Synthesis of POSS–polyurethane hybrids using octakis(m‐isoprenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzylisocyanato dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (Q8M8TMI) as a crosslinking agent

A series of polyurethane hybrid networks have been synthesized using octakis(m‐isoprenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzylisocyanato dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (Q₈M₈^TMI) as a crosslinking agent. The formation of the urethane linkages within the polyurethane hybrids was confirmed by photoacoustic FTIR spectroscopy. The TGA and DSC studies demonstrated that the incorporation of the POSS crosslinking agents altered the thermal properties of the polyurethanes, and that this was dependent on the length of the polyethylene glycol chain. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5038–5045     

Hierarchical fractal‐structured allophanate‐derived network formation in bulk polyurethane synthesis

Polyurethanes are among the most applied and researched polymers worldwide. Nevertheless, polyurethane synthesis is accompanied by a side‐reaction occurring between isocyanate groups and the secondary nitrogen of already formed urethane groups, leading to the formation of crosslinking allophanates. This inevitably requires the development of highly diagnostic direct analytical methods that can be performed in the solid state of the polymer. The present research focused on the direct investigation and diagnostic determination of the chemical structure formation in bulk polyurethane synthesis, using a combination of Fourier transform infrared and solid‐state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Polyurethane syntheses were performed in bulk and designed as to obtain significantly strong diagnostic analytical measurements signals for the accurate identification of each of the investigated chemical structures. The present research results led to the conclusive analytical identification of allophanate formation during polyurethane synthesis. In addition, the occurrence of a new reaction mechanism was discovered in the present research. It was demonstrated in the present research that this newly described reaction occurs via the further reaction of the allophanate secondary nitrogen with an isocyanate group, the reaction creating a tertiary nitrogen and an additional reactive secondary nitrogen, and so on, in a consecutive step progression, leading to the formation of a 3‐dimensional hierarchical fractal‐like crosslinked polymeric structure. Solid‐state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis results were highly consistent with the Fourier transform infrared results. The discovery of this newly described reaction can facilitate the optimization of industrial processes and potentially opens a new door to the development of a vast variety of biomedical and nanotechnology applications.     

Synthesis and properties of waterborne self‐crosslinkable sulfo‐urethane silanol dispersions

A novel type of crosslinkable waterborne polyurethane ionomer was prepared by the acetone process. Two new types of sulfonated diols compatible with this process were synthesized from dimethyl 5‐sodium sulfo isophthalate using a one‐ or two‐stage method. Isocyanate‐terminated polyurethane oligomers were prepared from the sulfonated diols with various combinations of diols and diisocyanates and subsequently reacted with amino silane derivatives. Stable, low‐volatile organic chemical, waterborne dispersions of the sulfo‐urethane silanol polymers spontaneously crosslink upon drying without extra additives or processing steps. Despite the lack of organic coalescing solvents, the dispersions have minimum film‐forming temperatures below 10 °C, regardless of glass‐transition temperature. Tensile strengths up to 6000 psi with elongations between 300 and 600% were obtained for the crosslinked films. The hard‐segment content of the films can be controlled to produce films with a Sward–Rocker hardness value up to 42. Through silane end‐group modification, the crosslinking density of the films can also be modified to produce polyurethanes with a wide range of physical properties. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3037–3045, 2002     

Preparation and characterization of N‐methyl‐substituted polyurethane

We prepared N‐methyl‐substituted polyurethanes with different substitution degrees from sodium hydride, methyl p‐toluene sulfonate, and polyether–polyurethane containing poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 1,4‐butanediol. The chemical structures were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR. To investigate the effects of the N‐substitution degree on the morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical properties, we used differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and a universal testing machine. As the substitution degree increased, the new free (1708 cm^?1) and bonded (1650 cm^?1) carbonyl peaks increased. There was no bonded carbonyl peak in fully substituted polyurethane because the urethane groups had no hydrogen. At a small substitution degree, we observed a slight increase in the glass‐transition temperature and decrease in the endotherms of soft‐segment and hard‐segment domains due to the decrease in the hard‐segment domain and the increase in the urethane groups in the soft‐segment domain. The hard‐segment domain decreased and then disappeared as the N‐methyl substitution degree increased. These changes in the morphology resulted (1) in decreased modulus and tensile strength for the films because of the decrease in physical crosslinking points and (2) improved thermal stability as the substitution degree increased. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4077–4083, 2002     

Thermoset Shape‐Memory Polyurethane with Intrinsic Plasticity Enabled by Transcarbamoylation

Thermoset polymers are known for their superior thermomechanical properties, but the chemical crosslinking typically leads to intractability. This is reflected in the great differences between thermoset and thermoplastic shape‐memory polymers; the former exhibit a robust shape memory but are not capable of redefining the permanent shape. Contrary to current knowledge, we reveal here that a classical thermoset shape‐memory polyurethane is readily capable of permanent reshaping (plasticity) after a topological network rearrangement that is induced by transcarbamoylation. By employing the Jianzhi technique (also known as kirigami), unexpected shape‐shifting versatility was observed for this otherwise classical material. As the essential carbamate moiety in polyurethanes is one of the most common polymer building units, we anticipate that our finding will have significant benefits beyond shape shifting.     

FTIR-ATR技术研究聚氨酯类文物保护材料的光降解

Polyurethanes are one kind of relic protection materials commonly used. During artificial photo-ageing, three polyurethanes, HDI-based polyurethane, MDI-based polyurethane and TDI-based polyurethane, have been considered to undergo UV radiation. Photochemical degradation of the polyurethanes has been monitored by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection accessory （FTIR-ATR）. It was proved that the mechanism of the photochemical degradation of polyurethanes might be the scissions of carbamate （urethane） groups and the re-reactions of radical groups formed in the scission reactions. From the experiment results HDI-based polyurethane, an aliphatic diisocyanate, could be considered to be more suitably used as relic protection materials among these three polyurethanes for its ageing products with less color.     

Stereoregular poly‐O‐methyl [m,n]‐polyurethanes derived from D‐mannitol

Novel linear carbohydrate‐derived [m,n]‐polyurethanes are successfully prepared using D ‐mannitol as renewable and low cost starting material. The key comonomer, 1,6‐di‐O‐phenylcarbonyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetra‐O‐methyl‐D ‐mannitol is polymerized with a diamine synthesized from D ‐mannitol or with alkylenediamines. These polymerization reactions afford, respectively, a [6,6]‐polyurethane entirely based on a carbohydrate derivative or [m,n]‐polyurethanes constituted by a poly‐O‐methyl substituted unit alternating with a polymethylene chain. All these polymers are stereoregular, as result of the C₂ axis of symmetry of mannitol. The optically active polyurethanes are characterized by standard methods (FTIR, RMN, GPC, TGA, and DSC). Thus, GPC analysis reveals weight‐average molecular weights between 18,000 and 25,000 Da. Thermal studies (DSC) indicate that the polymers obtained are amorphous materials with T_g values dependent on the structure and chain length of the diamine constituent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Novel AB crosslinked polymer networks from telechelic 4‐vinylbenzyl carbamate terminated polyurethanes and different vinyl monomers

Novel AB crosslinked polymer (ABCP) networks were synthesized from telechelic 4‐vinylbenzyl carbamate terminated polyurethanes and monomers such as styrene, 4‐vinylpyridine, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate. Telechelic 4‐vinylbenzyl carbamate terminated polyurethanes were synthesized from polypropylene glycol‐based NCO‐terminated polyurethane and vinylbenzyl alcohol. Effect of changing the molecular weight of polypropylene glycol on the static and dynamic mechanical properties of ABCP networks from polyurethane‐polymethyl methacrylate was studied in detail. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis results show that polymethyl methacrylate and polystyrene‐based ABCPs have good damping over a broad temperature range. ABCP networks prepared from 4‐vinylbenzyl carbamate terminated polyurethane and different monomers such as methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and styrene exhibit single tan δ_max value which implies excellent interlocking between the two polymers present in the ABCP networks. Static mechanical studies showed that methyl methacrylate and styrene‐based ABCP networks exhibit better tensile properties compared to other ABCP networks from butyl acrylate and 4‐vinyl pyridine monomers. Thermogravimetric analysis results revealed that the ABCP networks showed an improved thermal stability. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvent‐induced self‐assembly in cardanol‐based urethane methacrylate comb polymers

We report side chain urethane–methacrylate comb polymers based on the renewable resource cardanol and its saturated analogue 3‐pentadecyl phenol and their self‐assembly into pores, spheres, vesicles, tubes, and so forth. The monomers were synthesized in one pot by coupling 1 equiv. of isophorone diisocyanate with 1 equiv. of cardanol/pentadecyl phenol followed by coupling with 1 equiv. of hydroxyethyl methacrylate. They were polymerized free radically using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator and were characterized by NMR and FTIR, and their molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The unique polymer design had sites for self‐organization via hydrogen bonding of the side chain urethane units, π–π stacking interactions of the aromatic units as well as interdigitation of the long C₁₅ alkyl side chains in the polymer. The morphologies of solvent cast polymer films were studied using microscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The polymers exhibited three‐dimensional honeycomb morphology in CHCl₃, whereas in tetrahydrofuran, they formed spheres. The direct cardanol‐derived polymer PCIH showed a tendency for multiple morphologies such as spheres and tubes in tetrahydrofuran. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2996–3009, 2009     

The effects of morphological transitions on hydrogen bonding in polyurethanes: Preliminary results of simultaneous DSC–FTIR experiments

The influence of morphological transitions on the hydrogen-bonding behavior of polyurethanes is investigated by simultaneous measurements of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The materials examined are a noncrystalline polyurethane hard segment, a crystallizable polyurethane hard segment, and a segmented polyurethane block copolymer containing crystallizable hard segments. Integrated absorbance data show that the hydrogen-bonding behavior is insensitive to crystalline transitions within the hard segment microdomains, but that it does reflect morphological transitions in the block copolymer that are associated with intersegmental mixing. In addition, the spectral data show conclusive evidence for reversal of the urethane reaction at high temperatures.     

IR spectra studies of core‐shell type waterborne polyacrylate‐polyurethane microemulsions

The hydrogen bonds in films of the polyurethane and the core‐shell type polyacrylate‐polyurethane microemulsions have been studied by FTIR spectroscopy in the regions of  NH absorption and CO absorption. The effects on hydrogen bonds of the composition, the core‐shell ratio were revealed. At the same time, the relationship between the hydrogen bonds and the crosslinked structures (Type A and Type B) was discovered. The shifts of the  NH and CO stretching bands to higher frequencies and the shift of  NH bending bands to lower frequencies, with the increase of acetone CO number in the core, mean that the hydrogen bonds between the soft and hard segments, and those in the short‐range order in the hard segment phase, are broken. The dipole/dipole interaction which is supposed to exist between the acetone CO groups in the core and the urethane CO in the shell can change the hydrogen bond distribution in the shell, and at the same time, lead to hydrogen bonds between acetone CO in the core and the urethane  NH in the shell. Type A and B crosslinked structure between the core and the shell located at the interface of the core and the shell can confine the acetone CO within the crosslinking network, and Type B crosslinked structure also decreases the acetone CO numbers. These weaken the dipole/dipole interaction between the acetone CO and the urethane CO, and lead to the decrease of the effect of the acetone CO groups on the hydrogen bond distribution in the shell. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2642–2650, 1999     

Main chain thermotropic liquid crystalline polyurethanes containing biphenyl mesogens based on novel AB‐type self‐polycondensation route: FT‐IR and XRD studies

The detailed mesophasic characterization of main chain liquid crystalline polyurethanes containing biphenyl mesogen, which were synthesized by the novel AB‐type self‐polycondensation approach, was carried out by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM), variable temperature X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopic studies. The type of mesophase present in these polymers was identified to be the smectic A phase by POM and XRD studies. The smectic layer thickness was found to increase as the length of the spacer increased. The effect of temperature on the hydrogen bonding was analyzed by FT‐IR studies. The curve‐fitting analysis of the NH stretching and C?O stretching modes of vibrations indicated a gradual decrease in hydrogen bonding during the transition from the crystalline state to the mesophase. The mesophase to isotropic liquid transition was then accompanied by the complete disappearance of the hydrogen bonding. The biphenyl bands also showed changes during phase transitions due to the coupling of biphenyl vibration modes with the urethane linkage attached to it. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1903–1912, 2005     

Novel elastomeric polyurethanes with pendant epoxy groups as highly reactive auxiliary groups for further derivatizations

The introduction of pendant, reactive groups into polyurethane macromolecules is a challenging problem. A variant of the nondegradative modification of polyurethanes with epoxy groups attached to the urethane sites is proposed. Two types of commercial elastomeric segmented polyurethanes, represented by a poly(ether urethane) and a poly(urethane urea), were functionalized by base‐induced N‐glycidylation of the urethane hard segments with an excess of epibromohydrin in dimethylacetamide solutions at low temperatures. This resulted in the modification of polymers with 0.30–0.44 mmol/g of pendant epoxy groups. Lithium or potassium tert‐butoxides were used as bases to initiate the reaction. A nonpolymeric urethane model (ethyl N‐p‐tolylcarbamoate) was used to verify the course of glycidylation. One of the polymers was subjected to epoxy ring opening with 1‐propanethiol, demonstrating the versatility of pendant glycidyl groups as auxiliary groups for further bulk modifications of polyurethanes. These functionalized polyurethanes are useful for the further covalent attachment of suitable moieties (stabilizing or biocompatibility‐enhancing agents). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4378–4385, 2002     

Diaminobisbenzothiazole chain extended polyurethanes as a novel class of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers with improved thermal stability and electrical insulation properties

This work was devoted to the development of a new class of modified polyurethane as an electrical insulating material. For this purpose, NCO‐terminated urethane prepolymers at different NCO contents were prepared and chain extended by 6,6′‐oxybis(2‐aminobenzothiazole) (ABT) to produce thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. All of the polymers were characterized by FTIR and ¹HNMR spectroscopies and examined for their thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. The dynamic mechanical measurements results showed two glass transitions indicating phase separation. A considerable improvement in the thermal and electrical properties in comparison to common polyurethanes was detected for these polymers. The level of enhancement in the measured properties was related to the polyol molecular weight, hard segment content, and consequently the amount of the introduced urea and benzothiazole moieties. These findings indicated the improved high service temperature performance of these materials as electrical insulator for metallic surfaces. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydroxyl‐ and amine‐terminated hyperbranched polyurethanes using AB2‐type azide monomers: Synthesis,characterization, fluorescence,and charge‐transfer complexation studies

Novel AB₂‐type azide monomers such as 3,5‐bis(4‐methylolphenoxy)carbonyl azide (monomer 1) , 3,5‐bis(methylol)phenyl carbonyl azide (monomer 2) , 4‐(methylol phenoxy) isopthaloyl azide (monomer 3) , and 5‐(methylol) isopthaloyl azide (monomer 4) were synthesized. Melt and solution polymerization of these monomers yielded hydroxyl‐ and amine‐terminated hyperbranched polyurethanes with and without flexible ether groups. The structures of theses polymers were established using FT‐IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights (M_w) of the polymers were found to vary from 3.2 × 10³ to 5.5 × 10⁴ g/mol depending on the experimental conditions used. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated using TGA and DSC: the polymer obtained from monomer ( 1 ) exhibited lowest T_g and highest thermal stability and the polymer obtained from monomer ( 2 ) registered the highest T_g and lowest thermal stability. All the polymers displayed fluorescence maxima in the 425–525 nm range with relatively narrow peak widths indicating that they had pure and intense fluorescence. Also, the polymers formed charge transfer (CT) complexes with electron acceptor molecules such as 7,7,8,8‐tetracyano‐quino‐dimethane (TCNQ) and 1,1,2,2‐tetracyanoethane (TCNE) as evidenced by UV‐visible spectra. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3337–3351, 2009     

Clickable polyurethanes based on s‐triazine ring containing aromatic diisocyanate bearing pendent alkyne group: Synthesis and postmodification

A new s‐triazine ring containing aromatic diisocyanate bearing a pendent alkyne group, namely, 2,4‐bis(4‐isocyanatophenoxy)?6‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)?1,3,5‐triazine was synthesized and reacted with various diols viz., 1,10‐decanediol, tetraethylene glycol and polyethylene glycols in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate as the catalyst to obtain a series of linear polyurethanes. The selected polyurethanes possessing pendent alkyne groups were postmodified with chemically diverse azides viz., 1‐(azidomethyl)benzene, 1‐(azidomethyl)pyrene, and methoxy end‐caped poly(ethylene glycol) azide via copper‐catalysed azide‐alkyne Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra indicated quantitative click reaction. UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis confirmed complete incorporation of pyrenyl groups indicating the formation of fluorescence active polyurethane by postmodification with 1‐(azidomethyl)pyrene. TG analysis of polyurethanes indicated two stage weight loss and their thermal stability, as judged by T ₁₀ values, was governed by weight percent of urethane linkages. The water contact angle measurements revealed improved wettability with increased content of PEG either in the backbone of polyurethanes or as grafted chains. DLS and TEM studies confirmed that certain polyurethanes possessing PEG segments displayed self‐assembly in aqueous solution, which was further supported by pyrene encapsulation studies using UV–vis spectroscopy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1008–1020     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of polyurethanes containing 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D‐sorbitol

Two‐ and three‐component polyurethanes containing 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D ‐sorbitol (isosorbide) derived from glucose were synthesized using n‐BuSn(?O)OH·H₂O as a catalyst, and the thermal properties (T_g, T_d) of the polymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. We carried out molds for polyurethanes, the molds of polyurethanes were obtained. The dynamic mechanical analyzes showed that the storage modulus values of the three‐component polymers were constant to a higher temperature than those of the two‐component polymers. The storage moduli (E′), loss moduli (E″), and values of tan δ for the polymers were obtained. The rigidity of three‐component polymers was increased by the introduction of bisphenol A and diphenylmethane group to two‐component polymer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6025–6031, 2009     

Synthesis of telechelic anthraquinone‐functionalized polybutadiene via ROMP and study of its photo‐oxidation and UV crosslinking behaviors

Telechelic anthraquinone‐functionalized polybutadiene (AQ‐PB‐AQ) was synthesized by ring opening metathesis polymerization to achieve homogeneous dispersion of AQ groups in the polymer matrix. It was observed that the AQ end groups act as a sensitizing group resulting in photo‐induced crosslinking and oxidation reaction at the olefin groups in the PB. The process was confirmed by comparing the polymer's mass loss and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra with those of telechelic diacetoxy‐functionalized PB (AcO‐PB‐OAc) which did not show any difference before and after ultraviolet irradiation. Homogeneity of the AQ groups in PB matrix results in rapid crosslinking of PB in a short period of time (<4 min) while a simple blend of AQ methyl ester in AcO‐PB‐OAc matrix did not show such behavior. Photo‐oxidative reaction has concurrently occurred during the crosslinking reaction. Generation of  OH,  OOH, and carbonyl groups in the matrix during the photo‐oxidation was verified by FTIR, elemental analysis, and water contact angle measurements. A plausible mechanism for the process was proposed in which the photo‐sensitized AQ groups abstract hydrogen from the PB chain to yield reactive radical species, initiating oxidative crosslinking, and degradation of PB or reduction of AQ to hydroanthraquinone species. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1249–1258     

AB CROSSLINKED POLYURETHANES THROUGH IONIC CROSSLINKING: INFLUENCE OF CROSSLINKING NETWORKS ON PHYSICO CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Isocyanate-terminated prepolymers were synthesized using poly(tetramethylene oxide)glycol of molecular weight 1000 (PTMG₁₀₀₀) with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). The prepolymers were chain extended with N-methyldiethanolamine (N-MDEA) to form polyurethanes containing tertiary nitrogen. These polyurethanes were crosslinked with bromine terminated polyurethane, poly(urethane-imide), and poly(urethane-siloxane) through the formation of cationomers at tertiary nitrogen sites across the backbone polyurethanes.

The crosslinked cationomeric polyurethanes were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), mechanical analyses, (static and dynamic), and static contact angles measurements. FTIR spectral studies confirms the formation of bromine terminated poly(urethane-imide) and poly(urethane-siloxane), as well as quaternization of the tertiary nitrogen which leads to crosslinking. A comparison of thermal stabilities of crosslinked polymers with respect to the chemical nature of bromine terminated prepolymers (BTP) indicates improved thermal stability for poly(urethane-imide) based ABCP. Stress-strain analysis shows high elongation values for poly(urethane-siloxane) and poly(urethane-imide) based ABCPs. Dynamic mechanical analysis reveals better damping for poly(urethane- siloxane) based AB crosslinked polymers.     

Elastomeric polyurethanes modified with geminal bisphosphonate groups

Three types of elastomeric segmented polyurethanes represented by a polyether‐urethane, a polyurethane‐urea, and a polycarbonate‐urethane were introduced into a modified low‐temperature variant of base‐induced N‐alkylation of urethane hard segments with an excess of 1,6‐dibromohexane in N,N′‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), resulting in the modification of polymers with 0.08–0.26 mmol/g of pendant 6‐bromohexyl groups. Either lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) or sodium hydride was used to initiate the reaction, although LDA was found to be more suitable for the bromoalkylation. Selected bromoalkylated polyurethanes of all three types were reacted with thiol‐containing bisphosphonates, to yield the polymers modified with 0.08–0.12 mmol/g of geminal nonesterified covalently attached bisphosphonate groups. Two thiol‐containing geminal bisphosphonates used in the modifications were prepared via reactions of nucleophilic addition to vinylidene‐bisphosphonic acid. All three types of polyurethanes were found equally suitable for the modifications. The bisphosphonate‐modified polyurethanes with nonmetallic cations on the bisphosphonate groups remain soluble in the solvents suitable for the dissolution of nonmodified polymers and can be processed into films by solvent casting. After the exchange of nonmetallic cations to sodium, the polymers become insoluble in any solvent, probably as a result of the intermolecular coordination of bisphosphonate groups with the metal cations. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 105–116, 2001