐carboxylate [( R)‐11 ] enantiomers, both greater than 99% enantiomeric excess, and their corresponding homopolymers, poly[ (S)‐11 ] and poly[ (R)‐11 ], with well‐defined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic behaviors of (S)‐11 and poly[ (S)‐11 ] are identical to those of (R)‐11 and poly[ (R)‐11 ], respectively. Both (S)‐11 and (R)‐11 exhibit enantiotropic S_A, S, and S_X (unidentified smectic) phases. The corresponding homopolymers exhibit S_A and S phases. The homopolymers with a degree of polymerization (DP) less than 6 also show a crystalline phase, whereas those with a DP greater than 10 exhibit a second S_X phase. Phase diagrams were investigated for four different pairs of enantiomers, (S)‐11 /( R)‐11 , (S)‐11 /poly[ (R)‐11 ], and poly[ (S)‐11 ]/poly[ (R)‐11 ], with similar and dissimilar molecular weights. In all cases, the structural units derived from the enantiomeric components are miscible and, therefore, isomorphic in the S_A and S phases over the entire range of enantiomeric composition. Chiral molecular recognition was observed in the S_A and S_X phases of the monomers but not in the S_A phase of the polymers. In addition, a very unusual chiral molecular recognition effect was detected in the S phase of the monomers below their crystallization temperature and in the S phase of the polymers below their glass‐transition temperature. In the S phase of the monomers above the melting temperature and of the polymers above the glass‐transition temperature, nonideal solution behavior was observed. However, in the S_A phase the monomer–polymer and polymer–polymer mixtures behave as an ideal solution. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3631–3655, 2000     

Electrochemical synthesis of PEDOT derivatives bearing imidazolium‐ionic liquid moieties

Novel poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polymers bearing imidazolium‐ionic liquid moieties were synthesized by electrochemical polymerizations. For this purpose, new functional monomers were synthesized having an 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) unit and an imidazolium‐ionic liquid with different anions such as tetrafluoroborate (BF), bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide ((CF₃SO₂)₂N^?), and hexafluorophosphate (PF). Next, polymer films were obtained by electrochemical synthesis in dicholoromethane solutions. Obtained polymers were characterized, revealing the characteristics of PEDOT in terms of electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties, FTIR, ¹H NMR, and AFM microscopy. Interestingly, the hydrophobic character of electropolymerized films could be modified depending on the anion type. The hydrophobicity followed the trend PF > (CF₃SO₂)₂N^? > BF > pure PEDOT as determined by water contact angle measurements. Furthermore, the polymers could be dissolved in a range of polar organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, propylene carbonate, and dimethyl sulfoxide making these polymers interesting candidates for wet processing methods. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3010–3021, 2009     

Specific volume of polysulfone as a function of temperature and pressure

The pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) properties of a commercial polysulfone derived from bisphenol A and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone are studied experimentally and theoretically in the temperature range 30–370°C and for pressures to 2000 kg/cm². PVT surfaces are determined for an annealed glass, formed under zero pressure, and for the melt. Two glass-transition lines must be distinguished: T(P) which is the intersection of the glass and melt PVT surfaces, and T_g(P), which is obtained by pressurizing the melt isothermally. The application of Ehrenfest-type equations to these transitions are discussed. The Prigogine–Defay ratio r = Δ_kΔC_p/TV(Δα)² at P = 0 is found to be equal to 0.95 (±20%), using ΔC_p data determined on identical samples. The melt data is compared with the Simha–Somcynski hole theory, using the reducing parameters V^* = 0.788 cm³/g, T^* = 12,560°K, P^* = 10,875 bar. The hole fraction appearing in the theory is found to be constant along T(P), but the glass PVT relationship cannot be reproduced by using the Simha–Somcynsky theory together with the assumption that the hole fraction remains constant in the glass. At P = 0 the hole fraction must be allowed to decrease with decreasing temperature, but at a slower rate than in the melt.     

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times in crosslinked macroporous polymer particles of divinylbenzene homopolymers

Monodisperse porous particles of poly(divinylbenzene) prepared by the activated swelling method have been investigated by solid‐state ¹³C crosspolarization magic‐angle spinning (CPMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation measurements. Homopolymeric combinations of two porogens (toluene and 2‐ethylhexanoic acid) and two monomers (meta‐ and para‐divinylbenzene) were studied. Residual vinyl groups were systematically reacted with increasing amounts of bromine, producing 20 different polymers samples for which we measured crosspolarization times, T_CH, proton rotating frame spin‐lattice relaxation, T, ¹³C spin‐lattice relaxation, T, and proton spin‐lattice relaxation, T. These parameters were chosen to reflect expected changes in a wide range of frequencies of motion as a function of structure. Relative differences in the molecular mobility of the major functional groups (aromatic, vinyl and aliphatic) is related to initial reactants used, vinyl concentration, relative reactivity of vinyl groups, distribution of vinyl groups, pore structure, and degree of crosslinking. Variable temperature ¹H combined rotation and multiple pulse NMR (CRAMPS) was used to derive activation energies for selected samples via measurement of the proton spin‐lattice relaxation time, T. Irreversible thermal effects were observed in ambient temperature relaxation after heating to temperatures in the range of 393–418 K. Simple univariate statistical analyses failed to reveal consistent correlations among the known variables. However, the application of more sophisticated multivariate and neural network analyses allowed excellent structure–property predictions to be made from the relaxation time data. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1307–1328, 1999     

Structural analysis of aggregates formed by a thermoresponsive homopolymer in dilute aqueous solutions

The aqueous solution of a thermoresponsive polymer, poly[2‐(2‐ethoxy) ethoxyethyl vinyl ether] poly(EOEOVE), contains a tiny amount of large polymer aggregates at low polymer concentrations far below the lower critical solution temperature (～40 °C). The molar mass M_w,slow, radius of gyration 〈S²〉, and hydrodynamic radius R_H,slow of the aggregating component of poly(EOEOVE) were obtained by simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering as functions of the polymer concentration and temperature, while the weight fraction w_slow of the component was estimated by size‐exclusion chromatography. The M_w,slow dependencies of 〈S²〉 and R_H,slow, as well as the ratio 〈S²〉/R_H,slow, indicated that the poly(EOEOVE) aggregate takes a sparsely branched polymer‐like conformation. We have analyzed the structure of the aggregate, using the branched polymer model of random type. The M_w,slow dependence of 〈S²〉 obtained was favorably compared with this model with reasonable structural parameters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1179–1187, 2006     

Fractionation and characterization of a protein–polysaccharide complex from Pleurotus tuberregium sclerotia

A water‐soluble sample (TM4b), extracted from sclerotia of Pleurotus tuberregium, was analyzed using elemental analysis, one‐ and two‐dimensional ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The results indicated that TM4b was protein–polysaccharide complex, and the polysaccharide moiety was hyperbranched β‐D ‐glucan with residuals branched at C3, C2, C4, and C6 positions. A preparative size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) column combined with nonsolvent addition method was used to fractionate TM4b, and nine fractions were obtained. Solution properties of TM4b in 0.15 M aqueous NaCl were studied using static laser light scattering and viscometry at 25 °C. The dependences of intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and radius of gyration (〈S²〉) on weight–average molecular weight (M_w) for TM4b in the M_w range from 1.89 × 10⁴ to 2.58 × 10⁶ were found to be [η] = 0.21M and 〈S²〉 = 3.63M. It indicated that TM4b existed as compact sphere conformation in the aqueous solution. Atomic force microscopy image further confirmed that the TM4b molecules exhibited globular shape in the solution. This work gave valuable information on fractionation and chain conformation characterization of the globular protein–polysaccharide complex. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2546–2554, 2007     

New simple method of measuring the surface glass transition temperature of polymers

A lap‐shear joint mechanical testing method has been probed to measure the surface glass transition temperature (T) of the thick bulk films of high‐molecular‐weight polymers. As T, the temperature transition “occurrence of autoadhesion–nonoccurrence of autoadhesion” has been proposed. The influence of chain flexibility, of molecular architecture, of polymer morphology, and of chain ends concentration on the T has been investigated. The correlation between the reduction in T with respect to the glass transition temperature of the bulk (T) and the intensity of the intermolecular interaction in the polymer bulk in amorphous polymers has been found. The effect of surface roughness on T has been discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 2012–2021, 2010     

Autoadhesion of Glassy Polymers

Summary: Thick bulk films of linear amorphous polymers with different chain architecture and molecular weight were brought into contact with themselves in a lap-shear joint geometry at bonding temperatures (T) below the glass transition temperatures of their bulk (T), at a small contact pressure, in order to form autoadhesive joints. As-bonded joints were shear-fractured in tension at ambient temperature, and their lap-shear strength was measured as a function of T, bonding time and molecular weight. The kinetics of the process of the development of the lap-shear strength at T < T was investigated, and the molecular mechanisms governing this process were discussed. The quasi-equilibrium surface glass transition temperatures of the investigated polymers were estimated and compared with the corresponding values of T.