Influence of the solvents on the γ-ray polymerization of acrylic acid. II.

The presence of plurimolecular H-bonded aggregates in the acrylic acid allows the polymer to involve some stereoregular sequences. This effect is made easier when some polymer is already formed in the reacting medium: the aggregates are stabilized by hydrogen bonds with the polymer which gives rise to a matrix effect. Two groups of solvents have been characterized by examination of the monomer's association forms in solution. In a first group of solvents (methanol–dioxan–water), the aggregates are maintained and reinforced; in the second one, acrylic acid exists only as cyclic dimers (hydrocarbons–chlorinated solvents). The difference between the association forms of the monomer involves some important modifications on the kinetics of polymerization and the structure of the obtained polymers. In the solvents of the first group, the obtained polymers are crystallizable and may involve syndiotactic sequences, while in the presence of the solvents of the second group no crystallization or stereoregularity of the polymer can occur. A very close correlation is thus found between the aggregated structure of the monomer, the polymerization kinetics, and the structure of the polymers.     

Polymerization and copolymerization in associated monomer aggregates

The polymerization of acrylic acid in bulk is controlled by linear plurimolecular H-bonded aggregates of the monomer which lead to the formation of a syndiotactic polymer. Polar solvents do not dissociate these aggregates unless high dilutions are reached. In contrast, “normal” kinetics are observed in the presence of 10–20 per cent toluene, n-hexane or chloroform. The polymerization of methacrylic acid is not affected to the same extent by molecular aggregates. In the copolymerization of acrylic acid with methyl acrylate or acrylonitrile, the reactivity ratios are altered by solvents. The acrylic acid content is higher in copolymers formed in bulk than in toluene solution. But similar effects are observed in the presence of DMF which does not dissociate the aggregates of acrylic acid; moreover, copolymerization data obtained with methacrylic acid indicate that other factors may be involved in determining reactivity ratios.Acrylamide also forms H-bonded aggregates and its copolymerization behaviour is strongly affected by solvents. No simple correlation holds, however, between reactivity ratios and extent of association.A very strict control of chain propagation occurs when 4-vinylpyridine is polymerized in the presence of polycarboxylic acids. A considerable rate increase was observed when vinylpyridine was grafted into polytetrafluoroethylene films which contained poly(acrylic acid) branches. This effect is explained by assuming that the pyridine groups form strong associations with the carboxylic sites, thereby providing a very favourable orientation of the vinyl groups for chain propagation.     

Polymerisation radiochimique de l''acide methacrylique en solution

The polymerization of methacrylic acid was investigated in various solvents under the action of gamma-rays. It was found that, as in the case of acrylic acid, solvents could be divided into groups according to the observed effects. The addition of methanol or dioxane up to 50 per cent does not significantly alter the polymerization rate. These two solvents do not dissociate the plurimolecular aggregates of methacrylic acid, the presence of which is demonstrated by the high viscosity of the medium. In the presence of either toluene or n-hexane, the rate gradually decreases and the aggregates are dissociated. Chloroform and CCl₄ also dissociate the aggregates but lead to acceleration of the reaction. This effect which was not observed with acrylic acid presumably results from an energy transfer process. The polymerization of methacrylic acid in bulk and in solution has a very small overall activation energy, 1·0–1·5 kcal/mole between 16 and 60°. All conversion curves are linear in contrast to the case of acrylic acid where auto-accelerated conversion curves were observed in most mixtures. A comparison of these results shows that the initial rates of polymerization of acrylic acid follow relationships similar to those observed for methacrylic acid except for the chlorinated solvents. It is concluded that the molecular aggregates produce the same influence on the polymerization of methacrylic acid as on the initial stages of the reaction for acrylic acid, but the “matrix effect” of poly(acrylic acid) does not appear in the case of poly(methacrylic acid).     

Polymerisation radiochimique de l'acide acrylique en solution dans l'alcool isopropylique et le dimethylformamide

The radiation-induced polymerization of acrylic acid in isopropyl alcohol and dimethylformamide solutions was investigated between?196°and40°. Mixtures which form glasses at low temperatures exhibit a maximum in the rate of polymerization at 30° and 50° above the glass transition temperature (T_g). The difference between the most favourable temperature for polymerization and T_g is larger than in systems studied previously. This fact could be due to the presence of H-bonded aggregates.The study of the polymerization of acrylic acid in dimethylformamide solution at 20° led to a correlation between this reaction and the presence of plurimolecular aggregates. The very high polymerization rate and the syndiotacticity of the resulting poly(acrylic acid) confirm the earlier assumption of a favourable orientation for propagation of the molecules of acrylic acid in these aggregates.     

Polymerisation de l'acide methacrylique en masse et en solution

In spite of the fact that the bulk polymerization of methacrylic acid proceeds under precipitating conditions, all conversion curves are linear and start from the origin. The overall activation energy of the gamma ray initiated reaction is very small: 1.3 kcal/mol. Methanol and water are solvents for the polymer but also form monomer-solvent complexes through H-bonds. It was found that, over a limited concentration range in these solvents, the reaction becomes auto-accelerating both in precipitating and homogeneous reaction media. Non-polar solvents (hydrocarbons) lead to a significant reduction in the polymerization rate but this effect is not as pronounced as for acrylic acid. Chlorinated derivatives reduce the polymerization rate of acrylic acid to the same extent as hydrocarbons but, for methacrylic acid, chlorinated derivatives lead to sensitization. By analogy with earlier results for acrylic acid, it is assumed that the auto-acceleration observed in water and methanol solutions is caused by a “matrix effect”. In bulk, the monomer undoubtly also associates with the polymer but, in view of the bulky methyl groups, the regularly oriented structure which favours propagation presumably never arises. The very small activation energy of the polymerization suggests that chain termination requires a significant activation energy. The mechanism of this process is not clear.     

Reactivities of carboxylic acid vinyl monomers differentiated by the aggregation forms and their simple molecular orbital interpretation

Plasma-exposed solution polymerizations of carboxylic acid vinyl monomers [methacrylic acid (MAA) and acrylic acid (AA)] in carbonyl solvents were found to be highly efficient, particularly in high-temperature postpolymerizations. Thermal polymerizations in these solvents were also accelerated to a considerable extent. Obviously the carbonyl solvents and/or the increased temperature caused the monomer aggregates to accelerate the rate of polymerization. The molecular orbital features of the simple models of monomer aggregates, that is, the monomeric form, singly hydrogen bonded open-dimer and doubly hydrogen bonded cyclicdimer of MAA and AA, supported by the CNDO/2 method, were capable of distinguishing the variations in the reactivities of the aggregates; the open-dimer was shown to be responsible for the enhanced reactivities under the abovementioned conditions.     

Influence des solvants sur les associations moleculaires et sur la cinetique de polymerisation de l'acrylonitrile. Precisions supplementaires sur l'“effet de matrice”

The polymerization of acrylonitrile is auto-accelerating in bulk and in solvents which do not dissolve the polymer. The “auto-acceleration indexes” remain almost constant in these systems. Trichloracetic acid, a very polar solvent, leads however to linear conversion curves. An earlier assumption is confirmed according to which auto-acceleration is not caused by non-stationary conditions but by an oriented association complex between the monomer and the polymer arising at the beginning of the reaction (“matrix effect”). DMF, a solvent for polyacrylonitrile, seems to produce a similar effect. The disappearance of auto-acceleration in DMF solutions was explained until now by the disappearance of the perturbation of the reaction connected with polymer precipitation (“occlusion effect”). Linear conversion curves were obtained, however, in 60% DMF solutions in which the polymer still precipitates. A detailed study of post-polymerization confirms the above interpretation. It is shown that auto-acceleration remains unaltered in the presence of solvents which swell polyacrylonitrile, such as acetonitrile or small amounts of DMF, whereas post-polymerization (caused by occluded chains) is strongly reduced. Moreover, a marked post-polymerization is observed in the presence of trichloracetic acid, demonstrating the presence of long-living chains in a system which gives rise to linear conversion curves. The association of acrylonitrile with numerous solvents is investigated; it is shown by swelling measurements that polyacrylonitrile associates with its monomer.     

Gamma Radiation-Induced Template Polymerization of Acrylic Acid in the Presence of Polyactrylamide

Abstract

Poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) resin p(AM-AA) was prepared by gamma radiation-induced polymerization of acrylic acid in the presence of polyacrylamide as a template polymer. The polymerization was studied by a free radical mechanism at different experimental conditions such as: absorbed dose, monomer concentration, polymer/monomer molar ratio and the weight-average molecular weight or the swelling degree of added polymer. The resin was obtained at dose > 10 KGy and there is no significant change in the swelling degree of the resin. The results showed that the capacity of the resin increases by increasing the monomer concentration, the weight-average molecular weight of the added polymer and decreases by increasing polymer/monomer molar ratio and the swelling degree of the added polymer. It was also found that the capacity of the resin depends on the radiation dose.     

Solid-state polymerization of oxetanes. II. Investigation of the growth of the polymer phase as related to the mechanism of polymerization

The radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of 3,3-bischloromethyloxetane (BCMO) was investigated by direct observation of the development of the morphology of the growing polymer phase in single crystals of the monomer. Electron microscopy shows that the polymerization gives rise to amorphous polymer in the first step. The polymer forms irregular platelets which aggregate into larger units without reflecting the crystalline order of the monomer. Subsequent to polymerization, the amorphous polymer crystallizes to the β-modification of poly-BCMO. If the partially polymerized crystals are extracted by solvents of the monomer, crystallization of the polymer is enhanced, and morphological artifacts arise which were previously mistaken for the true morphology of the “as polymerized” polymer. The copolymerization behavior of solid solutions of 3-ethyl-3-chloromethyloxetane (ECMO) and BCMO does not differ from the liquid bulk copolymerization with respect to copolymer composition, which is different from the composition of the monomer mixture. It is concluded that the polymer chains grow in noncrystalline zones as in a polymerization in the liquid state by which amorphous polymer is formed. No lattice control was observable in this solid-state polymerization.     

Influence de la temperature sur les associations moleculaires et sur la polymerisation de l'acide acrylique en solution

Infra-red spectra of pure acrylic acid and solutions of monomer in toluene indicate that increasing the temperature from 20 to 60° displaces the equilibrium of H-bonded species from cyclic dimer to open oligomer. Viscosity measurements on the same solutions confirm this conclusion. In methanol solutions. alcohol-alcohol and alcohol-acid associations are found together with the acid-acid associations and the interpretation of the results is extremely difficult. Polymerization kinetics are directly influenced by the shift of association equilibria. In hexane, an increase in temperature results in a sudden increase in reaction rate as the linear oligomeric structures appear in the solution. In methanol increase in temperature reduces the kinetic anomalies observed at 20 and the polymerization no longer exhibits any stereospecificity. At the same time, a chain transfer process sets in. These various results confirm the earlier assumption of an assisted propagation step occurring in auto-associated aggregates of acrylic acid.     

Polymerization of oriented monomers. V. Radiation-induced polymerization of 3n-dodecyl-1-vinylimidazolium iodide in micellar aggregates

In the present study radiation-induced polymerization of 3n-dodecyl-1-vinylimidazolium iodide (I) in micellar aggregates was investigated. For comparison, the corresponding isotropic polymerization of I was also studied. Micellization was obtained in concentrated aqueous solutions; that is, above the monomer's critical micelle concentration (CMC) polymers obtained by both modes of polymerization were treated similarly and subsequently subjected to physical characterization. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether the degree of organization of the monomer in micelles would affect polymer properties. Attempts to determine tacticity by ¹³C-NMR spectrometry failed because of the particular structure of the polymer. Crystallization of these polymers from ethyl alcohol or acetone was not possible as indicated by x-ray powder diffraction patterns that were characteristic of amorphous polymers. On the other hand, viscosity data of polymers do not depend on the mode of polymerization. It is therefore concluded that micellar aggregates are not sufficiently organized to affect polymer properties.     

Polymerization of pyromellitic dianhydride with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine in aprotic solvents I. Reaction variables

The solution polymerization of pyromellitic dianhydride with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine to form poly(amide acid amine) was investigated under a variety of reaction conditions. Polymer viscosity and gel formation were highly affected by changes in the order of monomer addition, the type of process (powder or solution), monomer concentration, monomer stoichiometry, and type of solvent. Minor effects were noted with changes in polymerization temperature and the presence of small amounts of water. A limiting intrinsic viscosity of 1.2–1.5 dl/g was observed, regardless of polymerization conditions. The polymerization had a strong tendency to gel at high concentrations and when monomer molar ratios approached 1:1. The conditions which retarded or promoted the formation of macrogel were well-defined, and macrogel but not microgel could be prevented. The polymerization was conducted successfully only in aprotic solvents. No imidazopyrrol-one units were detected in polymer made in polyphosphoric acid at elevated temperatures.     

Polymerisation purement thermique de l'acide acrylique en masse et en solution

The thermal polymerization of acrylic acid in bulk is faster than that of styrene. The conversion curves exhibit auto-acceleration and the product contains a significant fraction of syndiotactic polymer. The overall activation energy is 14 kcal/mol. The rate of the thermal polymerization decreases sharply when the monomer is diluted with toluene. In 50% monomer solutions, the conversion curves are linear and the overall activation energy is 29.8 kcal/mol. With 75 and 90% monomer solutions, the Arrhenius diagrams showed breaks caused by a change in the type of auto-association of the monomer. A comparison of these results with earlier findings obtained in the radiation polymerization of acrylic acid makes it possible to estimate the activation energies of the thermal initiation. It is found that E_i is 14.1 kcal/mol in systems where the monomer forms linear oligomeric association complexes and 34.4 kcal/mol if only cyclic dimers are present in the system.     

Pulse radiolysis of vinyl monomers, in the pure state and with added pyrene

Pulse radiolysis studies have been used to investigate the early phenomena in the radiolysis of acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, butyl vinyl ether, propionic acid, methyl acetate and butyl ether; the latter three solvents were used as model compounds for these vinyl monomers. The triplet state, radical cation, radical anion, and free radical of pyrene (cyclohexadienyl type) were observed to various degrees in the radiolysis of pyrene in these monomers. In acrylic acid, where the free radical and the cation dominate, the monomer polymerizes efficiently, whereas in butyl vinyl ether, where the anion dominates, polymerization does not occur. The behavior of methyl acrylate lies between that of acrylic acid and butyl vinyl ether. However, the high intensity of the electron pulses creates a high concentration of radicals leading to a short lifetime of the radical which in turn leads to a much smaller yield of polymerization. The mechanism of polymerization under high energy radiation is found to be free radical in nature.     

The polymerization of acrylic acid in the presence of copolymers containing interacting and non-interacting groups

There has been a kinetic examination of the polymerization of acrylic acid in dilute aqueous solution in the presence of copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone with acrylamide or styrene. In general, the characteristics of the polymerizations are very similar to those found in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone homopolymer, but the definite differences, taken in conjunction with gravimetric data on the polymer complexes, can be explained by the fact that acrylamide is hydrophilic while styrene is hydrophobic. The use of the copolymers has permitted an assessment of the effect of dilution of monomer adsorbed on the interacting polymer.     

Studies on poly(vinyl chloride). III. The role of the precipitated polymer in the kinetics of polymerization of vinyl chloride

In polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer, free radicals precipitate on or within aggregates of partially swollen dead polymer. Polymerization on the solid polymer is characterized by autoaccelerating rates due to a progressive reduction in termination rate. This reduction in termination rate is due to the fact that as the reaction progresses and more polymer accumulates there is a decrease in probability that chain transfer of polymer radicals to monomer will generate a mobile radical, which can readily terminate an occluded or stuck free radical. From the appearance of the particles of solid polymer in the system, it has been concluded that free radicals precipitate both on polymer particle surface and inside the open structure of polymer particles.     

Polyisonitriles. II. Heterophasic catalytic synthesis of poly(α-phenylethylisonitrile) and of poly(n-hexylisonitrile)

A three-component catalytic system has been discovered, which successfully polymerizes α-phenylethylisonitrile to high polymer (DP = 200–900) and also polymerizes n-hexylisonitrile. The catalyst components are a strong acid, a free-radical source, and a heterophase and are all necessary in this system. The use of a liquid medium in which the polymer is insoluble promotes the rate of polymerization and total yield. Poly(α-phenylethylisonitrile), formed from monomer in a presence of oxygen and finely ground glass coated with sulfuric acid, can itself serve, in the presence of monomer and oxygen, as a catalyst for this polymerization. Preparative details and discussion of these synthesis factors are given.     

pH‐Responsive Supramolecular Polymerization in Aqueous Media Driven by Electrostatic Attraction‐Enhanced Crown Ether‐Based Molecular Recognition

All the previously reported supramolecular polymers based on crown ether‐based molecular recognition have been prepared in anhydrous organic solvents. This is mainly due to the weakness of crown ether‐based molecular recognition in the presence of water. Here we report a linear supramolecular polymer constructed from a heteroditopic monomer in an aqueous medium driven by crown ether‐based molecular recognition through the introduction of electrostatic attraction. In addition, the reversible transition between the linear supramolecular polymer and oligomers is achieved by adding acid and base. This study realizes the breakthrough of the solvent for supramolecular polymerization driven by crown ether‐based molecular recognition from anhydrous organic solvents to aqueous media. It is helpful for achieving supramolecular polymerization driven by crown ether‐based molecular recognition in a completely aqueous medium.     

聚丙烯酸酯侧链液晶聚合物的合成与表征

以对羟基苯甲酸、氯乙醇和丙烯酸为主要原料,经醚化、酯化和酰氯化反应合成了中间体和含液晶基元的丙烯酸酯单体,后者经自由基聚合合成了聚丙烯酸酯侧链液晶聚合物。用偏光显微镜观察了单体和聚合物的织态结构,用DSC和IR对聚合物进行了表征。结果表明,单体和聚合物均呈现向列型液晶织态结构,聚合物在较宽的温度范围内有很好的液晶性。     

Free-radical polymerization of guanidine acrylate and methacrylate and the conformational behavior of growing chains in aqueous solutions

Monomer salts based on acrylic acids and guanidine—guanidine acrylate and methacrylate—have been synthesized, and the kinetic features of their free-radical polymerization in aqueous solutions have been studied. When polymerization is carried out in organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, or dioxane), the system is heterogeneous over the entire range of monomer concentrations. In aqueous solutions, the reaction systems are homogeneous only at small initial monomer concentrations (less than 1.30 and 0.40 mol/l for guanidine acrylate and methacrylate, respectively; the ammonium persulfate concentration is 5 × 10^?3 mol/l; pH ～ 6.5; 60°C). At higher concentrations, microheterogeneity appears from small conversions (～1%). This phenomenon is associated with the coiling of growing polymer chains owing to associative interactions between guanidine groups occurring in the monomer solution and carboxyl groups of (meth)acrylate polymer units. In aqueous solutions over the entire range of monomer concentrations (0.2–2.5 mol/l), the kinetic orders are the same as in the case of corresponding acrylic acids. The effects of composition of reaction solutions on changes in the initial rate of polymerization and the conformational behavior of the systems under study have been ascertained.