Dielectric behaviour of copolymers based on 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate and cyano co-monomers

In the frame of a research aiming at developing new dielectric polymers containing CCN and CF substituents with strong dipole moment, statistical copolymers based on cyano monomers such as acrylonitrile (AN), methacrylonitrile (MAN), methylvinylidene cyanide (MVCN) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethylmethacrylate (MATRIF), were synthesized and characterized. Elemental analysis has shown that the molar percentages of AN and MAN in the copolymers were 45 mol.%, while only 5 mol.% of MVCN was incorporated in the poly(MVCN-co-MATRIF) copolymer. These copolymers exhibit glass transition temperatures, T_g, in the range of 70-90 °C. The dynamic dielectric analyses and their complex permittivities of these copolymers were studied versus the temperature and the frequency. Evidence of an α-relaxation phenomenon in the glass transition region, which is confirmed by the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) temperature dependence of the relaxation times, was assigned to the cooperative reorientation motions of the cyano groups. The values of dielectric strength (Δε) for the copolymers based on MATRIF were determined by Havriliak-Negami (HN) fitting from the dispersion curves, and can be related to the polarity of the monomer unit and to the packing of the macromolecular chains. These relaxations are sometimes overlapped by conduction phenomena due to ionic impurities at low frequencies and high temperatures dipolar losses. In the glassy state, the permittivity values of AN and MAN copolymers show an increase of polarity which makes them candidates for some applications amongst advanced electrical materials such as dielectric layer for capacitors.     

Tacticity control in the radical polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate with fluoroalcohol

The free-radical polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TEMA) was carried out in fluoroalcohols to achieve stereoregulation. The polymerization reactivity at low temperature and syndiotactic specificity were enhanced by the use of fluoroalcohol as a solvent. The polymer having triad syndiotacticity (rr) of 70% was obtained in perfluoro-t-butyl alcohol. It was noted that the stereochemistry was nearly independent of reaction temperature. The stereoeffect of fluoroalcohols seemed to be due to the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the alcohol and the monomer or growing species. The hydrogen-bonding formation was determined by FTIR. The copolymerization of TEMA with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in hexafluoroisopropanol afforded a copolymer with syndiotactic specificity. By this method, a cladding material for an optical fiber based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with high mechanical strength and low refractive index could be obtained.     

Radical copolymerization of acrylonitrile with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl acrylate for dielectric materials: Structure and characterization

Radical copolymerization based on acrylonitrile (AN) and 2,2,2‐Trifluoroethyl acrylate (ATRIF) initited by AIBN was investigated in acetonitrile solution. The resulting poly(AN‐co‐ATRIF) copolymers were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F NMR and IR spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Their compositions were assessed by ¹H NMR. The kinetics of radical copolymerization of AN with ATRIF was investigated from sereval experiments achieved at 70 °C from initial [AN]₀/[ATRIF]₀ molar ratios ranging between 20/80 and 80/20 and was enabled to determine the reactivity ratios of both comonomers. From the monomer—polymer copolymerization curve, the Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdos laws enabled to assess the reactivity ratios (r_AN= r₁ = 1.25 ± 0.04 and r_ATRIF = r₂ = 0.93 ± 0.05 at 70 °C) while the revised patterns scheme led to r₁₂ = r_AN = 1.03, and r₂₁ = r_ATRIF = 0.78 at 70 °C. In all cases, r_AN x r_ATRIF product was close to unity, which indicates that poly(AN‐co‐ATRIF) copolymers exhibit a random structure. This was also confirmed by the Igarashi's and Pyun's laws which revealed the presence of AN‐ATRIF, AN‐AN, and ATRIF‐ATRIF dyads. The Q and e values for ATRIF were also assessed (Q₂ = 0.62 and e₂ = 0.93). The glass transition temperature values, T_g, of these copolymers increased from 17 to 61 °C as the molar percentage of ATRIF decreased from 77 to 16% in the copolymer. Thermogravimetry analysis of poly(AN‐co‐ATRIF) copolymers showed a good thermal stability compared to that of poly(ATRIF) homopolymer due to incorporation of AN comonomer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3856–3866     

Radical copolymerization of vinylidene cyanide with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate: Structure and characterization

A novel copolymer of vinylidene cyanide (VCN) and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (MATRIF) was synthesized by bulk free radical process in a 52% yield from an equimolar comonomer feed. The copolymer's composition and microstructure were analyzed by FTIR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, SEC, and elemental analysis. The reactivity ratios calculated from both the Q‐e Alfrey‐Price parameters and the Jenkins' Patterns Scheme indicate a tendency to alternation in the copolymerization, the latter method suggesting that MATRIF homopropagation be slightly favoured (r_V = r₁₂ = 0.1, r_M = r₂₁ = 0.3). The molar incorporation of VCN in the copolymer was only 42 mol % according to the 9.0 wt % nitrogen content determined by elemental analysis, in good agreement with the value obtained by ¹H‐NMR. High‐resolution ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR spectra were used to study the microstructure of the copolymer. As an example, the three well‐resolved carbonyl resonances in the ¹³C‐NMR spectrum were assigned to the MATRIF‐centered triads VMV, VMM, and MMM, respectively, (V and M stand for VCN and MATRIF, respectively). The presence of VCN dyads (e.g., in VVM and VVV sequences) was shown to be marginal or absent altogether. Thermogravimetric analysis of poly(VCN‐co‐MATRIF) copolymer showed good thermal stability, and its main pyrolytic degradation taking place only above 368 °C. A 4% weight loss at about 222 °C suggested the presence of a few VCN homodyads, possibly inducing thermal depolymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Statistical fluorinated copolymers from heterogeneous atom transfer radical copolymerization of styrene and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate with similar reactivity ratios

Fluorinated copolymers with statistical structure of azeotropic or gradient composition were prepared from heterogeneous atom transfer radical copolymerizations of styrene (S) and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (T). The polymerization kinetic studies show that while the propagation rate constant of S increased with a decreasing S content in the comonomer feed ratio, the propagation rate of T decreased with decreases of the S content in the comonomer feed ratio. The polymerization rate and controllability of the heterogeneous ATRP of S and T were regulated by the solubility of Cu(II)/ligand in the reaction mixture, based on a mechanistic analysis and solubility tests of the Cu(II)/ligand system in the reaction media. The reactivity ratios of S and T were 0.22 and 0.35, as evaluated from kinetic analysis of monomer conversions higher than 35%. These statistical polymers self‐assembled in T to form giant vesicles GVs) with broad diameter distribution in the range of 1–10 μm. Unlike the methods normally used to prepare gradient copolymers by spontaneous controlling with feeding model or batch polymerization of comonomers with obvious differences in the reactivity ratio, in this contribution, we report a novel synthetic strategy for preparing gradient copolymers can also be prepared from both monomers with very similar reactivity ratio. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

New fluorinated polymers bearing pendant phosphonic groups for fuel cell membranes: Part 1 synthesis and characterizations of the fluorinated polymeric backbone

Radical copolymerizations of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) with vinyl ethers such as 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) and ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) were performed at 75 °C in the presence of peroxide initiator. Three copolymers were obtained and characterized by means of both NMR and elemental analysis. Then, the chlorine atoms in the side chains were converted into iodine atoms by nucleophilic substitution, which was monitored by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. A series of five copolymers with different amounts of iodine atoms in the side chains were thus obtained. These copolymers exhibited molecular weight values of about 25,000 g mol⁻¹, and the thermal analysis of the copolymers showed a starting degradation from about 220 °C. The T_g values were in the range of 34-41 °C and showed a linear dependence versus the content of iodine atoms.     

Synthesis, characterization and properties of a novel fluorinated methacrylate polymer

A fluorinated monomer of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (FEMA) was prepared by a “one pot” process and then a novel fluorinated methacrylate polymer, poly[2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PFEMA), was successfully synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as emulsifier, hexadecane (HD) as co-stabilizer and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The chemical structure of PFEMA was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹⁹F NMR. GPC results show that the number average molecular weight (M_n) of PFEMA was as high as 8.5 × 10⁵ g/mol and the polydispersity index (PDI) was only 1.3. SEM and DLS characterizations showed that the morphology of PFEMA latex was uniform spheres with the diameter of about 110–125 nm. It was also found that PFEMA has high thermo-stability (T_d > 200 °C), low glass transition temperature (T_g = 13.0 °C), and nice hydrophobicity (θ_water = 99.9°). Comparison studies on PFEMA and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) show that an introduced functional group (–CH₂CH₂O–) has a significant effect on lowering T_g and improving hydrolysis resistance without impairing surface properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-g-glycidyl methacrylate with methyl methacrylate

In this work, the properties of chitosan (CTS) and synthetic polymers are combined to produce a novel hybrid synthetic-natural material. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) are reacted with CTS to produce a versatile material for dental filler applications. This process involves the synthesis of CTS-g-GMA that is further reacted with PMMA [(CTS-g-GMA)-g-PMMA]. The chemical structure and physical properties of the resulting materials is analyzed by FTIR, DSC, SEM, NMR and XRD. The results revealed the evidence of strong intermolecular interactions between CTS-g-GMA and PMMA by covalent bonding formation. Thermal stability of the final copolymer [(CTS-g-GMA)-g-PMMA] is higher than its precursor, CTS-g-GMA. Presented results show a simple route to produce natural-synthetic polymers for potentially useful applications.     

Synthesis and Stereoisomerization of 2-(1-Alkoxyimino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-trimethylsilylfurans

2-(1-Alkoxyimino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-trimethylsilylfurans were synthesized by the condensation of 2-(trifluoroacetyl)-5-trimethylsilylfuran with alkoxyamines. According to ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopic data, the alkoxyimino group in the E-isomers descreens the H-3 and H-4 protons of the furan ring more strongly than in the Z-isomers, shifting their signals downfield. The fluorine atoms of the α-trifluoromethyl group in the Z-isomer are characterized by a downfield shift in relation to the E-isomer. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 834–838, June, 2005.     

Synthesis and characterization of polydimethylsiloxane-cured organically modified silicate hybrid coatings

Hybrid coatings based on polydimethylsiloxane-cured organically modified silicate were synthesized through a sol-gel technique. Amino-terminated siloxane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane were used as precursors for the hybrid coatings. These hybrid films were deposited via spin coating onto an aluminum alloy to improve the corrosion protection. The effects induced by the different chain lengths of siloxane on the chain dynamics, thermal stability and corrosion performance of the coated samples were investigated. The rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation times and scale of the spin-diffusion path length indicated that the configuration of the hybrid films was highly crosslinked, dense and adhered to the aluminum alloy substrates. The thermal stability and the apparent activation energy, evaluated by van Krevelen's method, of the hybrid coatings depended on the siloxane chain length. Potentiodynamic analysis revealed that the hybrid films provided exceptional barrier and corrosion protection in comparison with untreated aluminum alloy substrates.     

Hydrogen-bond structures in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate): Infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations with model compounds

Hydrogen-bond structures in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) were investigated by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations (QCC). A monomer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and model compounds of methyl acetate (MA) and methanol (MeOH) were also used. Evidences for OHOC and OHOH types of hydrogen-bonds were observed in an IR spectrum of a PHEMA solid. It was estimated from the present study that 47.3% of OH groups on the PHEMA side chain terminal are engaged in the OHOC type of hydrogen-bond, while the rest contributes to the OHOH type of hydrogen-bond.     

Use of bis(trifluoromethyl)peroxy dicarbonate as initiator in the radical homopolymerisation of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and copolymerisation of VDF with hexafluoropropylene

The radical homopolymerisation in acetonitrile of vinylidene fluoride (or 1,1-difluoroethylene, VDF) and the copolymerisation of VDF with hexafluoropropylene (HFP) initiated by bis(trifluoromethyl)peroxy dicarbonate are presented. Different reactions and different reactants were chosen to monitor the polymerisation in terms of initiating radicals generated from this initiator. Homopolymers and copolymers thus obtained were characterised by and NMR spectroscopy. From the assignments of the characteristic signals, an overall reaction mechanism is proposed that explains each step of the polymerisation. Particularly, an interpretation of the polymer microstructures and the presence of end-groups arising from the radical initiator as well as from eventual transfers is suggested. Among some of the microstructures, the trifluoromethoxy end-group was noted to be present in both PVDF and poly(VDF-co-HFP) (co)polymers, as generated from the decomposition of the initiator. This trifluoromethoxy end-group enabled the assessment of the molecular weights of PVDF and poly(VDF-co-HFP) (co)polymers. Thermal properties of the copolymers were also determined, showing that original fluoroelastomers possessing CF₃ end-groups are obtained endowed with low T_g and good thermal stability.     

Well‐controlled radical copolymerization of styrene with 2‐[(perfluorononenyl)oxy] ethyl methacrylate and characterization of its copolymers

The atom transfer radical copolymerization of styrene with 2‐[(perfluorononenyl)oxy] ethyl methacrylate was performed in benzotrifluoride at 100 °C in the presence of 1‐bromoethyl benzene (1‐BrEB), cuprous bromide (CuBr), and α,α′‐bipyridine (bpy; [1‐BrEB]₀/[CuBr]₀/[bpy]₀ = 1/1/3). The experimental results demonstrate that this polymerization proceeded in a living fashion, producing fluorinated random copolymers with narrow polydispersities, controlled molecular weights, and desired unit ratios. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The monomer reactivity ratios were obtained with the Skeist integral method. The copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, and differential scanning calorimetry. The solid surface characteristics of the copolymers were evaluated with contact‐angle measurements. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2670–2676, 2001     

Helix-sense-selective copolymerization of phenyl[bis(2-pyridyl)]methyl methacrylate,diphenyl(2-pyridyl)methyl methacrylate and triphenylmethyl methacrylate with chiral anionic initiators

Optically active poly[triphenylmethyl methacrylate-co-phenyl[bis(2-pyridyl)]methyl methacrylate] (poly[TrMA-co-PB2PyMA], poly[diphenyl(2-pyridyl)methyl methacrylate-co-phenyl[bis(2-pyridyl)]methyl methacrylate] (poly[D2PyMA-co-PB2PyMA]), and poly[triphenylmethyl methacrylate-co-diphenyl(2-pyridyl)-methyl methacrylate] (poly[TrMA-co-D2PyMA]) were prepared by helix-sense-selective copolymerization with complexes of organolithium with (−)-sparteine [(−)Sp],(S, S)-(+)- and (R, R)-(−)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino)butane [(+)- and (−)DDB], and (S)-(+)-2-(1-pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyridine [(+)PMP] as anionic initiators in toluene at low temperature. The copolymers obtained with (−)Sp and (+)DDB or (−)DDB complexes of organolithium showed low optical activity, but to [(+)PMP] complex with N,N′-diphenyleneamine monolithium amide [(+)PMP–DPEDA–Li)] was effective in synthesizing copolymers of high optical rotation ([α] about +320 to + 370°) which were comparable to those of corresponding homopolymers with one-handed helical structure. The optical rotations of poly[TrMA-co-PB2PyMA] and poly[TrMA-co-D2PyMA] were much more stable than that of poly(D2PyMA) or poly(PB2PyMA) in a solution of CHCl₃–2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (10 : 1, v/v) at 25°C, but optical rotation of poly[D2PyMA-co-PB2PyMA] slowly decreased with time in the same conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2127–2133, 1998     

Structural characterization of a poly(methacrylic acid)-poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have been combined to achieve the complete microstructural characterization of a poly(methacrylic acid)-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMAA-PMMA) copolymer synthesized by nitroxide-mediated polymerization. Various PMAA-PMMA species could be identified which mainly differ in terms of terminaisons. ¹H and ¹³C NMR experiments revealed the structure of the end-groups as well as the proportion of each co-monomer in the copolymers. These end-group masses were further confirmed from m/z values of doubly charged copolymer anions detected in the single stage mass spectrum. In contrast, copolymer composition derived from MS data was not consistent with NMR results, obviously due to strong mass bias well known to occur during electrospray ionization of these polymeric species. Tandem mass spectrometry could reveal the random nature of the copolymer based on typical dissociation reactions, i.e., water elimination occurred from any two contiguous MAA units while MAA-MMA pairs gave rise to the loss of a methanol molecule. Polymer backbone cleavages were also observed to occur and gave low abundance fragment ions which allowed the structure of the initiating end-group to be confirmed.     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal and dielectric properties of three different methacrylate polymers with zwitterionic pendant groups

The synthesis, characterization, thermal, and dielectric properties of three different zwitterionic methacrylates of the sulfobetaine type are presented. Diethylamine-ethyl-, 2-(diethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl-, and 2-(2-diethylaminoethoxy) ethoxy-ethyl-methacrylates were made to react with butanosultone to prepare monomers with variable flexibility. The flexibility of the lateral chain of the polymethacrylates decreased the glass transition temperature (T_g down to 300 K) of the polymers. A linear relationship between T_g and the number of carbon atoms was shown for these materials. X-ray diffraction and DSC experiments showed the formation of new ordered phases in these polymers, which inhibited their dipole conductivity. On heating, these phases were destroyed and values of conductivity of 10⁻⁷–10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ were obtained in the studied range of temperature. Variation of conductivity with temperature was established according to the Arrhenius equation. Dielectric properties exhibited a small deviation of the Debye type behavior, and β parameters of the Cole–Cole equations were calculated for the synthesized polymers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate with methacrylic acid and sodium styrene sulfonate: determination of the reactivity ratios

Materials bearing ionic monomers were obtained through free radical terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PMEM) or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate (PEEM) with methacrylic acid (MA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (NaSS). The reactions were carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide using azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. The reactivity ratios of the different couple of monomers were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using the Finnemann-Ross, Kelen-Tüdos and Tidwell-Mortimer methods. The values of the reactivity ratios indicate that the different monomer units can be considered as randomly distributed along the chains for terpolymerizations of MMA, PMEM or PEEM with MA and NaSS. The average composition of the comonomers in the different terpolymers were calculated, showing a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical compositions. The instantaneous compositions are constant until about 70% of conversion. For higher conversions, the insertion of ionic monomers increases or decreases according to the system studied.