Time-resolved molecular beam mass spectrometry of the initial stage of particle formation in an Ar/He/C2H2 plasma

The temporal evolution of the neutral plasma chemistry products in a capacitively coupled plasma from argon/helium/acetylene is followed via molecular beam mass spectrometry with a time resolution of 100 ms. Several chemistry pathways are resolved. (i) The formation of C2nH2 (n = 2-5) molecules proceeds via the following sequence: the production of highly reactive C2H radicals in electron impact dissociation of C2H2 is followed by C2H induced chain polymerization of C2nH2 (n = 1-4). (ii) CnH4 (n = 4, 5, 6) compounds are detected already at an early stage of the discharge excluding polymerization reactions with C2H radical being responsible for their formation. Instead, vinylidene reactions with acetylene or mutual neutralization reactions of ionic species are proposed as sources of their formation. (iii) Surface reactions are identified as the source of C8H6. The measured hydrocarbon molecules represents possible precursors for negative ion formation via dissociative electron attachment reactions and can hence play a crucial role in particle nucleation. On the basis of the comparison of our data with available experimental and modeling results for acetylene plasmas in the literature, we propose C2nH2 (n > 1) molecules as important precursors for negative ion formation.     

Effect of acetylene on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

The effects of acetylene on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene were studied from the viewpoint of the gaseous products and polymer structure. The experiments were carried out under a pressure of 400 kg/cm²; the temperature was 30°C; the does rate was 1.1 × 10⁵ rad/hr; and the acetylene content was 0–20%. The solid polymer was obtained in the polymerization of ethylene containing 2.2% acetylene, while the monomer containing 19.7% acetylene gave a yellowish viscous oil. The polymer yield and molecular weight decreased remarkably with acetylene content. The main gaseous product was hydrogen, and trace amounts of butane, butene-1, butadiene-1,3, and benzene and its derivatives were also observed. The rate of formation of hydrogen was almost independent of acetylene content and there was no difference in acetylene contents before and after the irradiation was found. The infrared spectra of the polymers showed the presence of vinylidene, trans-vinylene, and terminal vinyl unsaturations, 1,4-disubstituted benzene, and carbonyl groups. The contents of trans-vinylene, terminal vinyl, and methyl groups increased with acetylene content, and that of vinylidene was independent of acetylene content. The monomer reactivity ratios of ethylene and acetylene were evaluated as 45.5 and 66.0, respectively. On the basis of the results, the effects of acetylene on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene were discussed.     

The mechanism of the reversible reaction: 2C2H2 ⇌ vinyl acetylene and the pyrolysis of butadiene

It is shown that kinetic data on the polymerization of acetylene to vinyl acetylene and benzene can be reconciled with the formation of a 1,4 biradical which can isomerize by a 1-3, H-atom shift to the molecular product. Since the biradicals have a negligibly small life-time in the system the overall process appears to be a concerted bimolecular reaction. The labile isomer CH₂ ? C: which had been suggested as being the reactive intermediate, is argued on energy considerations not to be a plausible intermediate. Data on the reverse pyrolysis of vinyl acetylene to acetylene are consistent with the model. Extending the model to butadiene explains the observed molecular nature of its decomposition to ethylene and acetylene. Reactions of other oligomers of acetylene are discussed.     

Copolymerization of acetylene with ethylene in the presence of dibenzenetitanium(0)

The interaction between acetylene and dibenzenetitanium(0) at a room temperature results in the acetylene polymerization and its reduction to ethylene, ethane, and methane at the expense of H atoms of the acetylene molecule. The catalytically active species capable of copolymerizing acetylene with ethylene that are formed during the reaction or are added into the system originate from the interaction of dibenzenetitanium(0) with acetylene.     

Kinetic study of γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in the presence of acetylene

The effects of acetylene on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene were studied from the viewpoint of kinetics. The experiments were carried out under a pressure of 150–400 kg/cm²; the temperature was 30°C; the dose rates were 2.7 × 10⁴ and 1.1 × 10⁵ rad/hr; the acetylene content was 0–2.21%. Both the polymer yield and the molecular weight increased acceleratively with the reaction pressure in the polymerization containing 0.18% acetylene. The yield increased almost proportionally with the dose rate, and the molecular weight was found to be almost independent of the dose rate in the polymerization containing 2.21% acetylene. The polymerization rate and the molecular weight increased with reaction time, but the increment decreased with increasing acetylene content. The degree of increase in the molecular weight also decreased with increasing time. These results were analyzed by using a graphical evaluation method for kinetics, and the effects of acetylene on each elementary step in the polymerization discussed.     

Effect of oxygen on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

The effects of oxygen on the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene were studied at a temperature of 30°C.; the pressure was 400 kg./cm.², the dose rate was 1.9 × 10⁵ rad/hr.; and oxygen content was from 1–2000 ppm. The main product was solid polymer, and no liquid product was found. The gaseous products were hydrogen, acetylene, higher hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, aldehydes, and acids. Several kinds of carbonyls similar to those formed in γ-ray oxidized polyethylene were observed in the polymer. The polymer yield and the degree of polymerization decreased markedly with increasing oxygen content, while the amount of carbonyls in the polymer increased. The number of moles of polymer chain and the amounts of hydrogen and acetylene were found to be almost independent of the oxygen content. The polymerization of pure ethylene was not affected by carbon dioxide and formic acid. On addition of acetaldehyde, the polymer yield and the degree of polymerization decreased markedly, while the number of moles of polymer chain increased. In the polymerization of ethylene containing oxygen, both the rate of oxygen consumption and the carbonyl content of the polymer increased, while the inhibition period decreased by the addition of acetaldehyde. It was found that the degree of polymerization after the inhibition period is almost independent of the reaction time in the presence of acetaldehyde, while it increases with the time in the absence of acetaldehyde.     

Plasma polymerization of some organic compounds and properties of the polymers

Plasma polymerizations (under 13.5-MHz radiofrequency inductively coupled glow discharge) of some organic compounds are investigated by their properties (elemental analysis, surface energy, and infrared spectra) and their relations to the concentrations of free radicals in the polymers as detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Monomers that have been investigated are hexamethyldisiloxane, tetrafluoroethylene, acetylene, acetylene/N₂, acetylene/H₂O, acetylene/N₂/H₂O, allene, allene/N₂, allene/H₂O, allene/N₂/H₂O, ethylene, ethylene/N₂, ethylene oxide, propylamine, allylamine, propionitrile, and acrylonitrile. Plasma-polymerized polymers generally contain oxygen, even if the starting monomers do not contain oxygen. This oxygen incorporation is related to the free-radical concentration in the polymer. Molecular nitrogen copolymerizes with other organic monomers such as acetylene, allene, and ethylene, and their properties are very similar to those of plasma-polymerized polymers from nitrogen-containing compounds such as amines and nitriles. The addition of water to the monomer mixture reduces in a dramatic manner the concentration of free radicals in the polymer and consequently the oxygen-incorporation after the polymer is exposed to air. The concentrations of free radicals (by ESR) are directly correlated to the change of the properties of plasma-polymerized polymers with time of exposure to the atmosphere. These changes are primarily the introduction of carbonyl (and possibly hydroxyl) groups. The addition of water to the plasma introduces these groups during the polymerization.     

Nucleophilic Addition to Acetylenes in Superbasic Catalytic Systems: XI. Transformations of Alkali Metal Hydroxides during Vinylation of 1-Heptanol with Acetylene under Elevated Pressure

Base-catalyzed addition of 1-heptanol to acetylene under elevated pressure of the latter is accompanied by side processes including formation of carboxylic acid salts (alkali metal heptanoates and acetates) with liberation of hydrogen and acetylene polymerization. The rate of acetylene absorption depends on the alkali metal nature and falls down in the series CsOH·H₂O RbOH·H₂O > 2KOH·H₂O > NaOH > LiOH. Approximately the same order is observed for variation of the rate of deactivation of the catalyst owing to its transformation into metal carboxylate. Dehydration of the catalyst accelerates both vinylation and acetylene polymerization.     

Mechanism and kinetics of polymerization of propylene in a microwave plasma

Flowing microwave plasma of propylene and propylene with argon was studied by mass spectrometry. Plasma composition was investigated as a function of external parameters such as pressure, argon/propylene ratio, and microwave-induced power. It was found that the propylene broke down to C₂H₂ and CH₄, or reacted further with propylene. Two main products, leading to the determination of three main chain reactions for the polymerization of propylene by ion-molecule interactions, were observed, namely, C₂H₂ and CH₄. These were the propylene, acetylene, and ethylene chain reactions. It was also found that the propylene disappeared in a pseudo-first-order reaction. Consequently an overall rate constant for the polymerization was determined (50 sec^–1 at 1 torr pressure for propylene plasma). This constant is found to be linearly dependent upon the propylene percent concentration, and nonlinearly dependent upon plasma pressure.Partly presented at the 157th meeting of the Electrochemical Society, St. Louis, Missouri, May 11–16, 1980.     

PEG- and peptide-grafted aliphatic polyesters by click chemistry

Novel aliphatic polyesters with pendent acetylene groups were prepared by controlled ring-opening polymerization and subsequently used for grafting poly(ethylene glycol) and oligopeptide moieties by the Cu(I)-catalyzed addition of azides and alkynes, a type of "click" chemistry. These aliphatic polyesters possess an acetylene graft density that can be tailored by ring-opening copolymerization of alpha-propargyl-delta-valerolactone (1) with epsilon-caprolactone. Since the mild conditions associated with the click reaction are shown to be compatible with the polyester backbone, this method is a generally useful means for grafting numerous types of functionality onto aliphatic polyesters. The amphiphilic graft polyesters prepared in this study are shown to be biocompatible by in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation, suggesting their suitability for a range of biomaterial applications.     

The polymerization of ethylene with a soluble titanium-aluminium complex

The reaction between biscyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride and aluminium alkyls and alkyl chlorides has been examined by ESR spectroscopy, and by the abilities of the various resulting complexes to initiate the polymerization of ethylene at 1 atm and ambient temperature. In general, it is concluded that the active initiating species is a Ti(IV) complex, and not the paramagnetic Ti(III) complexes. Accordingly, the development of an ESR spectrum is accompanied by a fall off in initiating efficiency, decrease in polymerization rate and increased molecular weight of the polymers produced. The reduction of Ti(IV) to Ti(III) during the polymerization accounts for the fall in rate with conversion; addition of an oxidizing agent (1:2-dichloroethane) to the polymerization converts Ti(III) to Ti(IV), as observed by the disappearance of the ESR signal, and increases the efficiency of the polymerization. Block copolymers of ethylene with propylene and butadiene have been prepared with this initiator; the efficiency in producing blocks has been used to study the decomposition of the active sites by a first order reduction process.     

PLASMA POLYMERIZATION OF ACETYLENE/CO_2/H_2

A study has been made on the plasma polymerization of acetylene/CO_2/H_2 in a capacitively coupled RF plasma. The monomer mixture yielded a crosslinked film with light brown color. A kinetic study is reported for the plasma polymer ization of acetylene/CO_2/H_2. The effects of discharge power level and reactor geometry on the rate of polymer formation are reported. The structure of the plasma polymer is investigated by IR study.     

The mechanism of the high-pressure free radical polymerization of ethylene

The reaction path of the free radical polymerization of ethylene is usually considered identical to the polymerization mechanism of other vinyl monomers. Available experimental data on the polymerization of ethylene, however, hardly fitted the well-established path of free radical polymerization. Obviously the mechanism of ethylene polymerization is more complex and not well understood. One reason for this, in our opinion, is insufficient knowledge of the physicochemical state of ethylene under high pressure. A model that described the behavior of ethylene under compression has been proposed. According to the model, and increase in pressure causes the formation of various supermolecular forms of ethylene, each accompanied by transition of the second order. By proposing a stereochemical shape for each supermolecular form calculation of activation volumes for each of these transitions was made. Good agreement was obtained when calculated volumes of activation were compared with corresponding experimental values in the literature.     

Mechanism of anionic (ionic) polymerization of acetylene monomers

Polymerization of phenylacetylene in presence of butyllithium has been studied. It is shown that the process of polymerization is accompanied by the appearance and growth of the ESR signal. The model of anionic polymerization is suggested according to which formation of low-molecular-weight polyphenylacetylene is caused by the destruction of the active centers by means of electron transfer from active center to the conjugated chain. The assumption is made that electron transfer from conjugated chain to an active center may also be a fundamental reaction limiting the chain length in cationic polymerization of acetylene monomers. The kinetic scheme of ionic polymerization of acetylene monomers with consideration of electron transfer is analyzed and molecular weight distribution functions are obtained with good agreement between the calculated parameters and experiment. It is shown that one of the ways of obtaining high-molecular-weight polyacetylenes in ionic polymerization is the formation of donor-acceptor complexes with a polyene chain in the process of the chain growth. The formation of complexes exchanges parameters of electron structure of the polyene chain and decreases the rate of the electron transfer reactions.     

Synthesis of poly (ethylene oxide)-b-polysilane by anionic polymerization of masked disilenes using a macroinitiator method

Poly(ethylene oxide-)-poly(1, 1-dimethyl-2, 2-dihexyldisilene) block copolymers (PEO-b-PMHS) were synthesized by the anionic polymerization of masked disilenes initiated with the potassium alkoxide of poly(ethylene glycol). The block copolymer self-assembled into polymer micelles in water accompanied by a transition in the polysilane conformation.     

应用裂解色谱-质谱法研究乙烯等离子体聚合物结构

应用裂解色谱—质谱(PGC—MS)法研究化学法和等离子体法聚合得到的聚乙烯的裂解行为。比较了两种聚合物的结构差异。探讨了等离子体聚合条件对聚合物结构的影响及其聚合反应机理。     

Mechanism of initiation in the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

The relation between the gaseous products and the reaction conditions such as pressure, temperature, and dose rate in the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene was studied. The main gaseous products were hydrogen and acetylene, and the amounts of these products increased linearly with reaction time, monomer density, and dose rate, while they were independent of reaction temperature. The ratio of rate of formation of hydrogen to acetylene was about one-half. Further, it was found that the number of moles of polymer chain formed was almost equal to that of acetylene at room temperature. An initiation mechanism in which both hydrogen and acetylene are formed is proposed. The equation which is derived on the basis of the initiation mechanism is shown to be in good accordance with the experimental results.     

The Role of Halogens in the Plasma Polymerization of Hydrocarbons

Vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, and tetrafluoroethylene were polymerized in a radio frequency electric glow discharge. It was found that when compared with the unhalogenated simple hydrocarbons, the rates of polymer deposition are in the order vinyl chloride, acetylene, tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, ethylene. This observation can be rationalized by considering the ease with which free radical and unsaturated species can be formed in the plasma. IR spectra show that the structures of plasma-polymerized vinyl chloride and vinyl fluoride are in many respects similar to the plasma-polymerized hydrocarbon. The spectrum of plasma-polymerized tetrafluoroethylene, however, does not resemble that of conventional polytetrafluoroethylene. Addition of dichlorodifluoromethane to the monomer stream dramatically increased the polymer deposition rate; the effect is more subdued for chloromethane and is negligible for tetrafluoromethane. Elemental analysis indicates that little of the added halogens is present in the resultant polymers. Thus the halogenated compounds appear to act as a gas phase catalyst for the plasma polymerization of hydrocarbons.     

Water-soluble salicylaldiminato Ni(II)-methyl complexes: enhanced dissociative activation for ethylene polymerization with unprecedented nanoparticle formation

Water-soluble single-component (kappa2-N,O)-salicylaldiminato nickel-methyl complexes 1-4-L (L = TPPTS, TPPDS, H2N-PEG-OMe) allow for the catalytic polymerization of ethylene under organic solvent-free aqueous conditions producing high molecular weight polyethylene with particle sizes below 10 nm. Amphiphilic TPPDS- and H2N-PEG-OMe complexes exhibit a polymerization activity in water higher than that in toluene. A solvation-favored activation of precatalysts 1-4-L by equilibrium dissociation of L in aqueous solution likely accounts for this enhanced polymerization activity. The observed generation of a given particle by a single active site is an unprecedented mechanism for formation of aqueous particle dispersions.     

Mechanism of anionic polymerization of phenylacetylene

Anionic polymerization of phenylacetylene in the presence of butyllithium has been studied. It was shown that the process of polymerization is accompanied by the appearance and growth of the ESR signal with pronounced superfine structure. The model of polymerization was suggested according to which formation of low molecular polyphenylacetylene is caused the destruction of the active centers by means of electron transfer from the active center to the conjugated chain. This type of electron transfer may also be the fundamental reaction limiting the chain length in cationic polymerization of acetylene monomers. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.