Positive-tone nanopatterning of chemical vapor deposited polyacrylic thin films

Terpolymers of methyl alpha-chloroacrylate (MCA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and methacrylic anhydride (MAH) were synthesized by initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) of MCA and MAA followed by low-temperature annealing that partially converts MAA into MAH. The MAA composition in the iCVD copolymer can be systematically varied between 37 and 85 mol % by adjusting the gas feed fractions of monomers. Study of the monomer reactivity ratios and the copolymer molecular weights supports the hypothesis of a surface propagation mechanism during the iCVD copolymerization. The carboxylic dehydration reaction at the annealing temperature of 160 degrees C is dominated by a mechanism of intramolecular cyclization, resulting in intramolecular MAH anhydride formation while preventing crosslink formation. The incorporation of highly electron-withdrawing anhydride functionality enhances chain scission susceptibility under electron-beam irradiation. P(MCA-MAA-MAH) terpolymer thin films can be completely developed at dosages as low as 20 microC/cm2 at 50 kV. High-quality positive-tone patterns were created with 60 nm feature size achieved in the vapor deposited films.     

Initiated chemical vapor deposition of poly(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate) thin films

A solvent-free initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) process was used to create low surface energy poly(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate) (PPFDA) thin films at deposition rates as high as 375 nm/min. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed full retention of the fluorine moieties, and no measurable cross-linking was detected. Additionally, the FTIR studies support the hypothesis that film deposition results from vinyl polymerization. For all iCVD PPFDA films, the static contact angle was found to be 120.8 +/- 1.2 degrees. The roughness of the films was found to be between 14.9 and 19.8 nm RMS, and the refractive index of the films was found to be between 1.36 and 1.37. The deposition rate was studied as a function of the substrate temperature and the partial pressure of the monomer. It was found that the deposition rate increases with decreasing substrate temperature and increasing monomer partial pressure. It was also found that the molecular weight increases with decreasing substrate temperature and increases with increasing monomer partial pressure. The highest molecular weight measured was 177 300 with a polydispersity of 2.27. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements showed that these effects correlated with an increased monomer concentration at the surface. The deposition rate data and the QCM data were quantitatively analyzed to find the rate constants of the process using a previously published model for the iCVD process involving nonfluorinated monomers. The determined values of the rate constants of the surface polymerization were found to be similar to the rate constants measured in liquid-phase free radical polymerization. The kinetic data found in this paper can now be used to study iCVD deposition onto substrates with more complex geometries.     

Preparation and structural characterization of poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride)

Poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride) was synthesized by free-radical initiation to yield a 1:1 copolymer over a 0.2-0.8 mole fraction range of monomer feed in maleic anhydride. Evidence of 1:1 charge transfer complex between 4-vinylphenylacetate and maleic anhydride was obtained in the UV region at 355 nm. The ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and ¹H NMR integration data indicate that poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride) has an alternating and stereoregular structure. The molecular weight of poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride) was controlled by using specific solvents and initiator concentrations.     

Estimation of Reactivity Ratios from Multicomponent Copolymerizations

Abstract

The composition of the copolymer formed from n monomers in addition polymerization can be expressed in terms of the monomer feed composition and n(n - 1) binary reactivity ratios, according to the familiar simple copolymer model. Reactivity ratios are determined experimentally from cor-responding feed and monomer compositions in binary co-polymerizations. This article reports methods for deriving such reactivity ratios directly from multicomponent polymerization data. Analytical solution of the multi-component copolymer equations is not feasible because of the limited number of experimental points and experimental uncertainty in the copolymer composition. Computer-assisted procedures have been developed to estimate re-activity rates by optimizing the fit of predicted and experimental copolymer compositions, given the monomer feed composition and preliminary values of the reactivity ratios. All n(n - 1) reactivity ratios are adjustable. The methods are demonstrated for styrene/methacrylonitrile/ a-methylstyrene, butadiene/styrene/2-methyl- 5-vinyl- pyridine and acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate/& methylstyrene systems. Binary reactivity ratios predict ternary copolymer compositions generally well in these cues. Reasons are suggested why reactivity ratios from multicomponent experiments may not match the corresponding parameters from binary copolymerizations.     

Stabilizer‐free dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate. I. Effects of principal factors on microspheres

A novel dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MAn) and vinyl acetate (VAc) without adding stabilizer is developed, which gives uniform copolymer microspheres with tunable sizes. Some principal factors affecting the microspheres, such as reaction time, monomer concentration and feed ratio, reaction media, and cosolvent, were investigated. It was found that the stabilizer‐free dispersion copolymerization of MAn and VAc is a rapid process, and the particle size grows in accordance with the evolution of polymerization. The chemical composition of the copolymer microspheres was characterized by FT‐IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Over a wide range of monomer concentrations, the microspheres can always be formed and stably dispersed, with uniform sizes ranging from 180 nm to 740 nm. The yield of copolymer microspheres reaches a maximum at 1:1 feed ratio of MAn to VAc, owing to the alternating copolymerization between the binary monomers by a known charge‐transfer‐complex mechanism. However, the diameter of microspheres drastically increases when MAn content is enhanced. Only some specific alkyl ester solvents, such as n‐butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n‐amyl acetate, are desirably fit for this unique stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization. Furthermore, we found that when some acetone is added as a cosolvent, the copolymer microspheres can still be formed, with much larger diameters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3760–3770, 2005     

低相对分子质量苯乙烯-马来酸酐交替共聚物的合成

将引发剂偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)、共聚单体苯乙烯(St)和马来酸酐(MA)溶解于甲苯中,采用沉淀聚合法合成苯乙烯-马来酸酐共聚物(SMA).分别研究了反应温度、引发剂用量、反应时间、单体配比和单体浓度对聚合物得率和酸酐含量的影响.采用正交实验确定最优反应条件为:单体浓度20%,单体物质的量比为1∶1,引发剂用量为0.60%,反应温度为86℃,反应时间2h,产物得率为86.86%,酸酐含量为50.28%.并利用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、核磁共振碳谱(~(13)C NMR)、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)和热分析法分别研究聚合物的分子结构、相对分子质量及相对分子质量分布和热稳定性.结果表明产物是苯乙烯-马来酸酐交替共聚物,相对分子质量分布较窄,具有良好的热稳定性.     

Polymers from renewable resources. II. A study in the radio chemical grafting of poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) onto cellulose extracted from pine needles

A binary mixture of styrene and maleic anhydride has been graft copolymerized onto cellulose extracted from Pinus roxburghii needles. The reaction was initiated with gamma rays in air by the simultaneous irradiation method. Graft copolymerization was studied under optimum conditions of total dose of radiation, amount of water, and molar concentration previously worked out for grafting styrene onto cellulose. Percentage of total conversion (Pg), grafting efficiency (%), percentage of grafting (Pg), and rates of polymerization (R_p), grafting (R_g), and homopolymerization (R_h) have been determined as a function of maleic anhydride concentration. The high degree of kinetic regularity and the linear dependence of the rate of polymerization on maleic anhydride concentration, along with the low and nearly constant rate of homopolymerization suggest that the monomers first form a complexomer which then polymerizes to form grafted chains with an alternating sequence. Grafting parameters and reaction rates achieve maximum values when the molar ratio of styrene to maleic anhydride is 1 : 1. Further evidence for the alternating monomer sequence is obtained from quantitatively evaluating the composition of the grafted chains from the FT‐IR spectra, in which the ratio of anhydride absorbance to aromatic (CC) absorbance for the stretching bands assigned to the grafted monomers remained constant and independent of the feed ratio of maleic anhydride to styrene. Thermal behaviour of the graft copolymers revealed that all graft copolymers exhibit single stage decomposition with characteristic transitions at 161–165°C and 290–300°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1763–1769, 1999     

A Novel,Facile Method for the Preparation of Uniform,Reactive Maleic Anhydride/Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Micro‐ and Nanospheres

Summary: A novel, stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization with alkyl esters as reaction media gives uniform alternating microspheres of maleic anhydride (MAn)/vinyl acetate (VAc) copolymer. The diameter of the copolymer microspheres could be precisely controlled from 80 to 750 nm by changing the monomer concentration or feed ratio. Moreover, this new type of copolymer microspheres with reactive anhydride groups on the surface has good solubility in common nontoxic solvents such as water and ethanol.

SEM image of the powder surface of copolymer microspheres formed at [MAn] = [VAc] = 1.5 M .     

Synthesis of monomers that expand on polymerization. Synthesis and polymerization of 3,9-dimethylene-1,5,7,11-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane

A spiro ortho-carbonate containing two double bonds, 3,9-dimethylene-1,5,7,11-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (III) was prepared from 2-methylene-1,3-propanediol (VI). The structure of the monomer was indicated by its elementary analysis as well as its infrared and NMR spectra. When the crystalline monomer was polymerized with Lewis acids such as trifluoride etherate as catalysts, soluble polymer with a high molecular weight was obtained. The infrared and NMR spectra indicated that the polymer was an alternating copolymer of ether and carbonate having double bonds. When the usual monomers such as vinyl chloride and styrene polymerize, shrinkage occurs. However, this monomer underwent expansion on polymerization.     

Kinetic Study of Radical Polymerization VI. Copolymer Composition and Kinetic Parameters for Coplymerization of Styrene‐Itaconic Acid by On‐Line 1H‐NMR

Free radical solution copolymerization of styrene (St) and itaconic acid (IA) in dimethylsulfoxide‐d₆ (DMSO‐d₆) as the solvent and the use of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator at 78°C was investigated by an on‐line ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy technique. Individual monomer conversion vs. reaction time, which was calculated from the ¹H‐NMR spectra data, was used to study the drift in monomer mixture composition vs. conversion. It was found that in general, both monomers were incorporated almost equally into the copolymer. However, when the mole fraction of IA was low, the tendency of IA toward incorporation into the copolymer chain was somewhat higher than St and by increasing the mole fraction of IA in the reaction mixture, the inverse tendency was observed. Overall monomer conversion as a function of time was calculated from individual monomer conversion data and used for the estimation of k_p /k_t ^0.5 for various monomer mixture compositions. This ratio was decreased with increasing the amount of IA in the initial feed, indicating a decrease in the rate of copolymerization. Changes in the copolymer composition vs. overall monomer conversion were investigated experimentally from the NMR spectra. This was in good agreement with the changes in monomer mixture composition vs. reaction progress. Plotting the copolymer composition vs. initial monomer feed showed tendency of the system toward alternating copolymerization.     

反应挤出法合成S/B多嵌段共聚物的研究

在阴离子引发体系下 ,以双螺杆挤出机为反应器 ,采用丁二烯、苯乙烯混和单体加料方式 ,本体法一步合成了S B多嵌段共聚物 .考察了螺杆转速、进料速率以及不同丁苯配比对反应挤出合成PS及S B嵌段共聚物聚合转化率的影响 .用1 H NMR、IR、DMA、TEM等方法对S B嵌段共聚物进行了表征 ,结果表明共聚物由多个微小的丁二烯嵌段和少量无规段组成 .当丁二烯含量少至 15 %左右时 ,其嵌段可回缩成球状 ,粒径大约在 30～ 5 0nm .该材料的韧性随着共聚物中丁二烯含量的增加而逐渐提高 ,特别是断裂延伸率的提高尤为显著     

Preparation and properties of a methacrylate-containing siliconized epoxy hybrid monomer and its emulsion copolymerization with styrene/butyl acrylate

The objective of the present work was the synthesis and characterization of a methacrylate-containing siliconized epoxy hybrid monomer and its emulsion copolymerization in the presence of styrene/butyl acrylate monomers. The purity and structural conformation of this monomer were ascertained from FTIR and NMR spectral studies. Thermal properties of the copolymers were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. The morphology of copolymers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and then the effect of siliconized epoxy hybrid monomer concentration on the water absorption ratio was examined. The results show that the water-resistance of the terpolymer films was higher compared with the films of styrene-co-butyl acrylate copolymer.     

Characterization of the Charge Transfer Complex from Furan and Maleic Anhydride and the Alternating Copolymer

A previously unreported copolymer between furan and maleic anhydride was readily obtained by free radical initiation of benzene solutions of the comonomers. The product copolymers exhibit remarkably uniform composition regardless of monomer feed ratios. A donor-acceptor complex was suspected to account for the 1:1 alternating sequence of the monomers in the product. The complex was easily detected and partially characterized, although its exact role in the mechanism is uncertain.     

Photo-copolymerization of methacryloyl-L-valine methyl ester,methacryloyl-D-valine methyl ester,and maleic anhydride

Photocopolymerization of methacryloyl-L -valine methyl ester (L-MAVM), methacryloyl-D -valine methyl ester (D-MAVM) and maleic anhydride (MAn) was carried out in dioxane at 25°C without initiator at an initial total concentration of the three monomers of 1 mole/1.; the molar ratio of MAn in the feed to the sum of L- and D-MAVM was 1 : 1 in all cases. The copolymer with a 1 : 1 molar ratio of MAVM and MAn was always obtained regardless of the feed molar ratio of L- and D-MAVM. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the copolymer before and after hydrolysis showed a linear relationship between the monomer unit ellipticity at 222 nm and the molar feed ratio of L- and D-MAVM and suggested the induction of an asymmetric center into the polymer main chain. The results also indicated that the configuration of the induced asymmetric carbon atoms would be arranged according to that of fed MAVM monomer.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. III. Copolymerization of acrylonitrile–zinc chloride,methacrylonitrile–zinc chloride or methyl methacrylate–zinc chloride complex with styrene

The 1:1 or 2:1 complex of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, or methyl methacrylate with ZnCl₂ was copolymerized with styrene at the temperature of 0–30°C without any initiator. The structure of the copolymer from methyl methacrylate complex and styrene was examined by NMR spectroscopy. The complexes of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile with ZnCl₂ gave a copolymer containing about 50 mole-% styrene units. The complexes of methyl methacrylate yielded an alternating copolymer when the feed molar ratio of methyl methacrylate to styrene was small, but with increasing feed molar ratio the resulting copolymer consisted of about 2 moles of methyl methacrylate per mole of styrene. The formation of a charge-transfer complex of styrene with a monomer coordinated to zinc atom was inferred from the ultraviolet spectra. The regulation of the copolymerization was considered to be effected by the charge-transfer complex. The copolymer resulting from the 2:1 methyl methacrylate–zinc chloride complex had no specific tacticity, whereas the copolymer from the 1:1 complex was richer in coisotacticity than in cosyndiotacticity. The change of the composition of the copolymer and its specific tacticity in the polymerization of the methyl methacrylate complex is related to the structure of the complex.     

Estimation of monomer reactivity ratios by nonlinear least-squares procedure with consideration of the weight of experimental data

To obtain the optimum values of the monomer reactivity ratios for the copolymerization systems with largely different reactivities between both monomers, a nonlinear least-squares procedure which took into account the weights of experimental data, was proposed and discussed. The weights of the data were treated for the errors arisen from the amounts of monomers charged, the densities of monomers, the weights of copolymer formed, and the composition of copolymer. The least-squares procedure with the consideration of the weights was applicable to both differentiated equation and integrated equation derived by Lewis and Mayo. This procedure was applied to radical copolymerizations of α-substituted crotonic esters with styrene, and reasonable monomer reactivity ratios were obtained. It was noted that errors from the copolymer composition were more important than those from the other factors and that the use of the integrated equation was recommended even when the copolymers were isolated at low conversions.     

Copolymerization of Chloroprene with Methyl Methacrylate by the EtnAICI3.n (n=1, 1.5, 2)-Vanadium Compound System

Abstract

The copolymerization of chloroprene with methyl methacrylate was studied in the presence of Et_n A1C1_3-n (n=1, 1.5, 2)-vanadium compounds. Monomer reactivity ratios in various catalyst concentrations were compared with that of a usual radical initiator. The apparent monomer reactivity ratio changed with the concentration of alkylaluminum halide. In this polymerization, alternating copolymer could not be prepared by the ordinary catalyst concentration by which the alternating copolymerization of chloroprene with acrylonitrile was carried out. The addition of more than 10 mole % of the alkylaluminum halide based on two monomers was required to prepare the copolymer which had equimolar composition irrespective of the feed monomer ratio.

The configuration in the repeating unit of the copolymer was discussed by comparison with the NMR and IR spectra of the radical copolymer and the cyclic Diels-Alder adduct of chloroprene-methyl methacrylate. The high alternating tendency was clarified by ozonolysis of the copolymer which was prepared under the conditions which produced equimolar copolymer in various feed monomer ratios. The chloroprene unit of the copolymer was present in the 1, 4-trans structure in the copolymer prepared by the Et_n A1C1_3-n -vanadium compound system.     

Alternating copolymerization of benzofuran and acrylic monomers in the presence of organoaluminum compounds

The copolymerization of benzofuran and acrylic monomers, such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate, was investigated in the presence of aluminum compounds as complexing agents for acrylic monomers. Among the various kinds of aluminum compound, ethylaluminum sesquichloride is the most suitable for alternating copolymerization, whereas ethoxyaluminum compounds of low acidity allow the incorporation of excess acrylic monomer and dichloride of strong acidity is likely to induce cationic homopolymerization of benzofuran as a side reaction. The equimolar amount of sesquichloride with respect to acrylic monomer is necessary for alternating copolymerization. Azobisisobutylonitrile (AIBN) is an effective initiator but benzoyl peroxide is not. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of the copolymer indicates that the copolymer is essentially alternating, although some block sequences of acrylic monomer sometimes exist. As a mechanism the copolymerization via a ternary complex of acrylic monomer, aluminum compound, and benzofuran is considered. Free acrylic monomer participates in copolymerization when the amount or acidity of the complexing agent is insufficient. A quantitative relation between monomer and copolymer composition is derived from a scheme based on the copolymerization of the donor monomer-acceptor monomer complex with free acrylic monomer.     

Design of maleimide monomer for higher level of alternating sequence in radical copolymerization with styrene

This work deals with design of maleimide monomer toward more precise control of alternating sequence for radical copolymerization with styrene. Crucial in this study is sequence analysis by MALDI‐TOF‐MS for resultant copolymers that was obtained via ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical copolymerization with a malonate‐based alkyl halide initiator showing selective initiation ability. The copolymers of a simple N‐alkyl maleimide [e.g., N‐ethyl maleimide (EMI)] with styrene gave complicated peak patterns for the MALDI‐TOF‐MS spectra indicating low degree of alternating sequence, in contrary to expectation from the reactivity ratios (almost zero). A simple substitution of methyl group (CH₃) of EMI with trifluoromethyl (CF₃: CF₃‐MI) made the peak patterns much simpler giving the copolymer with higher alternating sequence. More interestingly, the peak interval of the copolymer at earlier polymerization stage was equal to sum of the molecular weights of CF₃‐MI and styrene, suggesting possibility of the pair propagation of the monomers. Indeed, ¹H NMR analyses of the mixture of maleimide with styrene suggested stronger interaction of CF₃‐MI than EMI. Based on the results, maleimide derivatives carrying a substituent‐designable electron‐withdrawing group [ROC(?O)N–: R = substituent] were newly designed toward incorporation of functional side chains. They also gave higher alternating sequence for the copolymerization with styrene. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 367–375     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XVIII. Sequence distribution in methyl acrylate–styrene copolymers prepared in the presence of zinc chloride

Methyl acrylate and styrene have been copolymerized in the presence of zinc chloride either by photoinitiation or spontaneously. The copolymerization mechanism is investigated by analyses of copolymers composition and monomer sequence distribution. The resulting copolymers are not always alternating, their composition being dependent especially on the monomer feed ratio. Appreciable deviation to higher methyl acrylate unit content from an equimolar composition occurs at monomer feed fractions of methyl acrylate over 0.7. The larger deviation is induced by higher temperature, by photoirradiation, and by greater dilution of the reaction mixture with toluene. The ¹³C-NMR spectrum of the alternating copolymer shows a sharp singlet at the carbonyl region, whereas the spectra of random copolymers prepared by benzoyl peroxide initiation at 60°C show a triplet splitting at the carbonyl carbon region, irrespective of copolymer composition. The relative intensities of the triplet peaks for the random copolymers are in good correspondence to the contents of triad sequences calculated by means of conventional radical copolymerization theory. These results clearly indicate that the carbonyl splitting is caused predominantly by variation of the monomer sequence and not by variation of the stereosequence. The monomer sequence distribution in the copolymers is thus directly and quantitatively measured from the split carbonyl resonance. Although the same triplet splitting appears in the spectra of methyl acrylate–rich copolymers prepared in the presence of zinc chloride at high feed ratios (>0.7) of methyl acrylate, the relative intensities of the split peaks do not fit the sequence distributions of random copolymers calculated by means of the Lewis–Mayo equation. The copolymerization yielding these peculiar sequences and the alternating sequence in the presence of zinc chloride is fully comprehended by a copolymerization mechanism proceeding between two active coordinated monomers, i.e., the ternary molecular complex composed of zinc chloride, methyl methacrylate, and styrene, and the binary molecular complex composed of zinc chloride and methyl methacrylate.