Water vapor sorption and diffusion in sulfonated aromatic polyamides

In this contribution polyamides with different sulfonation degrees were directly synthesized from a combination of sulfonated and nonsulfonated diamines and isophthaloyl chloride. They were then used as dense membranes to study water sorption and mass transport properties. The polymers were characterized by their inherent viscosity and by spectroscopic methods, and the water vapor unsteady sorption phenomena were studied using a gravimetric technique. The effect of sulfonation substitution concentration in these polymers produces very interesting and original results in a number of properties such as the ionic exchange capacity, water equilibrium sorption and diffusivity. Obtained results are discussed and explained in the light of existing theories. Sorption behavior for polymers with a low sulfonation degree, up to 30%, can be explained with Langmuir equation. With larger substitution degree (40 and 60%) an additional mechanism must be assumed to explain sorption data. Assuming the presence of two phases helps to explain the observed diffusivity results. The mass transport mechanism is assumed to be Fickian. When water activity is low diffusivity systematically decreases as the degree of sulfonation increases. However, as water activity increases less sulfonated and nonsulfonated (PA0, PA20 and PA30) behave completely different from PA40 and PA60. The first group of polymers shows a tendency to decrease the rate of diffusion as water activity increases while the second group shows the opposite behavior, with a maximum in diffusivity at intermediate water activities. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2007–2014, 2007     

Proton magnetic relaxation in aromatic polyamides during water vapor sorption

The state of the components in the aromatic polyamide-water system was studied by NMR and sorption. A comparative analysis of spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation in aromatic para-polyamide (para-aramid) technical fibers Rusar, Kevlar, and Technora was performed depending on the sorption value. The NMR results correlated with the supramolecular structure of polymers and quasi-chemical equation parameters for water vapor sorption. Original Russian Text ? T.V. Smotrina, Yu.S. Chulkova, D.V. Karasev, N.P. Lebedeva, K.E. Perepelkin, S.F. Grebennikov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 7, pp. 1346–1351.     

Water vapor sorption by chitin-containing materials

Water vapor sorption by natural polysaccharides, namely, chitin-glucan complexes extracted from native biomass of higher fungi, chitin of bees, Arthropoda chitin, and cotton cellulose, is studied. A model of the sorption is proposed. It is shown that the analytical expression derived for sorption isotherms in terms of this model satisfactorily describes the process for different chitin-containing materials in a wide range of humidity. The main parameters of absorption isotherms are determined for examined samples. The analysis of the experimental data indicates that chitin-glucan complexes obtained from fungi demonstrate higher sorption ability, as compared with the reference sample of cotton cellulose and chitin of animal origin.     

Effect of water sorption on oxygen‐barrier properties of aromatic polyamides

Aromatic polyamides based on poly(m‐xylylene adipamide) (MXD‐based polyamides) and poly(hexamethylene isophthalamide) (HMD‐based polyamides) were examined. Insight into the excellent gas‐barrier properties was obtained by the characterization of the effect of water sorption on the thermal transitions, density, refractive index, free‐volume hole size, and oxygen‐transport properties. Reversing the carbonyl position with respect to the amide nitrogen substantially lowered the oxygen permeability of MXD‐based polyamides in comparison with that of HMD‐based polyamides by facilitating hydrogen‐bond formation. The resulting restriction of conformational changes and segmental motions reduced diffusivity. The primary effect of water sorption was a decrease in the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) attributed to plasticization by bound water. No evidence was found to support the idea that sorbed water filled holes of free volume. When the polymer was in the glassy state, the drop in T_g accounted for hydration‐dependent changes in the density, refractive index, and free‐volume hole size. The correlation of the oxygen solubility with T_g and density confirmed the concept of oxygen sorption as filling holes of excess free volume. In some cases, water sorption produced a glass‐to‐rubber transition. The onset of rubbery behavior was associated with a minimum in the oxygen permeability. The glass‐to‐rubber transition also facilitated the crystallization of MXD‐based polymers, which complicated the interpretation of oxygen‐transport behavior at higher relative humidity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1365–1381, 2005     

N-methyl-substituted aromatic polyamides

A series of N-methyl-substituted aromatic polyamides derived from the secondary aromatic diamines 4,4′-bis(methylamino)diphenylmethane, 3,3′-bis(methylamino)diphenylmethane, 4,4′-bis(methylamino)benzophenone or 3,3′-bis(methylamino)benzophenone and isophthaloyl dichloride, and terephthaloyl dichloride or 3,3′-diphenylmethane dicarboxylic acid dichloride was prepared by high-temperature solution polymerization in s-tetrachloroethane. Compared with analogous unsubstituted and partly N-methylated aromatic polyamides, the full N-methylated polyamides exhibited significantly lower glass transition temperatures (T_g), reduced crystallinity, improved thermal stability, and good solubility in chlorinated solvents.     

Water vapor sorption in naphthalenic sulfonated polyimide membranes

The water vapor uptake of sulfonated polyimides (SP) was investigated by electronic microbalance (IGA, Hiden) from 15 to 55°C. The sigmoïdal isotherms obtained (BET II type) are considered as dual sorption (concave part) plus clustering (convex part) and are fitted with good agreement by Park’s equation. Zimm–Lundberg’s method is used to study the clustering process of water molecules: limit clustering activity, a^*, and the number of molecules per cluster are estimated.

To obtain a better understanding of polymer structure and isotherm analysis, H⁺ (counter-ions of sulfonic groups) were replaced by ions with a smaller hydration shell (Cs⁺ and EDAH⁺). Comparison of the three isotherms shows no significant difference in the water affinity of the cations. This is attributed to a partial control of the sorption by microcavities existing in the membrane.     

Water vapor sorption and diffusion in glassy polymers

By establishing relationships between polymer structure and gas permeation behavior, significant advances have been made in designing materials for membrane separation of gas mixtures. However, the situation is not so well understood when water vapor is one of the components since water molecules may interact with the polymer (plasticization) or each other (clustering) in ways that complicate the structure-property relationships. In addition, accurate measurement of water sorption, diffusion, and permeation is more complicated than for gases because of the unique hydrogen bonding capability of water, e.g., its tendency to strongly adsorb on high-energy surfaces and high heat of vaporization. A progress report on a broad program to understand water sorption and diffusion in glassy polymers that may be of interest for membrane applications is outlined; specific strategies include studies of structurally related polymers and miscible blends of hydrophobic/hydrophilic polymer pairs.     

Water vapor sorption and desorption behavior of some keratins

Summary Sorption and desorption isotherms of water vapor in a number of keratin substrates including excised human stratum corneum, guinea pig and neonatal rat corneum and human hair have been obtained and the data compared to the information available on wool. An attempt was made to analyze the data according to the BET and D'Arcy-Watt equations, Flory-Huggins polymer solution theory and Zimm's clustering function. The results suggest strong binding between the sorbate and keratins in the low relative vapor pressure range, reflecting a sorption process on primary reactive sites (Langmuir) which proceeds up to 0.2-0.3 relative vapor pressure. More confirmation is obtained from isosteric heat of sorption measurements. Extensive clustering and multilayer formation occur in the higher relative vapor pressure range.With 10 figures     

Rigid aromatic fractal polyamides

The preparation of rigid aromatic, highly branched polyamides is described. Owing to the method of preparation and the chosen ratio of difunctional to trifunctional monomers, these entities are highly porous and not dendrimeric in nature. They better conform with the fractal model and are therefore called fractal polyamides (FPs). The effects of variations in the polymerization procedure, in total monomer concentration, in the ratio of amine to carboxyl groups and in the duration of the polycondensation reaction are investigated. Some characterization was performed and the results are presented and briefly discussed.     

Synthesis of hyperbranched aromatic polyamides by direct polycondensation

Some hyperbranched aromatic polyamides have been synthesized by direct polycondensation using the modified Higashi's method. Structures of the above polymers have been realized taking in proper account the analogies with amide group sequences of poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) (PPDT) and poly(p-benzamide) (PBA). Therefore, AB₂- type monomers as well as suitable combinations of different bi- and trifunctional reactants (AA + B₃) (e.g., p-phenylenediamine + trimesic acid or other trifunctional acids) have been considered. For the latter systems, network formation has been minimized. In the present paper, our results on their direct polyamidation together with some preliminary characterization data on the resultant hyperbranched aramids are given.     

Thermally reactive aromatic polyamides

2,5-Bis(phenylethynyl)terephthaloyl chloride and 4,6-bis-(phenylethynyl)isophthaloyl chloride were synthesized in a multistep reaction scheme from 2,5-dibromoterephthaldehyde and 4,6-dibromoisophthaldehyde, respectively. Low temperature solution polycondensation of these novel monomers and tolane-2,4′-dicarbonyl chloride with aromatic diamines yielded aromatic polyamides containing phenylethynyl moieties. Inherent viscosities of 0.20–0.51 dL/g were recorded. Attempts to carry out the homopolymerization of 2-(3-aminophenylethynyl)benzoyl chloride hydrochloride under similar conditions led to low molecular weight polyamide. Under differential scanning calorimetry and thermal mechanical analysis, the polyamides exhibited strong exotherms with onset occurring in the 185–225°C range. The exotherms were attributable to intramolecular cycloaddition of phenylethynyl moieties with amide groups to give polybenzalphthalimidine structures. Curing of a pressed pellet specimen for 16 h at 250°C under a nitrogen atmosphere resulted in partial conversion to a polybenzalphthalimidine structure with a concomitant increase in the polymer glass transition temperature. Isothermal aging in air of the cured specimen at 316°C (600°F) led to 25% weight loss after 200 h.     

Molecular weight determination of polyamides by vapor pressure osmometry

The vapor pressure osmometry method for determining the molecular weight of polyamides has been studied by use of the newly developed solvents. Polymers used were polycaprolactams, polyenanthamides, and polypelargonamides. The measurements were carried out with 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol and 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoro-1-heptanol as solvents at 50 and 130°C., respectively. Endgroup determinations on samples were also done in m-cresol by 0.1 N-hydrochloric acid. Reduced resistance differences (ΔR/C)₀ obtained by vapor pressure osmometry at 50°C. were found to be in linear relation with the reciprocal of the number-average molecular weight determined by endgroup titrations; but anomalous results were obtained when dodecafluoroheptanol was used as the solvent at 130°C.     

Direct synthesis of aromatic polyamides

The synthesis of aromatic polyamides, namely poly(p-phenylenetere-phthalamide) and poly(p-benzamide), via phosphorylation reaction has been thoroughly investigated. The effect of reaction temperature, concentration of monomers and reactants, type and concentration of salts, amount of the activator and its stepwise addition have been considered and the optimum reaction conditions found. The resultant synthesis of the above polymers, also in connection with the high purification techniques of all components of the reaction mixture, allowed to reach the highest molecular weights obtained so far by this synthetic way.     

Broad-line NMR of aromatic polyamides

Broad-line NMR spectra have been obtained at 90 MHz in the temperature region 140–530°K for four aromatic polyamides: poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide), poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide), poly(4,4,-diphenylene terephthalamide), and poly(4,4,-diphenylene isophthalamide). For the latter three materials, a broad-line narrowing process occurs in the 210–370°K region. At temperatures above 340°K a complex line shape is observed for all samples. Possible causes of these processes are discussed, and comparison made with dynamic mechanical results.     

Conformational energies of aromatic polyamides

PCILO conformational calculations have been made on several model compounds of aromatic polyamides. The calculated structures can be compared with the X-Ray crystallographic analyses and related to the physical properties of these polymers. Poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide appears as a more flexible polymer than poly-p-benzamide.     

Synthesis of aromatic polyamides by 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-catalyzed polycondensation of active aromatic diesters with aromatic diamines

Catalytic actions of various additives were studied in the polycondensation of di(4-nitrophenyl) isophthalate with bis(4-aminophenyl) ether in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) was found to be a highly effective catalyst that yielded high-molecular-weight polyamide. In addition to the polycondensation of the 4-nitrophenyl ester, the polymerization of negatively substituted phenyl esters like di(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) isophthalate was also accelerated by HOBt. For the HOBt-catalyzed aminolysis of esters a bifunctional concerted mechanism that involves an eight-membered transition state was proposed.     

Dendritic aromatic polyamides and polyimides

The syntheses and properties of dendritic and hyperbranched aromatic polyamides and polyimides are reviewed. In addition to conventional stepwise reactions for dendrimer synthesis, an orthogonal/double‐stage convergent approach and dendrimer syntheses with unprotected building blocks are described as new synthetic strategies for dendritic polyamides. Hyperbranched polyamides and polyimides composed of various repeating units are presented. Besides the self‐polycondensation of AB₂‐type monomers, new polymerization systems with AB₄, AB₈, A₂ + B₃, and A₂ + BB′₂ monomers have been developed for hyperbranched polyamides and polyimides. The copolymerization of AB₂ and AB monomers is discussed separately with respect to the effects of branching units on the properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1293–1309, 2004     

Amide-imidol tautomerism in aromatic polyamides

Conclusions The invariance of the characteristics of electronic distribution and the presence of limiting values of (N) with increasing chain length permits us to conclude that the macromolecule of the aromatic polyamide behaves like an oligomeric molecule of five to ten monomer units. Evidently this circumstance also, and not only the disruption of coplanarity of the individual units of the macromolecule, explains a number of experimental data leading to the conclusion of the presence of blocks of conjugation in polymers with a system of conjugated bonds [22].With such substantial energetic profitability of the amide forms as is obtained from quantum mechanical calculations, we might expect substantial concentration predominance of these forms in real systems, and, consequently, natural experimental difficulties in the detection of imidol forms. Moreover, the results obtained permit an explanation of the presence of paramagnetic centers in polyamidoacids and polyaminoamidoacids without enlisting the concept of the existence of isoamide and isoimide forms in them [23].Vladimir Scientific Research Institute of Synthetic Resins. Translated from Zhumal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 822–830, September–October, 1971.     

Thermal properties of wholly aromatic polyamides

Various wholly aromatic polyamides based on m-and p-phenylene diamines and isophthaloyl and terephthaloyl chloride have been synthesized and their thermal properties and oxygen index values have been studied. The effect of different substituents on the aromatic ring of the diamine have been explored by comparing their differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) behavior, their relative char yields at 700°C, and their oxygen indices. The ? Cl, ? NO₂, and ? OH substituted polyamides have been found to produce the highest char yields. The high char yields are probably associated with crosslinking occurring at high temperatures. Attempts at correlating char yield with oxygen index indicated enhancement for the chlorosubstituted aramids.     

Dielectric relaxation studies of aromatic polyamides

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) is presented for a family of four aromatic polyamides trying to relate the structure of the lateral groups to the molecular mobility. A prominent sub-T_g absorption is always seen followed in some cases by remanent dielectric activity at room temperature and a subsequent increase of the loss permittivity. The low temperature relaxation is analyzed in terms of a Fuoss–Kirkwood equation to obtain the broadness and the strength of these relaxations as well as the activation energy (ranging from 10 to 11 Kcal/mol). The low frequency conductive peak shows in each case a half-width higher (1.30) than those corresponding to a single relaxation time peak (1.144). These values of the half-width are an indication of the complex character of these phenomena. A final discussion of the rotational barriers of the lateral chains rules out that such motions are the only molecular origin for the gamma relaxation. Instead, some kind of motion involving the main chain and where the interchain interactions play a significant role should be considered as responsible for that relaxation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 919–927, 1997