Electrostatic force microscopy measurements of CdSe-PS nanoparticles and CdSe-PS/poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) nanocomposites

Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) measurements were performed to analyze the conductive properties of CdSe nanoparticles functionalized with polystyrene (PS) brushes and embedded in a poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) triblock copolymer. CdSe nanoparticles were synthesized aqueously and functionalized with polystyrene chains by the grafting through technique. CdSe-PS nanoparticles obtained after 5 and 8 h of polymerization were analyzed, in order to study the effect of the molecular weight of PS chains on conductive properties. EFM results showed the maintenance of the conductive properties of CdSe nanoparticles through functionalization reactions and even when they were confined in the block copolymer. Due to the low differences between the values obtained in the response of the samples to the charged tip, no effect of the molecular weight of brushes was confirmed.     

Generation of nanocomposites based on polystyrene-grafted CdSe nanoparticles by grafting through and block copolymer

Continuing with our previous work, in which CdSe nanoparticles were functionalized with polystyrene (PS) brushes (CdSe-PS) by the grafting through method, nanocomposites were prepared by adding them to a poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) triblock copolymer. After characterizing CdSe-PS nanoparticles obtained at different polymerization times of 3, 5, and 8 h by means of thermogravimetric analysis and gel permeation chromatography, CdSe-PS nanoparticles obtained after 5 h of polymerization (CdSe-PS(5h)) were chosen as the most adequate for the generation of nanocomposites. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used for morphological characterization of SBS/CdSe-PS(5h) nanocomposites. AFM images showed a good dispersion of the nanoparticles in the block copolymer, with the placement of the nanoparticles in the PS domains due to the improved affinity obtained by their functionalization with PS brushes.     

Synthesis of poly(styrene-b-tetrahydrofuran-b-styrene) triblock copolymers by transformation from living cationic into living radical polymerization using 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl as a transforming agent

Synthesis of poly(styrene-b-tetrahydrofuran (THF)-b-styrene) triblock copolymers was performed by transformation from living cationic into living radical polymerization, using 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (4-hydroxy-TEMPO) as a transforming agent. Sodium 4-oxy-TEMPO, derived from 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, reacted with the living poly(THF), which was prepared by cationic polymerization of THF using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid anhydride as an initiator, resulting in quantitative formation of the poly(THF) with TEMPO at both the chain ends. The resulting polymers were able to serve as a polymeric counter radical for the radical polymerization of styrene by benzoyl peroxide, to give the corresponding triblock copolymer in quantitative efficiency. The polymerization was found to proceed in accordance with a living mechanism, because the conversion of styrene linearly increased over time, and the molar ratio of styrene to THF units in the copolymer also increased as a result of increasing the conversion. The TEM pictures demonstrated that the resulting copolymers promoted microphase segregation. It was found that the films of these copolymers showed contact angles intermediate between those of poly(THF) and of polystyrene. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2059–2068, 1998     

Surfactant addition effects on dispersion and microdomain orientation in SBS triblock copolymer/alumina nanoparticle composites

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of surfactant addition on the dispersion of 1–3 wt.% alumina nanoparticles on the self-assembled morphology of poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) linear triblock copolymer. The neat triblock copolymer microphase separated into PS cylinders self-assembled on a hexagonal array in the PB matrix, being the orientation of domains dependent on the annealing conditions. UV–vis and AFM analyses showed an improvement on dispersion of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles into SBS matrix by adding dodecanethiol as organic surfactant, due to its miscibility with PS block. Interactions between surfactant-coated Al₂O₃ nanoparticles with PS block were demonstrated by the variation on the glass transition temperature of this block. AFM analysis showed that the incorporation of surfactant-coated Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in the SBS matrix have great influence on the orientation of microphase separated domains in SBS nanocomposites.     

Application of FTIR Microscopy in Combinatorial Experimentation on Polymer Blends

Summary: A novel combinatorial, high-throughput experimentation (HTE) setup has been developed, which allows for rapid mapping of the phase behavior of blends of homopolymers and block copolymers. The principle is based on the preparation of composition (ϕ)-temperature (T) gradient films. Linear ϕ gradients were obtained over a large composition range, as shown by FTIR microscopy. The applicability of this combinatorial approach was demonstrated by studying the phase behavior of a poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN)/poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl acrylate) (PMMA-EA) blend with varying EA content and a poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-methyl methacrylate) (SBM) triblock copolymer.     

Local compositional fluctuations in PPO/HIPSand PPO/SBS blends

Solid-state NMR relaxation has been used to explore the distribution of components in poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and PPO/poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) blends. The nuclear relaxation of PPO in the former system is single exponential for all compositions, but the relaxation of PS in the blend is simple exponential only when the PPO content is low but is otherwise nonexponential. The nuclear magnetization decay curves were analyzed in terms of statistical compositional fluctuation at the scale of spin diffusion distances of several nm. Distribution functions for nuclear relaxation and for blend composition have been derived. Extraction of low molecular weight occluded PS from HIPS resulted in blends having reduced homogeneity. Addition of low molecular weight PS enhanced homogeneity in both the PPO/HIPS and PPO/SBS blends. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of six‐arm star polystyrene‐block‐poly (3‐hexylthiophene) copolymer by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and click reaction

A novel six‐arm star block copolymer comprising polystyrene (PS) linked to the center and π‐conjugated poly (3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was successfully synthesized using a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click reaction. First, star‐shaped PS with six arms was prepared via ATRP of styrene with the discotic six‐functional initiator, 2,3,6,7,10,11‐hexakis(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)triphenylene. Next, the terminal bromides of the star‐shaped PS were substituted with azide groups. Afterward, the six‐arm star block copolymer PS‐b‐P3HT was prepared using the click coupling reaction of azide‐terminated star‐shaped PS with alkynyl‐terminated P3HT. Various techniques including ¹H NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared and size‐exclusion chromatography were applied to characterize the chemical structures of the intermediates and the target block copolymers. Their thermal behaviors and optical properties were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and UV–vis spectroscopy. Moreover, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to observe the morphology of the star block copolymer films. In comparison with two linear diblock copolymer counterparts, AFM results reveal the effect of the star block copolymer architecture on the microphase separation‐induced morphology in thin films. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Control of Microphase Separation of Polystyrene-Silica Nanocomposites by Using Perhydropolysilazane and Partially Epoxidized Poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene)

In order to control microphase separation of polystyrene-silica nanocomposites, perhydropolysilazane (PHPS), which is a preceramic of silica, and epoxidized poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) triblock copolymer [E-SBS, M_w = 8.0 × 10⁴, styrene: 40 mol%, degree of epoxidization of butadiene: 20 mol%] or poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) triblock copolymer [SBS, M_w = 1.40 × 10⁵, styrene: 30 mol%] as templates of microphase separation were blended, following the calcination of composites in steam at 60°C. Well-arranged microphase separation was formed with E-SBS, though the macrophase separation was formed with SBS. The morphology of the microphase separation of the composites with E-SBS and PHPS was widely controlled by varying the PHPS content based on Molau's law. Silica domains were formed in polybutadiene domains. NMR analysis indicated the interaction between silanyl group of PHPS and epoxy group in E-SBS. The composites on the substrate were highly transparent and the surface of the composite with 73.5 vol% of silica was harder than 4H.     

Morphological study and photo-addressing in poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) block copolymers with azobenzene groups and polystyrene matrix: Influence of chemical bonding

The main goal of this work was the synthesis of new azo-functionalized block copolymers (BCP) from epoxidized poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) modified with azobenzene groups by one-step facile reaction between the epoxy groups and an azo-amine. The epoxy/amine reaction was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, we studied the effect of covalent attachment of the azobenzene moieties by analyzing the morphology and the optical anisotropic response of the resulting azo-containing BCP, with respect to solution mixing of the azobenzene as a guest in the BCP host without chemical bonding. Self-assembly of all modified BCP resulted in phase-separated morphologies on the nanometer scale. Nonetheless, segregation of azobenzene aggregates onto the BCP surface was observed in guest–host systems. In relation to the optical anisotropic behaviour of the resulting materials, two distinct optical responses were observed depending on the existence or not of covalent attachment of the azo-chromophores to the BCP.     

Preparation of light-stable micelles with azo dyes from a nonamphiphilic random block copolymer

Light-stable micelles with azo dyes were prepared by micelle formation of a nonamphiphilic diblock copolymer containing azobenzene and UV absorbent at ca. 1 mol% as the unit ratios. The nonamphiphilic block copolymer consists of two different kinds of random copolymer blocks: poly[4-(phenylazophenoxymethyl)styrene-co-vinylphenol] (P(AS-co-VPh)) and poly[4-(2-hydroxybenzophenoxymethyl)styrene-co-styrene] (P(HBS-co-St)). This random block copolymer, P(AS-co-VPh)-b-P(HBS-co-St) formed the micelles in the presence of 1,4-butanediamine (BDA) through hydrogen bond cross-linking between the VPh units via BDA. The micelles had the azobenzene moieties at the cores and the UV absorbents at the coronas. The micelles showed a small color difference in color fading experiments, in comparison with the unimers and with micelles having no UV absorbent at the coronas. It is significant that the diblock copolymer forms the micelles and has the UV absorbents at the coronas to suppress the color fading. Furthermore, the chain length of ,-diamines had no effect on the hydrodynamic radius of the micelles, but affected the aggregation number and the cmc.     

New telechelic polymers and sequential copolymers by polyfunctional initiator-transfer agents (inifers). III. Synthesis and characterization of poly(α-methylstyrene-b-isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene)

The synthesis of a new glassy-rubbery-glassy triblock copolymer poly(α-methylstyrene-b-isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene) has been demonstrated. The key to the synthesis was the preparation by inifer method of a perfectly bifunctional polyisobutylene which carries tert-chlorine end groups Cl-PIB-Cl. In conjunction with Et₂AlCl coinitiator, the telechelic Cl-PIB-Cl molecule initiates the polymerization of α-methylstyrene at both ends of the prepolymer. Triblock composition can be controlled by the judicious selection of synthesis conditions; that is, Cl-PIB-Cl molecular weight, α-methylstyrene concentration, and solvent polarity. Theoretical triblock M _n calculated from M _n of Cl-PIB-Cl and triblock overall composition is in excellent agreement with experimental M _n which indicates negligible homopolymer contamination. Extraction with a series of hydrocarbon solvents reveals broad composition distribution. The stress-strain profile of a triblock is similar to that of a poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) thermoplastic elastomer of similar composition.     

SEBS的间接氯甲基化研究

研究了以二甲氧基甲烷和氯化亚砜为原料实现氢化聚苯乙烯-乙烯丁烯无规共聚物-聚苯乙烯三嵌段共聚物(SEBS)苯环对位上的间接氯甲基化. 通过红外光谱和核磁氢谱表征了氯甲基化SEBS的化学结构; 采用佛尔哈德法测定了氯甲基化程度. 通过对比研究几种催化剂的催化效果, 表明氯化锌催化效果最佳, 在氯化锌浓度仅为0.056 mol/L, 45 ℃, 12 h内即可使SEBS的苯环对位氯甲基化程度达到28.94%. 本文还探讨了催化剂用量、反应温度、反应时间对接氯甲基化程度的影响.     

Synthesis of ABCD‐type miktoarm star copolymers and transformation into zwitterionic star copolymers

ABCD‐type 4‐miktoarm star copolymers of styrene (St), α‐methylstyrene (αMSt), tert‐butyl methacrylate (tBuMA), and 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) were synthesized via anionic polymerization using 1,3‐bis(1‐phenylvinyl)benzene (m‐DDPE) as the linking molecule. The synthetic route was rationally designed with respect to the reactivity of individual propagating anion towards the double bond of m‐DDPE. Thus the synthesis includes several consecutive key reactions, for example, the monoaddition of polystyryllithium towards m‐DDPE, the polymerization of tBuMA initiated by the resulting monoadduct to produce a diblock macromonomer, the coupling of the macromonomer with poly(α‐methylstyryl)lithium to form a 3‐arm star anion, and the polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine initiated by the star anion. These reactions were conducted either in a one‐pot process, in which the diblock macromonomer was in situ coupled with poly(α‐methylstyryl)lithium, or in a batch polymerization process, in which the same diblock macromonomer was separated. The final product was hydrolyzed to produce a zwitterionic miktoarm star copolymer, which was soluble at lower pH but insoluble in neutral and basic solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4818–4828, 2007     

“Living” free radical copolymerization of styrene and N-vinylcarbazole

Poly[styrene-co-(N-vinylcarbazole)] copolymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities were synthesized by nitroxide-mediated “living” free radical copolymerization using an initiator/capping agent system consisting of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and the stable nitroxyl radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO). The copolymerization behaves in a “living” fashion and allows the synthesis of poly[styrene-co-(N-vinylcarbazole)]/polystyrene block copolymers via a controlled chain-extension reaction of the prepared copolymers with styrene.     

Synthesis of H‐shaped complex macromolecular structures by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization,photoinduced radical coupling,ring‐opening polymerization,and iniferter processes

Three controlled/living polymerization processes, namely atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and iniferter polymerization, and photoinduced radical coupling reaction were combined for the preparation of ABCBD‐type H‐shaped complex copolymer. First, α‐benzophenone functional polystyrene (BP‐PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (BP‐PMMA) were prepared independently by ATRP. The resulting polymers were irradiated to form ketyl radicals by hydrogen abstraction of the excited benzophenone moieties present at each chain end. Coupling of these radicals resulted in the formation of polystyrene‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PMMA) with benzpinacole structure at the junction point possessing both hydroxyl and iniferter functionalities. ROP of ε‐caprolactone (CL) by using PS‐b‐PMMA as bifunctional initiator, in the presence of stannous octoate yielded the corresponding tetrablock copolymer, PCL‐PS‐PMMA‐PCL. Finally, the polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) via iniferter process gave the targeted H‐shaped block copolymer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4601–4607     

Thermomechanical and shape memory properties of SCF/SBS/LLDPE composites

A thermally triggered shape memory polymer composite was prepared by blending short carbon fiber (SCF) into a blend of poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) triblock copolymer (SBS)/linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) prior to curing. These composites have excellent processability compared with other thermosets. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were investigated to assess the thermomechanical properties of the SCF/SBS/LLDPE composite. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging of the samples was performed to show the distribution of the SCF in the composite. The study specifically focused on the effect of SCF on the shape memory behavior of the SCF/SBS/LLDPE composite. The results indicated that the large amount of SCF significantly improved the mechanical property of the polymer composites while not damaging the shape memory performance. The SCF/SBS/LLDPE composites exhibited excellent shape memory behavior when the SCF content was less than 15.0 wt%. Moreover, the shape fixity ratio and shape recovery time of the SCF/SBS/LLDPE composites increased with the SCF content.     

Preparation of micelles with azo dye and UV absorbent at their cores or coronas using non-amphiphilic block copolymers

Micelles with azo dye and UV absorbent at their cores or coronas were prepared from non-amphiphilic random diblock copolymers by α,ω-diamine. Poly[4-(phenylazophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-4-(2-hydroxybenzophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-vinylphenol]-block-polystyrene (P(AS-r-HBS-r-VPh)-b-PSt) and poly(vinylphenol)-block-poly[4-(phenylazophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-4-(2-hydroxybenzophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-styrene] (PVPh-b-P(AS-r-HBS-r-St)) diblock copolymers were prepared by living radical polymerization mediated by 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl. The former copolymer had a molecular weight of Mn[P(AS-r-HBS-r-VPh)-b-PSt] = 10,000-b-250,000 by ¹H NMR and a molar ratio of AS:HBS:VPh = 0.01:0.01:0.98, while the latter had a molecular weight of Mn[PVPh-b-P(AS-r-HBS-r-St)] = 10,000-b-111,000 and a molar ratio of AS:HBS:St = 0.02:0.03:0.95. The copolymers showed no self-assembly in 1,4-dioxane because this solvent was non-selective to the copolymers. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the copolymers formed micelles in the solvent in the presence of α,ω-diamine. The hydrodynamic radii of the micelles slightly increased with the copolymer concentration decrease, while the aggregation numbers were almost independent of the copolymer concentration. It was found that P(AS-r-HBS-r-VPh)-b-PSt formed smaller micelles with a lower aggregation number than PVPh-b-P(AS-r-HBS-r-St) because of the steric hindrance of the AS and HBS units present at the micellar coronas.     

Enhancement of mechanical properties of triblock copolymers by random copolymer middle blocks

Symmetric styrene-b-styrene-co-butadiene-b-styrene (S-SB-S) tri-block copolymers with varying middle and outer block composition have been studied. We report our findings based on a systematic variation of the effective interaction parameter (χ) by adjusting the composition of the random copolymer in the middle block and of the outer blocks (in terms of PS-chain length) which allows us to explore the χ-parameter space with regard to molecular architecture more thoroughly than in SBS triblock copolymers. A variation in the S/B middle block composition or in the PS outer block content leads to a change in phase behaviour and morphology simultaneously accompanied by significant changes in mechanical properties, varying from elastomeric to thermoplastic property profile. Despite high PS contents of 55-75 wt.% these S-SB-S triblock copolymers reveal high strain at break values between 650% and 350% which is in striking contrast to the conventional SBS triblock copolymers where only about 10% strain at break have been reported to be achieved with similar PS-content (∼75 wt.%).     

Synthesis,characterization, and property of amphiphilic fluorinated abc‐type triblock copolymers

Novel amphiphilic fluorinated ABC‐type triblock copolymers composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether (MeOPEO), hydrophobic polystyrene (PSt), and hydrophobic/lipophobic poly(perfluorohexylethyl acrylate) (PFHEA) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA)/CuBr as a catalyst system. The bromide‐terminated diblock copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐polystyrene (MeOPEO‐b‐PSt‐Br) were prepared by the ATRP of styrene initiated with the macroinitiator MeOPEO‐Br, which was obtained by the esterification of poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether (MeOPEO) with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. A fluorinated block of poly(perfluorohexylethyl acrylate) (PFHEA) was then introduced into the diblock copolymer by a second ATRP process to synthesize a novel ABC‐type triblock copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐polystyrene‐block‐poly(perfluorohexylethyl acrylate) (MeOPEO‐b‐PSt‐b‐PFHEA). These block copolymers were characterized by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Water contact angle measurements revealed that the polymeric coating of the triblock copolymer (MeOPEO‐b‐PSt‐b‐PFHEA) shows more hydrophobic than that of the corresponding diblock copolymer (MeOPEO‐b‐PSt). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model protein to evaluate the protein adsorption property and the triblock copolymer coating posseses excellent protein‐resistant character prior to the corresponding diblock copolymer and polydimethylsiloxane. These amphiphilic fluoropolymers can expect to have potential applications for antifouling coatings and antifouling membranes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and solvent‐dependent micellization of the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(styreneboronic acid)‐block‐polystyrene

The amphiphilic organoboron block copolymer poly (styreneboronic acid)‐block‐polystyrene ( PSBA‐b‐PS ) has been prepared through a postpolymerization modification route from the silicon‐functionalized block copolymer poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene)‐block‐polystyrene ( PSSi‐b‐PS ). PSBA‐b‐PS is obtained through highly selective reaction of PSSi‐b‐PS with BBr₃ at room temperature and subsequent hydrolysis of the BBr₂‐functionalized intermediate. Transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrate that PSBA‐b‐PS undergoes pH dependent micellization in aqueous solution. Different morphologies could be realized by using different mixtures of water and organic solvents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2438–2445, 2010