Determining the absolute, chemical-heterogeneity-corrected molar mass averages, distribution, and solution conformation of random copolymers

We present a method by which to obtain the absolute, chemical-heterogeneity-corrected molar mass (M) averages and distributions of copolymers and apply the method to a gradient random copolymer of styrene and methyl methacrylate in which the styrene percentage decreases from approximately 30% to 19% as a function of increasing molar mass. The method consists of separation by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with detection using multi-angle static light scattering (MALS), differential viscometry (VISC), differential refractometry (DRI), and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy (UV) and relies on the preferential absorption of styrene over methyl methacrylate at 260 nm. Using this quadruple-detector SEC/MALS/UV/VISC/DRI approach, the percentage of styrene (%St) in each elution slice is determined. This %St is then used to determine the specific refractive index increment, corrected for chemical composition, at each elution slice, which is then used to obtain the molar mass at each slice, corrected for chemical composition. From this corrected molar mass and from the chemical-composition-corrected refractometer response, the absolute, chemical-heterogeneity-corrected molar mass averages and distribution of the copolymer are calculated. The corrected molar mass and intrinsic viscosity at each SEC elution slice are used to construct a chemical-heterogeneity-corrected Mark–Houwink plot. The slice-wise-corrected M data are used, in conjunction with the MALS-determined R _G,z of each slice, to construct a conformation plot corrected for chemical heterogeneity. The corrected molar mass distribution (MMD) of the gradient copolymer extends over an approximately 30,000 g/mol wider range than the uncorrected MMD. Additionally, correction of the Mark–Houwink and conformation plots for the effects of chemical heterogeneity shows that the copolymer adopts a more compact conformation in solution than originally concluded.     

Effect of photoinitiator on the molar mass distribution obtained from a pulsed laser polymerization

The choice of the photoinitiator is not usually regarded as being as important consideration in attempting to determine the value of the propagation rate coefficient k_p from a pulsed laser-initiated polymerization (PLP). It is shown that in fact the choice of the photoinitiator can profoundly influence the success of such experiments. Specially, for a number of monomers it was found that the successful determination of k_p is essentially impossible when 1,1-azodicyclohexanecarbonitrile is employed as a photoinitiator. The likely reason for this phenomenon is discussed from which it would seem appropriate to be wary in using any azo compound as a PLP photoinitiator. From PLP experiments with a non-azo photoinitiator, ambient pressure k_p has been determined for bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate over an extended temperature range.     

Effect of pendant chain lengths and backbone functionalities on the chemical selectivity of sulfonated amphiphilic copolymers as pseudo-stationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography

Amphiphilic copolymers of AMPS (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and hydrophobic monomers with various chemical structures were synthesized, characterized and used as novel electrokinetic chromatography polymeric pseudo-stationary phases, showing significant chemical selectivity differences from that of the conventional monomeric pseudo-stationary phase, sodium lauryl sulphate. Copolymers of AMPS and methacrylates with different pendant chain lengths (C8, C12 and C18) were investigated and no significant difference in chemical selectivity was observed among them. However, the spacer bonding chemistry was shown to contribute to significant chemical selectivity difference, e.g. poly(AMPS-lauryl methacrylate) showed different chemical selectivity from poly(AMPS-lauryl methacrylamide). Linear solvation energy relationship analysis of 20 solutes by eight different polymeric pseudo-stationary phases was employed to investigate the solute molecule structural contributions to the retention. Hydrogen-bonding properties (described by system constants b and a) of poly(AMPS-alkyl methacrylamide) were found stronger than those of poly(AMPS-alkyl methacrylate).     

Effect of chain compositions on interpolymer specific interaction in solutions

An interpolymer specific interaction of polymers with complementary proton donor units and proton acceptor units was studied with viscometry. In this study, poly(styrene-co-octyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) as proton donating polymer (PDP) and poly(styrene-co-octyl acrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine) as proton accepting polymer (PAP) with different macromolecular chain compositions were prepared by emulsion copolymerization. Complexed solutions formed by PDP and PAP were studied with a novel interaction criterion k_a based on viscosity enhance factor. The effects of macromolecular chain compositions on the ability to interpolymer interaction and complex stoichiometry were discussed. The results showed that long chain alkyl acrylate units play an important role in the interpolymer specific interaction.     

Low molar mass poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) amphiphilic block copolymers: synthesis and characterization

Low molar mass (∼ 4000) di- and triblock copolymers of styrene and tert-butyl acrylate were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in bulk and solution conditions. A CuBr/N, N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst system in conjunction with an alkyl-halide initiator were used to control the synthesis of the polystyrene macroinitiator and the subsequent copolymerization with tert-butyl acrylate. Hydrolysis of the tert-butyl acrylate blocks to acrylic acid blocks in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid resulted in the formation of an amphiphilic block copolymer. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization - time of flight - mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to determine the molar mass and molar mass distribution of the polystyrene macroinitiators and the block copolymers. ¹H NMR was used to characterize the polystyrene macroinitiators and the block copolymers, and to confirm hydrolysis of the poly(tert-butyl acrylate) blocks to poly(acrylic acid).     

Influence of mechanical stress on the molar mass distribution and the rheological behavior of polysaccharides

The mechanical stress acting on hydrocolloid macromolecules in flow processes may change the molecular structure, the rheological properties, affecting the technical function and thereby the properties. This paper introduces a newly developed method for definite “mechanical stress treatment” of xanthan and guar gum. Rheological measurements (intrinsic viscosity) and chromatography (GPC) allowed the resulting rheological and structural changes to be quantified.     

Induction of the chiral nematic phase in hydrogen-bonded blends of smectic copolymers and low molar mass dopant

A new approach for the preparation of chiral nematic materials is described. The induction of a chiral nematic phase in hydrogen-bonded blends of smectic comb-shaped LC copolymers containing alkyloxy-4-oxybenzoic acid fragments with a low molar mass chiral dopant (a derivative of pyridine) was observed.     

Induction of the chiral nematic phase in hydrogen-bonded blends of smectic copolymers and low molar mass dopant

A new approach for the preparation of chiral nematic materials is described. The induction of a chiral nematic phase in hydrogen-bonded blends of smectic comb-shaped LC copolymers containing alkyloxy-4-oxybenzoic acid fragments with a low molar mass chiral dopant (a derivative of pyridine) was observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of copolymers containing biphenylyl rings linked to the main chain through spacers of various lengths

Copolymers between 1-(4-biphenylyloxy carbonyl)ethylene (I), 1-[2-(4-biphenylyloxy)ethyloxy carbonyl]ethylene (II) and 1-[6-(4-biphenylyloxy carbonyl)]ethylene (III) were synthesized by radical polymerization. They were characterized by DSC, TOA, RX and viscosity techniques. The smectic order of poly(I) and the crystalline order of poly(III) depend on the amounts of comonomers incorporated. The obtained data demonstrate that the presence of quantities of comonomers exceeding 10% leads to complete destruction of smectic and crystalline order in poly(I) and poly(III) respectively.     

Effect of side chain conjugation lengths on photovoltaic performance of two‐dimensional conjugated copolymers that contain diketopyrrolopyrrole and thiophene with side chains

Two new two‐dimensional conjugated copolymers that contain diketopyrrolopyrrole and thiophene with different π conjugation lengths as side chains, called PDPPMTD and PDPPBTD , were designed and synthesized for use in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The resulting copolymers in the thin film state displayed broad absorption in the visible range with an absorption edge at over 1000 nm, and both had relatively low‐lying HOMO levels, at ?5.20 and ?5.18 eV for PDPPMTD and PDPPBTD , respectively. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSC that was based on PDPPBTD /PC61BM (w/w = 1:2) reached 4.10 % with a Jsc of 14.5 mA/cm2, a Voc of 0.59 V and an FF of 48%, while PDPPMTD /PC61BM (w/w = 1:2) had a PCE of 2.96% with a Jsc of 12.6 mA/cm2, a Voc of 0.60 V, and an FF of 39%. These results indicate that subtle tuning of the chemical structure can significantly influence Jsc and FF. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2878–2889     

Effect of the alkyl chloride-to-aluminum molar ratio in the catalysts of dec-1-ene oligomerization on the product distribution and the chlorine content in the products

Dec-1-ene oligomerization in the presence of an aluminum—1-dodecyl chloride system was studied. A mixture of low-molecular-weight oligodecenes containing 25–40 wt.% dimers and 30–52 wt.% dec-1-ene trimers is formed at the molar ratios RCl/A1 = 0.5–1.5. The oligomerization was assumed to occur under the action of cationic active sites, which are formed during the reaction of 1-chlorodedecane with aluminum. At temperatures of 120–130°C and molar ratios RCl/A1 = 0.5–1.5 metallic aluminum completely dechlorinates 1-chlorododecane in a dec-1-ene medium. The character of the effect of highly dispersed Al and the RCl/A1 molar rato on the fractional composition and chlorine content in oligodecenes was revealed. The latter are formed by an aluminum—tert-butyl chloride system used in the industrial oligomerization of dec-1-ene. A mechanism of Al dissolution by alkyl chlorides with the simultaneous dechlorination of alkyl chloride and formation of cationic active sites in A1-RCl systems was proposed to explain the results obtained. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 661–665, March, 2008.     

Influence of molar mass distribution on the complexation of heavy metals by humic material

The association of the heavy metals zinc(II) and cadmium(II) with humic acids of different molar mass distributions has been studied by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The various humic acid samples were obtained using an experimental procedure in which an untreated Fluka humic acid sample was fractionated by pH variation. Flow field-flow fractionation was used to characterize the humic acid samples with respect to the molar distributions, which appeared to be relatively wide for all samples. The voltammetric analysis of the binding properties of the various samples for zinc(II) and cadmium(II) yielded similar values for the mean stability of the metal complex which thus appears to be independent of the molar mass distribution of the sample. Differences in the shape of the voltammetric complexation curves were the result of differences in the mean diffusion coefficients of the humics involved.     

Controlling the degradation rate of thermoresponsive photo-cross-linked poly(organophosphazene) hydrogels with compositions of depsipeptide and PEG chain lengths

Thermosensitive and photo-cross-linkable poly(organophosphazenes) containing various amounts of isoleucine ethyl ester, AMPEG550, AMPEG750, aminoethyl methacrylate, and depsipeptide were synthesized, characterized, and were investigated for in vitro and in vivo degradation rates. The aqueous solutions of all polymers showed a sol-gel phase transition behavior against the temperature changes. The polymer degradation rate was majorly affected by the type and degree of the side group’s substitutions. The rate of degradation was initially dependent on the degree of photo-cross-linking, and in later stages on the amounts of the depsipeptide and PEG chain lengths in the polymer network. The amount of the pendant depsipeptide and chain length of the α-amino-ω-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) had significant impact on the polymer degradation rates. The polymers with high amount of the depsipeptide, and PEG750 showed fast degradation. These results suggest that the degradation rate of the injectable and dual cross-linkable gels can be tuned to the desired extent and may find wide utilities in various biomedical applications, where the gel strength and degradation rate are needed to be tightly regulated.     

Effect of chain lengths of PEO-PPO-PEO on small unilamellar liposome morphology and stability: an AFM investigation

The morphology and stability of small unilamellar egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) liposomes modified with the Pluronic copolymer (poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene)-poly (oxyethylene) (PEO-PPO-PEO)) with different compositions on mica surface have been investigated using atomic force microscopy. Morphology studies reveal significant morphological changes of liposomes upon incorporating the Pluronic copolymer. Bilayers are observed for Pluronic with small hydrophilic (PEO) chain lengths such as L81 [(PEO)2(PPO)40(PEO)2] and L121 [(PEO)4(PPO)60(PEO)4]; bilayer and vesicle coexistence is observed for P85 [(PEO)26(PPO)39.5(PEO)26] and F87 [(PEO)61.1(PPO)39.7(PEO)61.1]; and stable vesicles are observed for F88 [(PEO)103.5(PPO)39.2(PEO)103.5], F127 [(PEO)100(PPO)65(PEO)100], and F108 [(PEO)132.6(PPO)50.3(PEO)132.6]. The micromechanical properties of Pluronic-modified EggPC vesicles were studied by analyzing AFM approaching force curve. The bending modulus (k(c)) of the Pluronic-modified EggPC vesicles increased several-fold compared with that of the pure EggPC vesicles. The significant difference is due to the enhanced rigidity of the EggPC vesicles as a result of the incorporation of PPO molecules and PEO chains. Based on the analysis of onset point by AFM and diameters of vesicles by light scattering, it was concluded that the favorable model to describe the polymer-bilayer interaction is the membrane-spanning model.     

Distribution of chain lengths and composition in terpolymers

The instantaneous distribution of chain composition for random terpolymers has been derived by adopting a similar strategy to that used by Stockmayer. The analytical result shows the same Gaussian behavior for the random terpolymer distribution. When the concentration of the third comonomer is low and they are almost individually dispersed along the chain (the quasiterpolymer case), the explicit distribution is given by (the Stockmayer's copolymer result)*(ωt)^t, where t and ω are the concentration and the relative probability of incorporating the third comonomer within a chain. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1161–1166, 1997     

Modeling of the molar mass distribution of six-arm star-branched poly-epsilon-caprolactam using size-exclusion chromatography

This paper presents a modeling-based approach to the prediction of the molar mass distribution of the various species in a star-branched polycondensation mixture. The interpretation of experimental SEC data of the mixture of linear, cyclic and star-branched molecules is not straightforward, because of the different sizes of those molecules (having the same molecular mass). Therefore we have opted to use SEC analysis with only a concentration detector and fit the experimental data to the theoretical mass distribution, corrected for the volume of the various molecules. This allows the relative fraction and the distribution of the various species in the mixture (linear, cyclic and star-branched) to be determined. To demonstrate this, the six-arm star-branched poly-epsilon-caprolactam based on the six-functional coupling molecule, hexa(6-caproic acid) melamine has been analyzed. Five polymer mixtures with different initial concentration of coupling molecule have been synthesized. As the initial concentration of coupling molecule increased, we found that the weight fraction of star-branched molecules increased, while the weight fraction of linear and cyclic molecules decreased. We also found that the weight-average molar mass and the arm length decrease as the initial fraction of the coupling molecule increases.     

Relationships between molar mass and fracture properties of segmented urethane and amide copolymers modified by chemical degradation

This publication highlights the structure–property relationships in several thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs): one poly(ether-block-amide) and two thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers with ester and ether soft blocks. Structural changes are induced by chemical degradation from virgin samples through hydrolysis and oxidation. Molar mass measurements show an exclusive chain scission mechanism for all TPEs, regardless of the chemical modification condition. Mechanical behavior was nevertheless obtained from uniaxial tensile testing and fracture testing while considering the essential work of fracture (EWF) concept. During the macromolecular scission process, elongation at break shows a plateau followed by a drop, while stress at break decreases steadily. Once again, the trend is identical for all TPEs in all conditions considered. The βw_p parameter determined using the EWF concept exhibits an interesting sensitivity to scissions (i.e., molar mas decrease). Plotting elongation at break as a function of molar mass reveals a strong correlation between these two parameters. This master curve is particularly remarkable considering the range of TPEs and chemical breakdown pathways considered (hydrolysis and oxidation at several temperatures). Relevant structure–property relationships are proposed, highlighting that molar mass is a predominant parameter for determining the mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers.