Conducting graft copolymers of pyrrole and thiophene with random copolymers of methyl methacrylate and 3-methylthienyl methacrylate

Random copolymers of 3-methyl thienylmethacrylate and methyl methacrylate were synthesized via free radical polymerization. Electro-copolymerizations of random copolymers with thiophene and/or pyrrole were carried out in acetonitrile-tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBAFB), water-p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) solvent-electrolyte couples. Oxidative polymerization of thiophene functionalized random copolymer was also achieved by constant current electrolysis and chemical polymerization. The characterizations were done by conductivity measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-graft-polycaprolactone copolymers

The graft copolymers of chitosan with polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared through a protection-graft-deprotection route using phthaloylchitosan as intermediate. PCL macromonomers terminated with isocyanate groups reacted with hydroxyl groups of phthaloyl-protected chitosan regioselectively, and then phthaloyl groups were deprotected to give the free amino groups. The graft reaction was carried out in homogeneous system and yielded copolymers with high grafting content due to solubilization. FTIR, NMR and XRD were detected to characterize the resultant chitosan-graft-PCL copolymers.     

Microstructural characterization of semicrystalline copolymers by Raman spectroscopy

We employ Raman spectroscopy to characterize several microstructural aspects of a family of ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPC). Focus is made on the simultaneous analysis of crystallinity and chemical composition. A curve fitting procedure is used to isolate Raman bands ascribed to polypropylene chains in the crystal lattice from contributions of the amorphous phase. Crystal contents of EPC calculated on this basis are in the range 10–34 wt%, in good agreement with independent wide angle x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Besides, Raman spectroscopy captures in some of the samples a mixed crystalline structure with both, polyethylene and polypropylene crystals, indicating a distinctive molecular architecture. The chemical composition of EPC is obtained from Raman spectra in the melt state to decouple peaks characteristics of the crystal lattice from fundamental vibrational modes of the polymer chain. EPC present ethylene contents in the range 5–26 mol%, in good agreement with parallel results from ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Remarkably, a rather complete characterization of EPC can be achieved on the base of a single experimental technique.     

Synthesis and mechanical characterisation of cellulose based textiles grafted with acrylic monomers

Grafting polymerisation of methyl methacrylate and ethyl acrylate onto linen and cotton was carried out in order to reinforce these materials, when they underwent degradation. Take into account this aim, an artificially ageing was performed onto cellulose based textiles by metaperiodate oxidation, in order to obtain degraded model samples. Carbonyl groups were introduced in the cellulose and used as photosensitive agents, allowing the formation of radical sites during the polymerisation reaction, that started by irradiating the substrate by ultraviolet light.In this paper the effectiveness of grafting polymerisation as a method for textile conservation is discussed, starting from the results obtained from several characterisations, as the grafting yields and the grafting efficacy evaluation, the DSC analysis, the FTIR spectroscopy and the SEM observations. Moreover the consolidating and the protective effects were investigated by evaluating the mechanical properties and the wetting behaviour of the grafted samples, and comparing them with the original and aged substrates. The mechanical strength of cellulose based textiles has been improved, as well as the wetting behaviour has been enhanced.     

Micellar characteristics of diblock polyacrylate-polyethylene oxide copolymers in aqueous media

The formation and structural features of micelles from low molecular weight diblock copolymers of poly(methylmethacrylate-b-ethylene oxide) PMMA-PEO (varying in total molecular weight) and poly(butylmethacrylate-b-ethylene oxide) PBMA-PEO in water, aqueous NaCl and urea solutions were examined by surface tension, dye spectral, cloud point, viscosity and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. The increasing concentrations of NaCl reduce the onset concentration of micellization and phase separation, while urea has reverse effect. The analysis of the SANS curves revealed the presence of prolate ellipsoidal micelles in diblock copolymers at various experimental concentrations and temperatures studied. The effect of temperature, NaCl and urea on the neutron scattering profiles are more or less the same which is well supported by viscosity and surface tension measurements. The diblock copolymers form spherical micelles of aggregation number in the range of 522-664. The micelles are very temperature stable.     

Calculation of salt activities in molten salt hydrates applying the modified BET equation,I: Binary systems

Summary On the basis of the modified BET model according to Stokes and Robinson, an equation for the calculation of salt activities in molten salt hydrates has been derived. The equation is used to describe successfully the liquidus curves of the hydrates of MgCl₂, Mg(NO₃)₂ and CaCl₂ inT-x diagrams. A promissing feature of the model is the small number of adjustable parameters and its extrapolative power.Dedicated to o. Univ._Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Heinz Gamsjäger on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Preparation and characterization of polyethylene based graft copolymers. Applications in the immobilization of enzymes

In the last few years new copolymeric supports for the immobilization of biological compounds have been developed. The graft copolymer polyethylene-g.co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, partially hydrolyzed, has shown to be a very promising support for this purpose.

The more recent work in the preparation and characterization of this copolymer, as well as the immobilization of a lipase, is reported in this paper. Branches of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were grafted onto low density polyethylene by using gamma radiation. The influence of the presence and absence of air, as well as the monomer concentration on the yield of grafting were evaluated.

The obtained copolymers were characterized by DSC and FTIR. The influence of the support properties on the synthesis biocatalytic activity was detected.     

Compatibility between polystyrene copolymers and polymers in solution via hydrogen bonding

It has been applied the concept of improving miscibility, by introducing and optimizing the extent of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between two polymers. We select a commodity polymer such as polystyrene, to study the compatibility in chloroform with poly(vinyl pyridine) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), both considered as proton acceptors. In order to enhance polymer-polymer miscibility, polystyrene is slightly modified by copolymerization with methacrylic acid, in the first case, and with vinyl-phenol comonomer, in the second one. In this way, two series of polystyrene-based copolymers are synthesized and characterized bearing ca. 8% (w/w) of -OH groups. The miscibility gaps through the binodal ternary phase diagrams, interpolymer interaction parameter from viscometry and the evaluation of the interassociation equilibrium constant, K, by FT-IR spectroscopy serve to analyze the effect of the spacing of interacting moieties along the polystyrene chain. Our results prove that polymer-polymer miscibility increases with an increase in the methacrylic-acid content in the copolymer chain; however, when the polar group is vinyl phenol, this continuous trend is disrupted.     

Comparative study of the behavior of carboxymethyl cellulose-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers and their equivalent physical blends

A comparative study of the behavior of carboxymethyl cellulose and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) as graft copolymers and physical blends, in solution and in solid state was accomplished by viscometry, turbidimetry, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and enzymatic degradation. Both in diluted and concentrated solutions, the graft copolymers exhibited a thermothickening effect, while the corresponding mixtures of the two components exhibited an Arrhenius behavior. Solid phase investigations showed morphological differences between graft copolymers and their equivalent physical blends. The enzymatic degradation behavior is essentially similar both for copolymers and blends (enzymatic degradation activity has similar values) although a slight increased enzymatic activity was noticed for the graft copolymers in comparison with the blends.     

Anomalous behaviour of comb-like dextran-polyacrylamide copolymers in mixed solvents

Copolymers obtained by grafting polyacrylamide (PAA) onto dextran (DEX) have been synthesised by ceric-ion-reduced redox initiation method. These copolymers have been characterized by light scattering and self-exclusion chromatography. Viscometry measurements in mixed solvents, water/dimethyl formamide (DMF) have revealed an anomalous behaviour reminiscent of a polyelectrolyte behaviour, namely a strong upturn when decreasing polymer concentration, effect which is absent in pure water. The origin of this phenomenon has been studied by determining by means of SAXS the short-range molecular structure of these copolymers in the binary solvents. Comparison has been also performed with water/methyl formamide (MF) and water/formamide (FA) binary solvents where the pseudo-polyelectrolyte effect is absent. A molecular model is discussed on the basis of the results from SAXS that throws some light on the viscometry effect. This model considers the occurrence of an interdigitation process between the PAA grafts together with the formation of a PAA-DMF complex.     

Viscosity behaviour of solutions of Graham's salt in media of different dielectric constants

Summary Reduced viscosity ( _sp/C) of an aqueous solution ofGrahams salt decreases if a water-miscible organic solvent like acetone is added to it. The reduced viscosity-concentration ( _sp/C-C) curve in water is concave upward but in 10% solution of acetone ethanol or dioxane a maximum is observed. The behaviour is reminiscent of what is observed on successive addition of a neutral salt. Just as after addition of a swamping excess of an electrolyte the _sp/C-C curve becomes a straight line, in presence of 25% solution of any of the three organic solvents studied, curves became straight lines in the case of low-molecular-weight samples ofGrahams salt. An expected increased interaction between polyanions probably does not take place because of formation of ion-pairs in solvents of low dielectric constant and coiling of the polyelectrolyte chain takes place. Whereas, apparently the effect of addition of salt is similar qualitatively to the effect of addition of a non-solvent, there is one important and significant difference. This is reflected in the plot of reduced viscosity versus concentration of the added nonsolvent. The _sp/C of a 0.3% solution ofGrahams salt falls first slowly and then sharply with increase in the concentration of the non-solvent (acetone, ethanol or dioxane). In the case of addition of salt the reduced viscosity falls sharply firstand then slowly. Whereas in one case the curve is concave in shape it is convex in the other. A plot of _sp/C vs.D, the dielectric constant of the medium, shows that the reduced viscosity increases sharply at first with increase in dielectricconstant but seems to stabilize at higher values ofD.

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Zusammenfassung Die reduzierte Viskosität ( _sp/C) einer wäßrigen Lösung vonGraham-Salz nimmt ab, wenn ein mit Wasser mischbares, organisches Lösungsmittel, wie Aceton, zugefügt wird. Die Kurve der reduzierten Viskosität gegen die Konzentration in Wasser ist konkav, aber in 10%iger Lösung von Aceton, Äthyläther oder Dioxan wird ein Maximum beobachtet. Das Verhalten erinnert etwas an das, das man bei sukzessiver Zufügung eines Neutralsalzes beobachtet. So wie nach Zufügung eines Überschusses eines Elektrolyten die Kurve der reduzierten Viskosität gegen die Konzentration linear wird, geschieht das gleiche für niedrige Molekulargewichte in Gegenwart von 25%-igen Lösungen der drei untersuchten organischen Lösungsmittel. Die erwartete verstärkte Wechselwirkung zwischen Polyanionen findet wahrscheinlich nicht statt, weil die Bildung von Ionenpaaren in Lösungsmitteln niedriger Dielektrizitätskonstante erfolgt und ein Knäueln der Polyelektrolytkette verursacht. Wenngleich anscheinend der Effekt der Hinzufügung von Salz dem Effekt der Hinzufügung von Nicht-Lösungsmitteln qualitativ gleich ist, besteht ein wichtiger und wesentlicher Unterschied. Dieser zeigt sich in der Auftragung der reduzierten Viskosität gegen die Konzentration des zugefügten Nicht-Lösungsmittels. Die reduzierte Viskosität einer 0,4%-igen Lösung vonGraham- Salz fällt zuerst langsam und dann scharf mit steigender Konzentration des Nichtlösers ab. Im Fall der Zufügung von Salz fällt die Viskosität erst stark und dann langsam ab. Während im einen Fall die Kurve konkav ist, ist sie im anderen Fall konvex. Die Auftragung der reduzierten Viskosität gegen die Dielektrizitätskonstante des Mediums zeigt zunächst ein scharfes Anwachsen mit wachsender DK, scheint sich aber bei höheren Werten von der DK einzupegeln.

     

Effect of temperature on solvation behaviour of diclofenac sodium salt in aqueous glycine and l-proline solutions

Apparent molar volume (V_2,ϕ) and apparent molar isentropic compressibility (K_s,2,ϕ) of diclofenac sodium salt (DSS) drug within the concentration range of (0.001 to 0.008) mol · kg⁻¹ in (0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) mol · kg⁻¹ aqueous glycine and l-proline solutions are computed from the experimental density (ρ) and speed of sound (u) values at T = (293.15 to 313.15) K and atmospheric pressure. Derived parameters such as partial molar properties, transfer partial molar properties, hydration numbers and Hepler’s constant are computed from the data of V_2,ϕ and K_s,2,ϕ. These parameters have been used to understand the effect of temperature on interactions between DSS drug and aqueous glycine/l-proline solution. Furthermore, the structure making and breaking ability of DSS drug in probed solutions are analysed at experimental conditions.     

Synthesis of coil‐comb block copolymers containing polystyrene coil and poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains via atom transfer radical polymerization

A series of polystyrene‐b‐(poly(2‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy) styrene)‐g‐poly(methyl methacrylate)) (PS‐b‐(PBPS‐g‐PMMA)) and polystyrene‐b‐(poly(2‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(methyl methacrylate)) (PS‐b‐(PBPEA‐g‐PMMA)) as new coil‐comb block copolymers (CCBCPs) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The linear diblock copolymer polystyrene‐b‐poly(4‐acetoxystyrene) and polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)ethyl acrylate) PS‐b‐P(HEA‐TMS) were obtained by combining ATRP and activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP. Secondary bromide‐initiating sites for ATRP were introduced by liberation of hydroxyl groups via deprotection and subsequent esterification reaction with 2‐bromopropionyl bromide. Grafting of PMMA onto either the PBPS block or the PBPEA block via ATRP yielded the desired PS‐b‐(PBPS‐g‐PMMA) or PS‐b‐(PBPEA‐g‐PMMA). ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography data indicated the target CCBCPs were successfully synthesized. Preliminary investigation on selected CCBCPs suggests that they can form ordered nanostructures via microphase separation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2971–2983     

Diverse effect of PEO-PPO-PEO and PPO-PEO-PPO triblock copolymers on temperature responsive behavior of luminescent hard-soft colloids

The present work introduces the interaction of hard and soft colloids in aqueous solutions at various temperatures and concentrations, as well as at critical conditions of temperature induced phase separation. Hard and soft colloids are represented by luminescent silica nanoparticles and aggregates of PEO-PPO-PEO and PPO-PEO-PPO triblock copolymers correspondingly. The formation of the mixed aggregates between hard and soft colloids in equilibrium conditions has been revealed by dynamic light scattering measurements. The distribution of silica nanoparticles between aqueous and surfactant rich phases after phase separation highlights the effect of pH, architecture and concentration of triblock copolymers on the mixed hard-soft colloids aggregation at cloud point conditions. The peculiar aggregation and phase behavior of PPO-PEO-PPO pluronics should be assumed as the main reason of the enhanced mixed aggregation with SNs at increased temperatures and concentrated conditions.     

Aggregation and protein binding of sodium maleate copolymers with varying hydrophobicities

Copolymers of sodium maleate with methyl methacrylate, styrene, or vinyl acetate have been synthesized and studied in aqueous NaCl solutions of various ionic strengths. The polymers are polyelectrolytes with varying hydrophobicities, and their solution properties have been studied using static and dynamic light scattering. Copolymers containing methyl methacrylate or styrene were shown to aggregate in water upon increasing salt concentration. Copolymers of sodium maleate and vinyl acetate do not associate with increasing ionic strength. The binding of bovine serum albumin and cytochrome C to the sodium maleate copolymers was also investigated by light scattering. It was observed that cytochrome C forms complexes with the copolymers containing methyl methacrylate or vinyl acetate whereas albumin does not bind to any of the copolymers studied. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Swelling of physically cross-linked copolymers in water vapour

A general thermodynamic equation for the swelling of a cross-linked polymer system in the vapour of a swelling agent has been derived under isothermal and isobaric conditions. The equation is used to describe the equilibrium uptake of water by elastomers Arnitel^® (DSM), which are hard-soft-segment block copolymers in which the hard segments poly(butylene terephthalate) crystallise and are responsible for a physical cross-linking. The gravimetrically determined degrees of swelling of different elastomers in water vapour of various partial pressures are analysed and discussed by the application of an extended semi-empirical swelling equation of Flory-Huggins-Staverman-van Santen.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonated Polyphosphazene-graft-Polystyrene Copolymersfor Proton Exchange Membranes简

A novel series of polyphosphazene-grafl-polystyrene （PP-g-PS） copolymers were successfully prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization （ATRP） of styrene monomers and brominated poly（bis（4-methylphenoxy）phosphazene） macroinitiator. The graft density and the graft length could be regulated by changing the bromination degree of the macroinitiator and the ATRP reaction time, respectively. The PP-g-PS copolymers readily underwent a regioselective sulfonation reaction, which occurred preferentially at the polystyrene sites, producing the sulfonated PP-g-PS copolymers with a range of ion exchange capacities. The resulting sulfonated PP-g-PS membranes prepared by solution casting showed high water uptake, low water swelling and considerable proton conductivity. They also exhibited good oxidative stability and high resistance to methanol crossover. Morphological studies of the membranes by transmission electron microscopy showed clear nanophase-separated structures resulted from hydrophobic polyphosphazene backbone and hydrophilic polystyrene sulfonic acid segments, indicating the formation of proton transferring tunnels. Therefore, these sulfonated copolymers may be candidate materials for proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cell （DMFC） applications.     

Investigation of the aqueous salt solutions of some first and second group metals at various pressures

In the scope of this study, boiling points of aqueous solutions of NaCl, DCl, CaCl₂, BaCl₂, KNO₃ and Ca(NO₃)₂ salts with salt concentrations between 0.5335 and 6.5935 mol kg⁻¹ within 21.332–101.325 kPa pressure range have been determined. Duhring diagrams have been plotted for each solution. In cases, where Raoult's law applied to non-dilute solutions, the deviations from these were determined.     

Morphological switching of unimolecular micelles of ternary graft copolymers in different solvents

A series of ternary graft copolymers with poly(3‐azido‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (P(GMA‐N₃)) as the main chain, end‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (MPEG), poly(t‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA), and poly(2‐cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate) (PCEMA) as the side‐chains, was synthesized via the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click chemistry. The formation of well‐defined ternary graft copolymers was confirmed by both size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy The loose and worm‐like morphology of the ternary graft copolymer in a common solvent (N,N‐dimethylformamide) for both the backbone and the grafts was directly visualized via atomic force microscopy (AFM). The average height, width, and length of these solvated macromolecules were about 1.5, 17, and 45 nm, respectively. The ternary graft copolymers underwent self‐assembly in different selective solvents (dichloromethane, methanol, and water) and thus yielded unimolecular micelles (UMs) with different morphologies. The morphological transitions in response to variations in the selective solvents was investigated by AFM as well as/or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experimental results showed that the micellar morphology of the ternary graft copolymer changed from a pearl‐necklace to a worm‐like structure and then to a spherical structure when the selective solvent was respectively changed from CH₂Cl₂ to CH₃OH and then to H₂O. SEC characterization revealed that the compact globules formed in H₂O with PCEMA/PtBA as the hydrophobic core arose due to intramolecular folding. Thus, multicompartment UMs were generated. The volume ratio of the multicompartment UMs formed in H₂O was in close agreement with their molecular weight ratio. The hydrodynamic diameters (D_h) of the acquired multicompartment UMs and their polydispersity indices were characterized by dynamic light scattering. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1021–1030     

Interplay between domain microstructure and nematic order in liquid crystalline/isotropic block copolymers

The domain microstructure and the nematic LC mesophase in a series of side-chain liquid crystalline/isotropic (LC/I) diblock copolymers with systematically varied block volume fractions were studied in a broad temperature range (25–170 °C) by DSC, polarized microscopy, and wide and small angle X-ray scattering. At all temperatures the block copolymers are microphase separated. The PSLC block copolymers exhibit order at two length-scales: on one hand, a nematic LC mesophase with characteristic length-scale of 0.43 nm (intermesogen distance); on the other hand, lamellar, hexagonal or cubic domain microstructures with characteristic length-scales of 27–44 nm (lattice parameter). The LC block was either located in the matrix or confined inside the microdomains. The thermotropic behavior is characterized by the sequence g/~35 °C/n/~115 °C/i and is not affected by the domain microstructure and/or dimensions. Analysis of the lamellar dimensions showed that the LC chain is stretched. With increasing temperature, a thermal expansion of both blocks takes place followed by a retraction of the LC chain above T_NI. The phase diagram is asymmetric and does not alter above T_NI. No order-to-order transitions triggered by the nematic-isotropic transition are observed. It was shown that domain microstructures of low interfacial curvature (lamellar and hexagonal) are energetically favored over the geometrically expected ones of high interfacial curvature (micellar cubic) due to the presence of nematic LC mesophase in the matrix or in the microdomains. By comparison to theory a Kuhn segment length of the LC block b_LC=0.86 nm was derived from the location of the lamellar/hexagonal phase boundaries.This paper is dedicated to Prof. Fischer on the occasion of his 75th birthday.