Graft Copolymerization of Monomer Mixtures Acrylonitrile/Ethyl Acrylate and Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate on Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Abstract

Graft copolymerizations of acrylonitrile/ethyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate monomer mixtures on carboxy methyl cellulose (d.s. 0.4–0.5) were studied in aqueous medium at 30°C using ceric ion as initiator. The amounts of the polymer grafted were measured as a function of the mole fraction of acrylonitrite in the feed. The compositions of the copolymer samples were obtained from their nitrogen contents. It was found that the presence of acrylonitilte in the polymerization system was associated with reductions (of up to 80%) in the amounts of polymer grafted; and that disproportionately low amounts of acrylonitrile monomeric units were incorporated into the graft copolymer even at relatively high acrylonitrile content of the feed.     

Graft copolymerization onto jute fiber: Ceric ion-initiated graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out on both defatted and bleached jute fibers using ceric ammonium sulfate (CAS) as the initiator. In order to obtain the optimum condition for grafting, the effects of initiator concentrations, temperature, time of reaction, lignin content of jute, and the monomer concentration were studied. The maximum percent grafting and grafting efficiency were found to be 132% and 0.71, respectively. Kinetic studies showed that at 0.03M CAS, the reaction appeared to obey the second-order process. The activation energies were found to be 7.74 and 5.12 kcal/mole for defatted (lignin content, 15.7%) and chlorite-bleached jute (lignin content 10%), respectively. The activation energies of graft copolymerization of MMA onto jute fiber are compared with the energies of activation of graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN).     

Grafting to Vinylpyrrolidone Polymers and Copolymers by the Ceric lon Method

Polymers and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone were investigated as grafting substrates for methyl methacrylate using the ceric ion method. Ceric ion readily initiates methyl methacrylate grafting to commercial poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) of 360,000 nominal molecular weight. The resulting graft copolymer was surprisingly found to be an ABA triblock system with PVP in the center block. This conclusion is supported by three key pieces of evidence: first, selective degradation of the PVP/MMA graft copolymer showed two PMMA grafts per PVP chain: second, blocking of what are apparently hydroxylic or glycolic PVP end groups by reaction with phenyl isocyanate rendered the PVP unreactive to ceric ion grafting; third, if the PVP is prepared by methods which preclude formation of hydroxylic end groups, the PVP is unreactive to ceric ion grafting.

Vinylpyrrolidone polymers can be made graftable via ceric ion if N-methacryloyl-D-glucosamine (NMAG) is incorporated as a comonomer in the PVP backbone. Regardless of the method of preparation, incorporation of NMAG provides grafting sites which are highly reactive to ceric ion. At copolymer compositions up to 10 mole % NMAG, the methyl methacrylate graft copolymers are soluble in organic solvents. Above 10 mole % NMAG, the grafting reaction leads to cross-linking and formation of intractable gels.     

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate–thioglycolic acid redox couple in presence of air. IV

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto wool initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN)–thioglycolic acid (TGA) redox couple has been studied at 55 ± 0.2°C under atmospheric oxygen. Grafted copolymer was characterized by IR spectroscopy, scanning electron micrographs, and thermogravimetric analysis. Effect of amines, acid, alkali, oxidizing, and reducing agents were determined experimentally. The molecular weights of grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) and homopolymer was also evaluated.     

Ceric-initiated polymerization onto polyacrylonitrile with carbohydrate end groups. Graft versus block copolymer formation

Starch-g-polyacrylonitrile (starch-g-PAN) copolymers were prepared by ceric ammonium nitrate initiation, and the major portion of the starch in these graft copolymers was then removed by acid hydrolysis to yield PAN with oligosaccharide end groups. Although these PAN-oligosaccharide samples reacted with methyl methacrylate in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate, the resulting products were largely graft copolymers rather than the expected PAN-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) block copolymers. The following evidence is presented for a PAN-g-PMMA structure: (i) PAN without oligosaccharide end groups also produced a copolymer with methyl methacrylate under our reaction conditions. (ii) Starch-g-PAN (51 or 37% add-on) was a less reactive substrate toward ceric-initiated polymerization than PAN with oligosaccharide end groups. (iii) Low-add-on (18%) starch-g-PAN reacted with methyl methacrylate to give a final graft copolymer in which a large percentage of PMMA was grafted to the PAN component rather than to starch.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. III. Copolymerization of acrylonitrile–zinc chloride,methacrylonitrile–zinc chloride or methyl methacrylate–zinc chloride complex with styrene

The 1:1 or 2:1 complex of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, or methyl methacrylate with ZnCl₂ was copolymerized with styrene at the temperature of 0–30°C without any initiator. The structure of the copolymer from methyl methacrylate complex and styrene was examined by NMR spectroscopy. The complexes of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile with ZnCl₂ gave a copolymer containing about 50 mole-% styrene units. The complexes of methyl methacrylate yielded an alternating copolymer when the feed molar ratio of methyl methacrylate to styrene was small, but with increasing feed molar ratio the resulting copolymer consisted of about 2 moles of methyl methacrylate per mole of styrene. The formation of a charge-transfer complex of styrene with a monomer coordinated to zinc atom was inferred from the ultraviolet spectra. The regulation of the copolymerization was considered to be effected by the charge-transfer complex. The copolymer resulting from the 2:1 methyl methacrylate–zinc chloride complex had no specific tacticity, whereas the copolymer from the 1:1 complex was richer in coisotacticity than in cosyndiotacticity. The change of the composition of the copolymer and its specific tacticity in the polymerization of the methyl methacrylate complex is related to the structure of the complex.     

Studies of the graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate by means of the photochemical reduction of ceric ion adsorbed on cellulosic materials

It was observed that the rate of reduction of ceric ion adsorbed on cellulose was remarkably accelerated by irradiation with ultraviolet light, and this behavior depended upon the kind of cellulose. When the graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate on cellulose with adsorbed ceric ion was carried out by irradiation with ultraviolet light, the percent grafting decreased for softwood, bleached sulfite pulp and increased for hardwood semichemical pulp. The average molecular weight of the grafts was observed generally to decrease. If it is assumed that the ceric ions, which are reduced at an accelerated rate in the early stages of reaction with SCP, do not participate in the graft formation, a relation is observed between the modified amount of reduced ceric ion and the number of grafted chains formed, and the molar ratios of these quantities are 12:1 without irradiation and 75:1 to 100:1 with irradiation. Even when the rate of reduction of ceric ion is accelerated, the increase in the number of grafted chains is found to be very small.     

Electroinitiated graft copolymerization

A technique has been developed for initiating a graft copolymerization electrochemically. A copoly(styrene/vinylbenzophenone) linear copolymer was prepared to serve as the electroactive starting material. The benzophenone sites on this molecule are readily activated at the cathode. Macroradical ions result from the direct transfer of electrons to benzophenone groups of the electroactive backbone polymer. In solution in N,N-dimethylformamide with tetraethylammonium perchlorate (TEAP) as supporting electrolyte the passage of current produced a dark blue solution similar to that observed with radical anions obtained with benzophenone directly. When monomer such as acrylonitrile or methyl methacrylate was added, a graft copolymer was formed. Electrolysis of solutions of the backbone polymer in tetrahydrofurn (THF), with sodium tetraphenylboride as supporting electrolyte, produced relatively stable, persistent macroradical anions and, under appropriate conditions, the reddish-violet macrodianions. Both types initiated graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate. Graft copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), infrared (IR), and solvent extraction. High grafting efficiency (i. e., free from homopolymer) can be obtained under appropriate conditions. Suitable mechanisms are proposed, compared, and discussed.     

Structure and properties of cellulose graft copolymers. III. Cellulose–methyl methacrylate graft copolymers synthesized by the ceric ion method

The ceric ion-initiated graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wood cellulose was found to depend on the concentrations of initiator, monomer, and cellulose. The structure of cellulose—methyl methacrylate graft copolymers was studied by hydrolyzing away the cellulose backbone to isolate the grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) branches. The molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of the grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) were determined by using gel-permeation chromatography. The number-average (M?_n) molecular weights ranged from 36 000 to 160 000 and the polydispersity ratios (M?_w/M?_n) varied from 4.0 to 7.0. The grafting frequency or the number of poly(methyl methacrylate) branches per cellulose chain calculated from the per cent grafting and molecular weight data varied from 0.38 to 3.2. The structure of cellulose—methyl methacrylate graft copolymers and the effect of stepwise addition of initiator on the structure are discussed.     

丝胶-甲基丙烯酸甲酯接枝共聚物的合成与表征

在酸性水介质中,以硝酸铈铵为引发剂合成了丝胶-甲基丙烯酸甲酯接枝共聚物,其结构经1H NMR,IR,SEM和GPC表征。用正交试验法考察了各因素对接枝共聚反应的影响,结果表明,单体浓度对接枝聚合反应的影响最大,反应时间的影响最小。     

Synthesis and radical copolymerization of new type pyridinum monomer and redox behavior of its polymers

A new type pyridinium salt monomer, 1-vinyl-4-carbamidopyridinium perchlorate, was prepared, and then homopolymerized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), styrene, and acrylonitrile. Redox potentials of these pyridinium salt monomer and polymers were more positive than that of the model compound (1-methyl-4-carbamidopyridinium salt). The copolymer with MMA showed an interesting redox behavior.     

Graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto starch by use of tetravalent cerium

Grafting of acrylonitrile onto starch showed slightly higher yields when using soluble rather than insoluble starch, for reaction times < 1.5 hr. Beyond this time, the rate of grafting onto the soluble starch levels off, while that for grafting onto the insoluble starch proceeds leading to prograssive increase in the grafting yield. Momomer reactivity was in the following order: acrylonitrile > ethyl acrylate? methyl methacrylate. For the first two monomers, the order of reactivity is the reverse of that found for grafting onto cellulose; extremely low grafting yields resulted from grafting of ethyl acrylate rather than acrylonitrile onto starch. This result was attributed to the jelly nature of the polyethyl acrylate grafted starch, preventing diffusion of the monomer into the starch granules. This view was supported by the higher consumption of ceric ions at the start of the reaction, on grafting ethyl acrylate instead of acrylonitrile. As the reaction proceeds, the reverse takes place. Increase of ceric salt concentration, as well as the liquor to starch ratio, led to increased grafting yields.     

Boundary effect on the thermal degradation of copolymers

The mechanism of thermal degradation of vinyl-type copolymers at high temperatures was investigated theoretically and experimentally. A parameter β was proposed to account for the boundary effect. Values of β for acrylonitrile–styrene and methyl methacrylate–styrene copolymers were determined experimentally. It was ascertained that the value of β was independent of the distribution of monomer sequence lengths in a copolymer, but dependent on the pyrolysis temperature and on the nature of the copolymer. The boundary effect is attributed to differences in the dissociation energies of C? C bonds connecting terminal monomer units to adjacent monomer units in copolymer chain radicals.     

Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Acrylate in Starch Using Ceric Ion/Thiourea Initiator System

Abstract

Graft copolymers of methyl acrylate onto starch were prepared in aqueous solution at 29°C using ceric ion and the batch and modified batch polymerization (with incremental addition of monomer and initiator) processes. It was found that the conversion of monomer to polymer, the graft levels, the efficiency and frequency of grafting were markedly higher for the modified batch process. The effect of thiourea on the grafting characteristics of ceric ion initiated copolymerization of methyl acrylate was also examined. The results show that at comparable ceric ion concentrations, the molecular weight and the frequency of grafting methyl acrylate were higher in the presence of thiourea.     

Anionic graft copolymerization of diene polymers with vinyl monomers

A mixture of homopolymer and graft copolymer was obtained by adding the monomer at 0°C to the polylithiodiene solution. Styrene, methyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile were used as the monomers. Polylithiodienes were prepared by the metalation of diene polymers, i.e., polybutadiene or polyisoprene, with the use of n-butyllithium in the presence of a tertiary amine (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in n-heptane. The graft copolymers were separated by solvent extraction and were confirmed by turbidimetric titration and elementary analysis. Oxidation of the polybutadiene–styrene grafts revealed that the molecular weight of the side chains was the same as the molecular weight of the free polystyrene formed. The grafting efficiency and grafting percentage were studied for polybutadiene–styrene graft copolymers prepared under various conditions.     

Relationship between reduction of ceric ion with poly(vinyl alcohol) and graft copolymerization

Various poly(vinyl alcohol) samples were preliminarily subjected to oxidation treatment with sodium hypochlorite, and the reduction of ceric ion and subsequently initiation in the graft copolymerization in the system containing methyl methacrylate were investigated. The reduction behavior of ceric ion could be subdivided into three parts, each of different reaction rate. In the initial stage of the reaction, there was observed rapid cleavage of the backbone chain of poly(vinyl alcohol) with ceric salts. The amount A of cleavage was proportional to the amount of ceric ion reduced at the initial fastest rate for various samples of different extents of oxidation; cleavage of 1 mole required ca. 10 moles of reduction of ceric ion. Higher carbonyl contents of the sample caused increased A. Graft polymerization was carried out in the same system with the addition of the monomer. The amounts of grafted chains produced were determined, and approximately one mole of grafted chains was obtained for per mole of cleavage. The copolymer is concluded to be blocklike in structure. The contribution of the carbonyl groups in poly(vinyl alcohol) sample to the initiation of the polymerization should be emphasized.     

Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate on Poly(phenyl Vinyl Sulfide)

Graft copolymer of poly(phenyl vinyl sulfide) and methyl methacrylate was obtained. The isolation of graft copolymer was carried out by the fractional precipitation method. The isolated polymer was confirmed to be a graft copolymer by IR spectra and T determinations. Graft copolymerizations of poly(phenyl vinyl sulfide) with vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, and acrylic acid were also carried out, but the separation of graft copolymer in these cases was difficult, and satisfactory results could not be obtained.     

Monomer reactivity ratios in graft copolymerization

This paper discusses monomer reactivity ratios in various radiation- and redox-initiated graft copolymerizations. The polymers studied were polyethylene, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(methyl methacrylate); the comonomer mixtures were styrene–acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate–styrene, acrylonitrile–methyl acrylate, and vinyl acetate–acrylonitrile. The polymer–comonomer mixture systems were so chosen as to permit study of both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The homogeneous systems included systems of low and high viscosity. The heterogeneous systems included both polymers swollen by the comonomer mixture and polymers not swollen by the comonomer mixture. None of the homogeneous grafting systems studied showed deviations from the normal copolymerization behavior under a variety of experimental conditions. Monomer reactivity ratios in graft copolymerization were the same as the values in nongraft copolymerization. The heterogeneous systems in which the polymer was swollen by the comonomer mixture yielded grafted copolymer compositions which were the same as those in nongraft copolymerization. The heterogeneous grafting system polytetrafluoroethylene/styrene–acrylonitrile showed deviations from normal copolymerization behavior at low degrees of grafting when the reaction was only on the polymer surface. The behavior became normal at higher degrees of grafting when the system approaches that in which the polymer is swollen by the comonomers. In all reaction systems, it was found that the use of radiation to initiate the reaction does not in any way affect the copolymerization behavior of the two monomers in a comonomer pair.     

Synthesis of Graft Polymers by Copolymerization of Macromonomer. III. Preparation and Copolymerization of Styrene-Terminated Poly(Oxyethylene) Macromonomer

Styrene-terminated poly(oxyethylene) macromonomers (SOE) with narrow molecular weight distribution and quantitative styrene monofunc-tionality were synthesized. In homopolymerization of SOE, conversion of monomer to polymer was shown to be low in spite of high consumption of the vinyl groups of the SOE molecules. Free-radical copolymer-ization of the macromonomer with methyl methacrylate and styrene occurred smoothly, as opposed to homopolymerization. Cumulative copolymer composition and total conversion were determined from the conversions of macromonomer and comonomer (by weight changes) and by proton NMR of the copolymer. The monomer reactivity ratios were found to be r_a = 0.06 and r_b = 2.0 for the copolymerization of SOE macromonomer (a) with methyl methacrylate (b). In this case the macromonomer exhibited considerably lower reactivity than predicted from its low molecular weight model compound. The monomer reactivity ratios estimated for SOE and styrene were r_a = 0.86 and r_b = 1.20. The reactivity of SOE was comparable to, but somewhat lower than, styrene. The graft copolymers were used as activators in the halogen displacement reaction, and it was found that their catalytic activity depends on copolymer composition and chemical structure.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Bagasse Poly(methyl methacrylate) Graft Copolymer

Summary: Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out on bagasse fibers in an aqueous medium using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as initiator under a neutral atmosphere. In order to obtain the optimum condition for graft copolymerization, the effects of initiator concentration, temperature, time of reaction, and monomer concentration were studied. The maximum grafting percent was found to be 122%. The bagasse grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) was characterized by FTIR and its thermal behavior was characterized by TGA.