Near‐infrared spectroscopic studies on the cure behaviors of the CAE/DGEBA blend system initiated by a thermal latent catalyst

The latent properties and cure behaviors of an epoxy blend system based on cycloaliphatic epoxy (CAE) and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy containing N‐benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate (BPH) as a thermal latent initiator were investigated with near‐infrared (N‐IR) spectroscopy. The assignments of the latent properties and cure kinetics were performed by the measurements of the N‐IR reflectance for epoxide and hydroxyl functional groups at different temperatures and compositions. As a result, this system showed more than one type of reaction, and BPH was an excellent thermal latent catalyst without any coinitiator. The cure behaviors were identified by the changes in the absorption intensity of the hydroxyl groups at 7100 cm⁻¹ with different composition ratios. Moreover, characteristic N‐IR band assignments were used to evaluate the reactive kinetics and were shown to be an appropriate method for studying the cure behaviors of the CAE/DGEBA blend system containing a thermal latent catalyst. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 326–331, 2001     

Reactive blending of functional polysiloxanes with poly(butylene terephthalate): Clarification of reaction mechanisms and kinetics from a model compound study

We clarify the reaction mechanisms and kinetics in melt‐reacted blends consisting of functional polysiloxanes and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with a model compound study. As models for polysiloxanes, we have selected two monodisperse ω‐functionalized siloxane oligomers with Si? H and Si? vinyl moieties. To mimic PBT, we have chosen low molecular weight compounds representative for in‐chain and end‐functional groups of the polymer; ester, carboxylic acid, alcohol, and vinyl. Uncatalyzed and platinum‐catalyzed reactions have been performed in sealed vials. Reaction products have been characterized by gradient polymer elution chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography. PBT functional groups reactive toward functional siloxane oligomers at high temperatures in the presence and absence of a catalyst have been identified, and an estimate of relative reaction kinetics has been provided. We suggest reaction mechanisms compatible with our results and with literature data. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1952–1961, 2002     

Initiation mechanisms of an anionic ring‐opening polymerization of lactam‐12

A novel liquid system has been developed to initiate the anionic polymerization of lactam‐12. This system, containing both an activator and a catalyst, has the primary advantage over previous systems of permitting infinite storage of the reactant, and it avoids premixing of batches. The anionic species of the system were identified with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight measurements, and Fourier transform infrared was used to measure the change in their concentrations during the polymerization. A guanidine anion was formed, and the system initiated the polymerization by this guanidine and by the catalyst. The kinetics of the anionic polymerization of lactam‐12 into polyamide‐12 were followed with differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The determined reaction rates indicated that this liquid system was particularly well suited for initiating in situ polymerization during liquid molding. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3406–3415, 2002     

Novel characterization of the crystalline segment distribution and its effect on the crystallization of branched polyethylene by differential scanning calorimetry

Based on a thermal segregation treatment, a novel semiquantitative method for the characterization of the crystalline segment distribution in branched polyethylene copolymers was established by the results of differential scanning calorimetry being treated with the Gibbs–Thomson equation. The method was used to describe the segment distribution of Ziegler–Natta‐catalyzed linear low‐density polyethylene (Z–N LLDPE), metallocene‐catalyzed linear low‐density polyethylene (m‐LLDPE), and a commercial linear low‐density polyethylene with a wide molecular weight distribution. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of Z–N LLDPE and m‐LLDPE were studied to assess the effect of different segment distributions. According to their molecular characteristics, the crystallization behaviors were analyzed. They indicated that the different segment distributions of the two polymers resulted in different crystallization processes, including the nucleation and growth of crystals under various crystallization conditions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2107–2118, 2002     

Fluoropolyethers end‐capped by polar functional groups. III. Kinetics of the reactions of hydroxy‐terminated fluoropolyethers and model fluorinated alcohols with cyclohexyl isocyanate catalyzed by organotin compounds

The kinetics of the dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL)‐catalyzed urethane formation reactions of cyclohexyl isocyanate (CHI) with model monofunctional fluorinated alcohols and fluoropolyether diol Z‐DOL H‐1000 of various molecular weights (100–1084 g mol^?1) in different solvents were studied. IR spectroscopy and chemical titration methods were used for measuring the rate of the total NCO disappearance at 30–60 °C. The effects of the reagents and DBTDL catalyst concentrations, the solvent and hydroxyl‐containing compound nature, and the temperature on the reaction rate and mechanism were investigated. Depending on the initial reagent concentration and solvent, the reactions could be well described by zero‐order, first‐order, second‐order, or more complex equations. The reaction mechanism, including the formation of intermediate ternary or binary complexes of reagents with the tin catalyst, could vary with the concentration and solvent and even during the reaction. The results were treated with a rate expression analogous to those used for enzymatic reactions. Under the explored conditions, the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction of fluorinated alcohols with CHI was negligible. Moreover, there was no allophanate formation, nor were there other side reactions, catalysis by urethane in the absence of DBTDL, or a synergetic effect in the presence of the tin catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3771–3795, 2002     

Cure kinetics of carbon nanotube/tetrafunctional epoxy nanocomposites by isothermal differential scanning calorimetry

The cure kinetics of tetraglycidyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) as a cure agent in nanocomposites with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been studied with an isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The experimental data for both the neat TGDDM/DDS system and for epoxy/MWNTs nanocomposites showed an autocatalytic behavior. Kinetic analysis was performed with the phenomenological model of Kamal and a diffusion control function was introduced to describe the cure reaction in the later stage. Activation energies and kinetic parameters were determined by fitting experimental data. For MWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites, the initial reaction rates increased and the time to the maximum rate decreased with increasing MWNTs contents because of the acceleration effect of MWNTs. The values of the activation energies for the epoxy/MWNTs nanocomposites were lower than the values for the neat epoxy in the initial stage of the reaction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3701–3712, 2004     

Cationic cure kinetics of a polyoxometalate loaded epoxy nanocomposite

The reaction cure kinetics of a novel polyoxometalate (POM) loaded epoxy nanocomposite is described. The POM is dispersed in the epoxy resin up to volume fractions of 0.1. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements show the cure of the epoxy resin to be sensitive to the POM loading. A kinetics study of the cure exotherm confirms that POM acts as a catalyst promoting cationic homopolymerization of the epoxy resin. The cure reaction is shown to propagate through two cure regimes. A fast cure at short time is shown to be propagation by the activated chain end (ACE) mechanism. A slow cure at long time is shown to be propagation by the activated monomer (AM) mechanism. The activation energies for the fast and slow cure regimes agree well with other epoxy based systems that have been confirmed to propagate by the ACE and AM mechanisms.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Curing kinetics of epoxy resins with hyperbranched polyesters as toughening agents

The effects of hyperbranched polyesters on the cure kinetics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) in the presence of m‐phenylene diamine were investigated with nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the addition of hyperbranched polyesters enhanced the cure reaction of DGEBA with m‐phenylene diamine, and this resulted in a reduction of the peak temperature of the curing curve and the activation energy because of the low viscosity and large number of terminal hydroxyl groups. However, when linear poly(ethylene glycol) was added, the activation energy of the blends also slightly decreased, whereas the peak temperature of the curing curve increased. The curing kinetics of the blends were calculated by the isoconversional method of Málek. The two‐parameter autocatalytic model (i.e., the ?esták–Berggren equation) was found to be the most adequate for describing the cure kinetics of the studied systems. The obtained nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry curves showed results in agreement with those theoretically calculated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2649–2656, 2004     

Dimethyldioxirane as a new and effective oxidation agent for the epoxidation of α,ω‐di(isobutenyl)polyisobutylene: A convenient synthesis of α,ω‐di(2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxypropyl)‐polyisobutylene

The synthesis and characterization of α,ω‐di(2‐methyl‐2,3‐epoxypropyl)polyisobutylene are reported. The epoxidation of α,ω‐di(isobutenyl)polyisobutylene was achieved at room temperature with dimethyldioxirane, which proved to be a very effective reagent for epoxidation without the formation of byproducts. A very good agreement was found for the conversion determined by ¹H NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI HMS). The epoxy end groups were converted quantitatively into aldehyde termini with zinc bromide as a catalyst. The aldehyde groups were then reduced with LiAlH₄ into primary hydroxyl functions to obtain α,ω‐di(2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxylpropyl)polyisobutylene with high efficiency. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3974–3986, 2002     

Isothermal cure kinetics of epoxy/phenol‐novolac resin blend system initiated by cationic latent thermal catalyst

The investigation of the cure kinetics of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/phenol‐novolac blend system with different phenolic contents initiated by a cationic latent thermal catalyst [N‐benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate (BPH)] was performed by means of the analysis of isothermal experiments using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Latent properties were investigated by measuring the conversion as a function of curing temperature using a dynamic DSC method. The results indicated that the BPH in this system for cure is a significant thermal latent initiator and has good latent thermal properties. The cure reaction of the blend system using BPH as a curing agent was strongly dependent on the cure temperature and proceeded through an autocatalytic kinetic mechanism that was accelerated by the hydroxyl group produced through the reaction between DGEBA and BPH. At a specific conversion region, once vitrification took place, the cure reaction of the epoxy/phenol‐novolac/BPH blend system was controlled by a diffusion‐control cure reaction rather than by an autocatalytic reaction. The kinetic constants k₁ and k₂ and the cure activation energies E₁ and E₂ obtained by the Arrhenius temperature dependence equation of the epoxy/phenol‐novolac/BPH blend system were mainly discussed as increasing the content of the phenol‐novolac resin to the epoxy neat resin. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2945–2956, 2000     

Characterization and rheological properties of model alkali‐soluble rheology modifiers synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization

Model alkali‐soluble rheology modifiers of different molar masses were synthesized by the reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and two different associative macromonomers. The polymerization kinetics showed good living character including well‐controlled molar mass, molar mass linearly increasing with conversion, and the ability to chain‐extend by forming an AB block copolymer. The steady‐shear and dynamic properties of a core‐shell emulsion, thickened with the different model alkali‐soluble rheology modifiers, were measured at constant pH and temperature. The steady‐shear data for latex solutions with conventional rheology modifiers exhibited the expected thickening, whereas the associative rheology modifiers showed contrasting rheology behavior. The dynamic measurements revealed that the latex solutions thickened with the conventional rheology modifiers exhibit solid‐like (dominant G′) behavior as compared with the associative rheology modifiers that give the latex solution a liquid‐like (dominant G″) character. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 223–235, 2003     

Effect of the segmental mobility restriction on the thermoset chemical kinetics

The cure kinetics of an epoxy–amine commercial thermoset system have been investigated with the isothermal differential scanning calorimetry technique. In particular, a kinetic study has been performed in the glass–transition zone, in which diffusion phenomena compete with the chemical transformations and the overall reaction rate is partially slowed by the reduced segmental chain mobility. A generalized form of the Vogel equation has been formulated to account for the effect of the increasing glass–transition temperature on the chain mobility and, therefore, on the overall reaction rate. The kinetic model has been expressed with two factors representing the chemical reaction rate and the segmental mobility reduction. As the main result, the activation energy relative to the diffusion phenomena has been found to be very low, having a value of 42.5 K ≈ 0.356 kJ/mol, which is compatible only with the small‐angle rotation of the reactive unit. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3757–3770, 2002     

Evaluation of 5‐ethylidene‐2‐norbornene with an adhesion promoter for self‐healing applications

5‐Ethylidene‐2‐norbornene (ENB) has a potential application as part of a new generation of healing agents, owing to its rapid polymerization rate and wide liquid temperature range. In this study, we developed a new self‐healing system using ENB as the healing agent and methyl 5‐norbornene‐2‐carboxylate (MNC) as the adhesion promoter. Dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to monitor cure behaviors of ENB with different MNC loadings, through which a series of cure temperatures were designed. The MNC loading and cure temperature had significant effects on the adhesion strength. The adhesion strength increased remarkably with MNC loadings of up to 10 wt % compared with ENB alone. The ENB monomer and the ENB/MNC mixture were successfully microencapsulated, and the resultant microcapsules were embedded into an epoxy resin along with Grubbs' catalyst for self‐healing efficiency measurements. Peak fracture loads for both healing agents showed maximal values at a low catalyst loading (0.3 wt %). In comparison with neat ENB, a significant improvement in healing efficiency was observed for the ENB/MNC mixture. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1170–1179     

Kinetics of the polycondensation and copolycondensation of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalate and bis(4‐hydroxybutyl) terephthalate

The kinetics of the polycondensation and copolycondensation reactions of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalate (BHPT) and bis(4‐hydroxybutyl) terephthalate (BHBT) as monomers were investigated at 270 °C in the presence of titanium tetrabutoxide as a catalyst. BHPT was prepared by the ester interchange reaction of dimethyl terephthalate and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PD). Through the same method adopted for BHPT synthesis, BHBT was prepared with 1,4‐butanediol instead of 1,3‐PD. With second‐order kinetics applied for polycondensation, the rate constants of the polycondensation of BHPT and BHBT, k₁₁ and k₂₂, were calculated to be 4.08 and 4.18 min^?1, respectively. The rate constants of the cross reactions in the copolycondensation of BHPT and BHBT, k₁₂ and k₂₁, were calculated with results obtained from proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis. The rate constants during the copolycondensation of BHPT and BHBT at 270 °C decreased in the order k₁₂ > k₂₂ > k₁₁ > k₂₁, indicating that the reactivity of BHBT was larger than that of BHPT at 270 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2435–2441, 2002     

Preparation of partially hydrolyzed oligo(vinylacetate) as polyol for polyurethane formation

Polyols based on oligo(vinylacetate) were synthesized using a convenient one‐pot, two‐step process. Polymerization of vinylacetate was performed in 2‐propanol as a chain‐transfer agent using di‐tert‐butylperoxide as a free‐radical initiator. Saponification of the oligomers was performed in both tetrahydrofuran and 2‐propanol using stoichiometric amounts of methanol in the presence of a basic catalyst. Well‐defined oligo(vinylacetate‐co‐vinylalcohol) polyols with a degree of polymerization below 12 and a hydroxyfunctionality smaller than 4 were obtained. Oligo(vinylacetate‐co‐vinylalcohol) was used as a polyol component in the formation of polyurethanes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2085–2092, 2002     

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46

Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46 were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The equilibrium melting enthalpy and the equilibrium melting temperature of nylon‐46 were determined to be 155.58 J/g and 307.10 °C, respectively. The isothermal crystallization process was described by the Avrami equation. The lateral surface free energy and the end surface free energy of nylon‐46 were calculated to be 8.28 and 138.54 erg/cm², respectively. The work of chain folding was determined to be 7.12 kcal/mol. The activation energies were determined to be 568.25 and 337.80 kJ/mol for isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization, respectively. A convenient method was applied to describe the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon‐46 by a combination of the Avrami and Ozawa equations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1784–1793, 2002     

Synthesis and crosslinking of a series of dimeric liquid‐crystalline diglycidylester compounds containing imine groups

We used readily available commercial reagents and well‐known procedures to synthesize a series of aromatic imine mesogenic diglycidylester compounds with dimeric architectures. The compounds obtained were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Their liquid‐crystalline behavior was examined by differential scanning calorimetry, hot‐stage polarized optical microscopy (POM), and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) and related to the different structures that varied in the length of the central spacer. All the compounds exhibited nematic mesophases with the exception of the dimer with a three‐methylene central spacer that did not reveal liquid‐crystalline character. We investigated the crosslinking of the synthesized compounds and obtained liquid‐crystalline thermosets (LCTs) with several primary aromatic diamines in stoichiometric ratios or a tertiary amine as a catalyst. The curing processes were measured by calorimetry, and the thermal stability of the LCTs was evaluated by thermogravimetry. The ordered character of the LCTs was confirmed by POM and WAXS. Finally, the mechanical characterization of the LCTs obtained was examined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4344–4356, 2002     

Preparation and characterization of macroporous poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels for the controlled release of proteins

Macroporous, temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogels were synthesized with poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs; molecular weight = 2000–6000) as the pore‐forming agents. The influence of the molecular weight and PEG content on the responsive kinetics of these macroporous hydrogels was investigated. The PEG‐modified PNIPAAm hydrogels were characterized by the swelling ratio, deswelling–reswelling kinetics, Fourier transform infrared, and differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology of these hydrogels was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. The prepared macroporous hydrogels exhibited some unique properties in comparison with the gels with low molecular weight PEGs (molecular weight < 2000) as the pore‐forming agents. In addition, a preliminary study on the controlled release of bovine serum albumin from these macroporous hydrogels was carried out. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 152–159, 2003     

Chain‐extended,hydroxyterminated‐polybutadiene‐based polyurethaneureas: Synthesis,reaction kinetics,and properties

Hydroxyterminated‐polybutadiene‐based prepolyurethanes were prepared with two different catalysts, dibutyltindilaurate (DBTDL) and triethylamine (TEA); chain extension of the prepolyurethanes followed with two different aromatic diamines, oxydianiline and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone, in various concentrations. The prepolyurethane synthesis followed second‐order kinetics, with the DBTDL catalyst showing better efficiency for urethane formation than TEA. TEA‐catalyzed synthesis suffered from the self‐association of isocyanates as a major side reaction, following second‐order kinetics with respect to isocyanate concentration. Although there was a gradual increase in the intrinsic viscosity during prepolyurethane synthesis in the presence of DBTDL, the intrinsic viscosity remained almost constant with the progress of the reaction in the presence of TEA. The tensile properties of prepolyurethane and polyurethaneureas synthesized in DBTDL‐catalyzed reactions were higher than the properties of those synthesized in TEA‐catalyzed reactions. The variation of the tensile strength with the diamine concentration was correlated with the crosslink density and sol fraction. The solubility of the hard segment of polyurethaneurea in the reaction medium appeared to be important in influencing the tensile properties. The effects of the diamine concentration (chain extender) on the diffusion coefficient and activation energy of diffusion of toluene in polyurethaneureas were studied. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2978–2992, 2001     

Reaction‐induced phase separation in epoxy/polysulfone/poly(ether imide) systems. I. Phase diagrams

Epoxy–aromatic diamine formulations are simultaneously modified with two immiscible thermoplastics (TPs), poly(ether imide) (PEI) and polysulfone (PSF). The epoxy monomer is based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and the aromatic diamines (ADs) are either 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone or 4,4′‐methylenebis(3‐chloro 2,6‐diethylaniline). The influence of the TPs on the epoxy–amine kinetics is investigated. It is found that PSF can act as a catalyst. The presence of the TP provokes an increase of the gel times. Cloud‐point curves (temperature vs. composition) are shown for epoxy/PSF/PEI and epoxy/PSF/PEI/AD initial mixtures. Phase separation conversions are reported for the reactive mixtures with various TP contents and PSF/PEI proportions. On the basis of phase separation and gelation curves, conversion–composition phase diagrams at constant temperature are generated for both systems. These diagrams can be used to design particular cure cycles to generate different morphologies during the phase separation process, which is discussed in the second part of this series. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3953–3963, 2004