Linear polymers of allyl acrylate and allyl methacrylate

Allyl acrylate and allyl methacrylate were polymerized by anionic initiators to soluble linear polymers containing allyl groups in the pendant side chains. The pendant unpolymerized allyl groups of the resulting linear poly(allyl acrylates) were shown to be present by: (1) the disappearance of the acrylyl and methacrylyl double bond absorptions in the infrared spectra in the conversions of monomers to polymers; (2) postbromination of the allyl bonds in the linear polymer; (3) the disappearance of the allyl groups absorptions in the infrared spectra of the brominated linear polymers; and (4) the thermal- and radical-initiated crosslinking of the linear polymers through the allyl groups. Allyl acrylate and allyl methacrylate show great reluctance to copolymerize with styrene under anionic initiation, but copolymerize readily with methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile. Block copolymers were prepared by reacting allyl methacrylate with preformed polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) anions. The linear polymers and copolymers of allyl acrylate may be classified as “self-reactive” polymers which yield thermosetting polymers. Bromination of the linear polymers offers a convenient method of producing self-extinguishing polymers.     

Formation and reaction of polymer ions in solutions studied by pulse radiolysis

Formation and reaction of polymer anions in solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(n-butyl methacrylate), poly(isobutyl methacrylate) and poly(4-vinylbiphenyl) in hexamethylphosphorictriamide and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran were studied by nanosecond pulse radiolysis. The rate constants of the reactions of the polymers with solvated electrons were determined and they were compared with those of the corresponding low molecular-weight molecules. Besides, the decay reactions as well as the electron transfer reactions of the anion radicals of these polymers were investigated. The time-profile of the poly(4-vinylbiphenyl) anion observed in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at room temperature showed a spike which was followed by a slow decay. The fast decaying component was tentatively attributed to geminate recombinations within micro domains in the solution where the polymers were entangled.     

Characteristic polymerization behaviour of microgel-like poly(allyl methacrylate) microspheres

In the emulsion polymerization of allyl methacrylate (AMA), the reactive crosslinked polymer microspheres or microgel-like polymers with abundant pendant allyl groups were easily obtained because AMA possesses two types of vinyl groups, methacrylic and allylic double bonds, having greatly different reactivities. The resulting microgel-like poly(allyl methacrylate) microspheres (PAMA microspheres) were characterized by light scattering and viscometry. Then, the characteristic polymerization behaviour of PAMA microspheres was explored by the copolymerizations with diallyl terephthalate (DAT) and allyl benzoate (ABz).     

Polymerizations of some diene monomers. Preparations and polymerizations of vinyl methacrylate,allyl methacrylate,N-allylacrylamide,and N-allylmethacrylamide

Vinyl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, N-allylacrylamide, and N-allylmethacrylamide were prepared, and these monomers were polymerized in toluene by α,α-azobisisobutyronitrile catalyst. Cyclization content of poly(vinyl methacrylate) was estimated by infrared spectroscopy to be 50–60% at low conversions, but at the high conversions, due to gelation the polymers were insoluble in the usual organic solvents. Allyl methacrylate did not produce any soluble polymer, even at a low conversion, in contrast with poly-(vinyl methacrylate). Poly-N-allylacrylamide and poly-N-allylmethacrylamide were also insoluble in common solvents. It was assumed that the polymers from monomers containing the allyl group might form crosslinks as a result of allyl resonance stabilization.     

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer mediated radical polymerization of asymmetrical divinyl monomers targeting hyperbranched vinyl polymers

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mediated radical polymerizations of allyl methacrylate and undecenyl methacrylate, compounds containing two types of vinyl groups with different reactivities, were investigated to provide hyperbranched polymers. The RAFT agent benzyl dithiobenzoate was demonstrated to be an appropriate chain‐transfer agent to inhibit crosslinking and obtain polymers with moderate‐to‐high conversions. The polymerization of allyl methacrylate led to a polymer without branches but with five‐ or six‐membered rings. However, poly(undecenyl methacrylate) showed an indication of branching rather than intramolecular cycles. The hyperbranched structure of poly(undecenyl methacrylate) was confirmed by a combination of ¹H, ¹³C, ¹H–¹H correlation spectroscopy, and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer 135 NMR spectra. The branching topology of the polymers was controlled by the variation of the reaction temperature, chain‐transfer‐agent concentration, and monomer conversion. The significantly lower inherent viscosities of the resulting polymers, compared with those of linear analogues, demonstrated their compact structure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 26–40, 2007     

Copolymerization of 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride and alkyl methacrylates

Radical copolymerization of 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride with methyl methacrylate and allyl methacrylate in the bulk and methanol solution in the presence of azobis-isobutyric acid dinitryle at 70–90°C has been studied. Copolymerization of 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride with methyl methacrylate or allyl methacrylate in the bulk proceeds with formation of random copolymers enriched in methacrylate units; in the copolymerization of 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidiny chloride with methyl methacrylate in methanol, the copolymerization constants of the monomers become close. The kinetic parameters of the reaction have been studied, the relative activities of the monomers have been determined. It has been found that 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride is copolymerized with allyl methacrylate or methylmethacrylate to form pyrrolidinium structures in the cyclolinear polymer chain. At high degrees of conversion of the copolymerization of 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride with allyl methacrylate, the viscosity increases and the side polymer chains are crosslinked by “allyl bonds” to form insoluble copolymers, swelling in benzene and DMSO.     

Time-resolved EPR studies of main chain radicals from acrylic polymers. Effects of tacticity, solvent, and side group structure on chain stiffness

Main chain polymeric radicals from several acrylic polymers, produced by laser flash photolysis at 248 nm in liquid solution, have been studied using direct detection time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy at 9.5 GHz. Highly isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (i-PMMA) shows a sharp, well-resolved spectrum at about 95 degrees C. Using synthetic methodology to disrupt the tacticity of i-PMMA, we observed different fast-motion hyperfine coupling constants for the main chain radicals. By raising the temperature of observation, we returned the coupling constants to the same value as those in the highly isotactic sample. This result is related qualitatively to the degree of stiffness of the polymer chains as a function of tacticity. The concept is tested further by comparison to two other acrylic polymers with bulky side chains: poly(fluorooctyl methacrylate) (PFOMA) and poly(adamantyl methacrylate) (PAMA), whose main chain radicals show significant line broadening even at 110 degrees C. Solvent effects on both spectral appearance (the alternating line-width effect) and kinetic decays (attributed to T1 relaxation) are also presented and discussed in terms of main chain conformational motion.     

Long-lived polymer radicals. IV. Reactions of poly(N-methylacrylamide) and poly(N-methylmethacrylamide) radicals with binary mixtures of vinyl monomers

N-methylacrylamide (NMAAm) and N-methylmethacrylamide (NMMAm) were polymerized to give polymer microspheres containing living propagating radicals. The microsphere polymer radicals were allowed to react with some binary mixtures of vinyl monomers including alternating copolymerization combinations. The reaction processes were investigated by ESR spectroscopy. In the poly(NMMAm) radical/methyl methacrylate (MMA)/styrene (St) system, the propagating radical from MMA was mainly observed at the higher MMA concentration, while polySt radical prevailed at the lower MMA concentration. In the poly(NMMAm) radical/α-methylstyrene (α-MeSt)/diethyl fumarate system, the α-MeSt radical was exclusively observed, while the maleic anhydride (MAn) radical was predominantly observed in the α-MeSt/MAn system. In the MAn/diphenylethylene system, the propagating radicals from both monomers were observed at comparable concentrations. The poly(NMAAm) microsphere radical behaved differently in the reaction with the MMA/St mixture. The poly(NMAAm) microsphere was found to incorporate preferentially St, leading to formation of the St radical. The St preference was enhanced in the St/cyclohexyl methacrylate (CHMA) system. These results were in agreement with those of block copolymerization via the reaction of poly(NMAAm) radical with the MMA/St or CHMA/St mixture, where the compositions of the resulting polymers were analyzed by pyrolysis gas chromatography.     

Electron Spin Resonance Study on Grafting of Tetrafluoroethylene onto Polyethylene

An ESR study has been made on the course of grafting of tetrafluoroethylene onto polyethylene. Alkyl and allyl radicals trapped in the polymers were measured under various grafting conditions. It was observed that alkyl radicals decay very rapidly when monomers are in contact with the irradiated polymer, while allyl radicals decay very slowly even in the presence of monomers as in the decay of radicals in irradiated polymers without monomers. The effect of pre-irradiation temperature on grafting was also studied, and the rate of grafting was found to be much faster for lower pre-irradiation temperatures. From these experimental results it was concluded that alkyl radicals play an important Tole in the initiation reaction of grafting.     

Preparation of functional polymers by living anionic polymerization: Polymerization of allyl methacrylate

The anionic polymerization of allyl methacrylate was carried out in tetrahydrofuran, both in the presence and in the absence of LiCl, with a variety of initiators, at various temperatures. It was found that (1,1-diphenylhexyl)lithium and the living oligomers of methyl methacrylate and tert-butyl methacrylate are suitable initiators for the anionic polymerization of this monomer. The temperature should be below −30°C, even in the presence of LiCl, for the living polymerization to occur. When the polymerization proceeded at −60°C, in the presence of LiCl, with (1,1-diphenylhexyl)-lithium as initiator, the number-average molecular weight of the polymer was directly proportional to the monomer conversion and monodisperse poly(allyl methacrylate)s with high molecular weights were obtained. ¹H-NMR and FT-IR indicated that the α CC double bond of the monomer was selectively polymerized and that the allyl group remained unreacted. The prepared poly(allyl methacrylate) is a functional polymer since it contains a reactive CC double bond on each repeating unit. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2901–2906, 1997     

Dependence of the adsorption of polymer mixtures from solution on the amount of an adsorbent

Simultaneous competitive adsorption from solutions of mixtures of poly(butyl methacrylate) and polystyrene and adsorption of each component from binary solutions have been studied for three ratios of the adsorbent mass to the solution volume, A/V. It was found that adsorption from both binary and ternary solutions strongly depends on the amount of an adsorbent, adsorption of poly(butyl methacrylate) being preferential. The characteristic adsorption isotherms of both polymers were constructed under conditions of equal equilibrium concentration of each component to estimate the parameters of preferential adsorption and their dependence on the A/V ratio. It was found that the A/V effect plays an important role in adsorption from polymer mixtures and determines the peculiarities of adsorption from polymer mixtures as well as from solution of single polymers. Changing the A/V ratio may be one way to regulate the composition of an adsorption layer consisting of two chemically different polymers. The reasons for the A/V effect are considered in the framework of the concept of the plurality of adsorption equilibria between two chemically different components and between fractions of different molecular mass of each component having various absorbability.     

Radical transfer reactions in polymers

Free-radical transfer in polymers have been studied by pulse radiolysis and product analysis with the water-soluble polymers poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), polynucleotides and DNA. When OH radicals react with polymers the lifetime of the polymer radical thus created strongly depends on the number of radicals per polymer chain. Moreover, in negatively charged polymers the increased stiffness at high pH results in a remarkable increase of the lifetime of the radicals with respect to recombination. This allows a number of radical transfer reactions to occur (e.g. intramolecular H-transfer, β-fragmentation, depolymerization, reactions with additives).     

Light scattering characterization of thermodynamic interaction of polymers in dilute solution. Effect of experimental error and temperature

Interaction between non-identical polymer molecules in a dilute solution of a mixture of two polymers is quantitatively characterized by the interaction parameter A₂₄, which is the second virial coefficient for interaction of unlike species. The value of A₂₄ may be experimentally obtained by light scattering. The determination of A₂₄ is very sensitive to experimental error in the input data, particularly for mixtures in which one polymer is greatly in excess, and for mixtures of polymers having molecular weights differing by orders of magnitude. A slight rise in A₂₄ with temperature has been observed for solutions of mixtures of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) in diethyl malonate in the range 25–100 C. This change in A₂₄ reflects the increased mutual miscibility of the polymers in solution at elevated temperatures.     

Heat capacity of molten polymers

Heat capacities of molten polyethylene, polypropylene, poly-1-butene, polystyrene, and poly(methyl methacrylate) were measured over a wide range of temperature by using a differential scanning calorimeter. The upper limit of temperature was established for each polymer at about 10°K below the beginning of thermal decomposition. For poly-1-butene and poly(methyl methacrylate) the solid-state heat capacity was also measured starting from room temperature. Several samples of each polymer were used so that average values of heat capacities could be established (reported in 10°K intervals). The data revealed for all polymers a nearly linear increase of heat capacity with increasing temperature over the whole temperature range investigated.     

Thermodynamics of interfacial interactions in composites based on nanodispersed NiO and methacrylic acid derivatives

Interfacial interactions in composites based on nanodispersed nickel oxide and methacrylate polymer matrices are studied via isothermal microcalorimetry. The thermochemical cycle is used to estimate the concentration dependences of the enthalpies of mixing of nickel oxide with, respectively, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), and the butyl methacrylate copolymers containing 1 and 5 mol % methacrylic acid units. On the basis of these data, the maximum enthalpies of adhesion and the parameters of the glassy structure of the polymers are calculated. It is shown that the increase in the absolute values of the maximum enthalpy of adhesion is related to a gain in the fraction of carboxyl groups in the macromolecular chain. Strengthening of interfacial interactions for glassy polymers correlates with an increase in the fraction of metastable vacancies and in the thickness of the adhesion glassy layer.     

Transparent Films from CO2‐Based Polyunsaturated Poly(ether carbonate)s: A Novel Synthesis Strategy and Fast Curing

Transparent films were prepared by cross‐linking polyunsaturated poly(ether carbonate)s obtained by the multicomponent polymerization of CO₂, propylene oxide, maleic anhydride, and allyl glycidyl ether. Poly(ether carbonate)s with ABXBA multiblock structures were obtained by sequential addition of mixtures of propylene oxide/maleic anhydride and propylene oxide/allyl glycidyl ether during the polymerization. The simultaneous addition of both monomer mixtures provided poly(ether carbonate)s with AXA triblock structures. Both types of polyunsaturated poly(ether carbonate)s are characterized by diverse functional groups, that is, terminal hydroxy groups, maleate moieties along the polymer backbone, and pendant allyl groups that allow for versatile polymer chemistry. The combination of double bonds substituted with electron‐acceptor and electron‐donor groups enables particularly facile UV‐ or redox‐initiated free‐radical curing. The resulting materials are transparent and highly interesting for coating applications.     

Fullerene-containing polymers: UV spectroscopic study

A spectral method is developed to determine the content of fullerene in polymers formed in its presence during the free-radical polymerization and copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, allyl chloride, and styrene. The method is based on measurement of absorption coefficients for the ?Ц?*-excited transition of fullerene cores at 330 nm that is due to their insertion into a polymer chain and the related distortion of the closed polyene system of carbon-carbon bonds.     

Isobaric temperature dependence of radical generation in poly(methyl methacrylate)

In this study the effect of temperature on the generation of free radicals accompanying the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide in poly(methyl methacrylate) was studied. The concentration of the chain-end radicals was determined by the ESR method. The known nine-line spectrum of the chain-end radicals of poly(methyl methacrylate) was observed. This spectrum was affected by the contribution of chain radicals at higher temperatures. The dependence of the chain-end radical concentration on the annealing temperature of polymer found for different pressures gives information on the conditions under which free radicals arise and decay in the temperature range between 90 and 170°C at pressures ranging from 2000 to 12000 atm.     

Syntheses and polymerizations of novel chiral poly(acrylamide) macromonomers and their chiral recognition abilities

Chiral poly(acrylamide) macromonomers (PMB‐1, PMB‐2, PPAE‐1, and PPAE‐2) were synthesized from 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl isocyanate and prepolymers, that is, poly[(S)‐methylbenzyl acrylamide] or poly(L ‐phenylalanine ethylester acrylamide with a terminal carboxylic acid or hydroxy group. Radical homopolymerizations of poly(acrylamide) macromonomers were carried out under several conditions to obtain the corresponding optically active polymers. A strong temperature dependence on the specific optical rotation was observed for poly(PPAE‐2) in comparison with that for the corresponding prepolymer. This might have resulted from a change in the conformation caused by hydrogen bonds between polymer‐graft branches in the polymacromonomer. Radical copolymerizations of poly(acrylamide) macromonomers with styrene and methyl methacrylate were performed with azobisisobutyronitrile in tetrahydrofuran at 60 °C. Chiroptical properties of the copolymers were slightly influenced by comonomer units. Chiral stationary phases were prepared by the radical polymerization of poly(acrylamide) macromonomers in the presence of silica gel containing vinyl groups on the surface. Some racemic compounds such as menthol and mandelic acid were resolved on the chiral stationary phases for high‐performance liquid chromatography. The conformation based on hydrogen bonds between polymer‐graft branches in the polymacromonomers may play an important role in chiral discrimination. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1726–1741, 2002     

Grafting of Polymers Having Pendant Peroxycarbonate Groups Onto Carbon Black and Postpolymerization of Vinyl Monomers

Abstract

Postpolymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by pendant peroxycarbonate groups of grafted polymer chains on carbon black (CB) was investigated. The grafting of polymers having pendant peroxycarbonate groups onto CB was achieved by the trapping of polymer radicals formed by the thermal decomposition of copolymers of t-butylperoxy-2-methacryloyloxyethyl-carbonate (HEPO) with vinyl monomers such as vinyl acetate (VAc), styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The copolymers having pendant peroxycarbonate groups were prepared by copolym-erization of HEPO with vinyl monomers using azo initiator under irradiation of UV light at room temperature. The amount of remaining pendant peroxycarbonate groups of the poly(VAc-co-HEPO)-grafted CB obtained from the reaction at 90°C was maximum and decreased above the temperature. Furthermore, the postpolymerization of vinyl monomers, such as St, MMA, and VAc was initiated in the presence of poly(VAc-co-HEPO)-grafted and poly(St-co-HEPO)-grafted CB and the corresponding polymers were postgrafted onto CB to give branched polymer-grafted CB. The percentage of poly(St)-postgrafting (proportion of post-grafted poly(St) to poly(MMA-co-HEPO)-grafted CB used) increased with increasing polymerization time, but became constant at 20% after 4 hours.