Design,synthesis and properties of molecular composites of rod-like polymers

Processing and performance of fiber reinforced polymers suffer from problems related to the heterogeneous nature of the composites. The strong impact of the nature of the interface between fibers and matrix adds to the complication of the field. Consequently many attempts have been made to reduce the cross-section of the reinforcing fibers to molecular dimensions and to increase the compatibility between the rod-like molecules or bundles of molecules and the isotropic matrix of ordinary flexible polymers. All such attempts have failed, mainly for reasons of thermodynamics which predict immiscibility of rods and coils on the molecular level. A possibility to create structures in which molecular rods are embedded in a continuous matrix of flexible chain segments exists nevertheless.¹ Rod-like backbone structures decorated with a skin of flexible side chains of moderate length in terms of the number of carbon atoms (typically C₆ - C₁₈-side chains) have been synthesized and tested for the spontaneous formation of molecular composites. Some of the materials built along this principle can be processed by solution casting or even melt extrusion. The academically more interesting materials can be built up layerwise by a modified Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The latter process gives rise to monodomain textures which allow for straight-forward testing of the mechanical properties by optical means (Brillouin-spectroscopy) and by piezoquartz-techniques. Hairy-rod macromolecules can also be synthesized which contain crosslinkable side chains. Thus, after formation of layered, oriented structures, these can be crosslinked photochemically or by curing. The result is a network, which is unidirectionally reinforced by the rod-like macromolecules. These novel types of networks can serve as membranes by which size exclusion is achieved via control of the distance between adjacent backbone molecules in the matrix. Recent synthetic advances in the field have concentrated on hairy-rod macromolecules based on cellulose alkyl ethers and on derivatives of poly-(p-phenylene). The latter materials serve as examples of systems which can be processed by casting and extrusion processes. Due to their excellent thermal stability relevant data on the rheological and mechanical-dynamical data have become available. These data serve to document the unique behavior of the hairy-rod macromolecules as bulk materials.     

Thermal stability of structurally related polymers containing carborane and phthalocyanine groups

These studies were undertaken to determine the thermal behavior of structurally related polymers having a carborane nucleus in the recurring unit. Three of these products also contained phthalocyanine rings in their molecules. Results of thermal analysis studies show generally that the relative heat stability of the polymers conforms closely with indications given by similar investigations of structurally related intermediate and model compounds. A polymer with dimethylsiloxane units exhibited more resistance to thermal decomposition than similar products having urethane groups in their molecules. The urethane polymers derived from tolylene diisocyanate were found to be somewhat less heat-stable than analogous materials synthesized from methylenebis-(p-phenyl isocyanate). The relative order of thermal resistance of these materials follows that of more conventional polyurethane elastomers.     

Preparation of polymers containing sugar residues

The synthesis of five different polymers containing sugar residues on side chain is described. 1-O-Methacryloyltetra-O-acetyl-D -glucose, 1-O-methacryloyltetra-O-acetyl-D -galactose, and 6-O-methacryloyltetra-O-acetyl-D -glucose were prepared and polymerized. The polymethacrylates obtained were converted into water-soluble polymers by removing the acetyl protective group with sodium methoxide. 6-O-Methacryloyldiisopropylidene-D -galactose was also prepared and polymerized. The isopropylidene protective group was removed by acid hydrolysis. Poly (N-methacryloylglucosamine) was prepared directly by the polymerization of N-methacryloyl-D -glucosamine without the use of any protective group.     

Preparation,characterization and properties of fiber reinforced composites using silicon‐containing hybrid polymers

A novel glass fiber reinforced composite was prepared by using silicon‐containing hybrid polymers, poly(methylhydrogen‐diethynylsilyene) (PMES) and poly(phenylethynyl‐silyloxide‐phenylborane) (APABS), as matrix resins. The curing behavior and rheological properties of the matrix resins were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rotational rheometer. The dynamic viscoelastic properties, mechanical properties, and microstructures of the composites were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), universal testing machine (UTM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The results show that the composite can be well cured between 200 and 300 °C through reactive groups like Si‐H, N‐H, and C≡C units, the possible thermosetting mechanism is also proposed. The composites exhibit excellent mechanical properties with bending strength reach up to 261 and 178 MPa before and after heat‐treating, respectively. SEM analysis clearly indicates that crack in the matrix, matrix/fiber interface debonding, and fiber pull out are predominate failure mechanism for the composites which are heat‐treated in different temperatures. All these obtained results can give theoretical guiding reference for their further applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on phthalocyanine sheet polymers

Cobalt, nickel and copper phthalocyanine sheet polymers are synthesized by heating their respective metal (II) phthalocyanine tetracarboxylic acids at 400 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. These polymers are characterized using UV-Visible spectra, IR spectra, magnetic susceptibility, X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Electrical conductivity studies are carried out using two-probe technique in the temperature range 25-200 °C for each polymer. These polymeric materials showed room temperature electrical conductivity 10-1000 times higher values compared to earlier reported values for this type of sheet polymers.     

Preparation of copper sulphide clusters in organic-inorganic composites of Langmuir-Blodgett films of amphiphilic Schiff bases

Copper sulphide clusters were prepared in Langmuir-Blodgett films of copper complexes of amphiphilic Schiff bases-3,4-dimethoxy-N-benzylidene hexadeylamine (I) and 3,4-dimethoxy-N-benzylidene-4’-(hexadecylamino) benzylamine (II) The clusters obtained were analysed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and optical microscopy. Brewster angle microscopic studies on monolayers ofI andII at air/water interface showed formation of needle-like domains which seem to cluster faster inI than inII. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies also showed fairly uniform sized clusters inII whereas in the case ofI they seem to show varying sizes. From the results it is concluded that π-elongation in the polar head groups leads to controlled cluster sizes in compoundII as compared to those in compoundI.     

Elastic constants of nematic solutions of rod-like and semi-flexible polymers

Abstract

Analytical expressions for the elastic constants of nematic polymer solutions are derived when the macromolecules are monodisperse rod-like, bidisperse rodlike or semi-flexible. These expressions are derived in the gaussian approximation so that they constitute exact leading terms of a general asymptotic expansion for high degree of nematic ordering although the results are justifiable only within the range of validity of the second virial approximation. The limiting forms are in complete agreement with recent numerical work for monodisperse rods.     

Preparation of phosphorus-containing polymers—XVII. Preparation of polyamides containing phenoxaphosphine rings

New phenoxaphosphine-containing polyamides were prepared from 2,8-dichloroformyl-10-phenylphenoxaphosphine 10-oxide (III) and aromatic diamines in DMA by low-temperature solution polycondensation in the presence of triethylamine as acid acceptor. (III) was synthesized by the chlorination of 2,8-dicarboxy-10-phenylphenoxaphosphine 10-oxide derived from 2,8-dimethyl-10-phenylphenoxaphosphine 10-oxide by pyridine-permanganate oxidation. The resulting polyamides had a reduced viscosity of 0.14–0.40 dl/g in DMA or conc. H₂SO₄ at 30°. They were soluble in conc. H₂SO₄ and some of them dissolved in DMA, DMF and DMSO, but all were insoluble in benzene and formic acid, etc. They had good thermal stability, hardly degrading until a temperature of about 400° was reached; they showed resistance to ignition.     

Elastic constants of nematic solutions of rod-like and semi-flexible polymers

Analytical expressions for the elastic constants of nematic polymer solutions are derived when the macromolecules are monodisperse rod-like, bidisperse rodlike or semi-flexible. These expressions are derived in the gaussian approximation so that they constitute exact leading terms of a general asymptotic expansion for high degree of nematic ordering although the results are justifiable only within the range of validity of the second virial approximation. The limiting forms are in complete agreement with recent numerical work for monodisperse rods.     

Hybrid composites based on organic-inorganic sol-gel systems

Hybrid organic-inorganic composites were developed on the basis of sodium silicate modified with ɛ-caprolactam or ɛ-aminocaproic acid and isocyanate-containing oligourethane with improved physicomechanical properties and water resistance.     

Phase stability of colloidal spheres mixed with supramolecular rod-like polymers

Mixtures of colloids and supramolecular polymers exhibit stimuli-responsive phase behavior. In previous work (Peters and Tuinier, Physica A 510, 233 [2018]) the polymers were treated as fully flexible chains, while in experimental systems supramolecular polymers may have a certain degree of stiffness. Here we predict that for stiff rod-like supramolecular polymers phase separation can occur at much lower polymer concentrations than for flexible supramolecular polymers. Additionally, it is demonstrated that colloid–polymer interactions can significantly influence the equilibrium polymer size distribution, however this does not strongly affect the phase behavior of the mixture. At the low polymer concentrations at which the system already gets unstable, the effect of excluded volume interactions between polymers chains themselves is small. Finally, for an experimental system it is predicted that a variety of re-entrant phase transitions may be observed within a realistic temperature range as illustrated by a specific example.     

High performance polymers and composites. IV. Copolymers containing benzoxazole units

Several new copolymers have been synthesized. Initial polycondensation of mixtures of aryl and arylalkyl carboxylic acids containing aromatic hydroxyl and amine substituents led to random copolyamides. Thermal cyclization of these prepolymers (inherent viscosities of about 0.2 dL/g) gave copolybenzoxazoles with inherent viscosities of about 1.4 dL/g. Thermal stability as measured by TGA was similar for the 1:1 copolymers and the homopolymers containing hydrocinnamic units; i.e., catastrophic decomposition occurred at 450°C. Copolymers with lower ratios of the hydrocinnamic units displayed greatly improved thermal stability while maintaining good molecular weight.     

Effect of flexible polymers on the dielectric dispersion of rod-like macromolecules

The rotational diffusion of rod-like polar macromolecules (poly-γ-benzyl-l-glutamate or poly-n-hexylisocyanate) within entangled non polar polymer coils (polystyrene) is studied by dielectric absorption in solution. The dielectric increment as well as the rotatory diffusion constant is studied as a function of molecular weight of both components and increasing concentration of the non-polar polymer as well as the temperature. The classical theory of rotational diffusion is not obeyed if the viscosity of the polystyrene solution is taken as the medium viscosity. An increase in molecular aggregation on polystyrene addition is suspected.     

Organic semiconductors—metal phthalocyanine sheet polymers

This publication discusses the electronic, magnetic susceptibility, MS and GC–MS pyrolysis, X-ray powder diffraction, and electrical conductivity studies on metal phthalocyanine sheet polymers. The magnetic measurements over the range of magnetic field strengths 1025–6144 gauss indicated the absence of the intermolecular cooperative effect. MS and GC–MS studies indicate that all these metal phthalocyanine sheet polymers give benzene, cyanobenzene, and dicyanobenzene on thermal degradation. The electrical conductivity measurements showed that these polymers are semiconductor in nature.     

Preparation and the investigation of its electrochemical and photoluminescent characteristics of organic-inorganic hybrid multilayers containing europium-substituted heteropolytungstate

Photoluminescent multilayers were fabricated by layer-by-layer deposition between europium-substituted heteropolytungstate K₁₃[Eu(SiW₁₁O₃₉)₂]·28H₂O (denoted ESW) and a cationic polymer of quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) partially complexed with osmium bis(2,2′-bipyridine) (denoted as QPVP-Os) on glassy carbon and quartz substrates. The resulting photoluminescent organic-inorganic hybrid multilayers were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and photoluminescence spectra. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry results demonstrated that the multilayers were regular growth each layer adsorption. The photoluminescent properties of the films at room temperature were investigated to show the characteristic Eu³⁺ emission pattern of ⁵D₀→⁷F_j.     

Ferrocene containing polymers

Polymers with pendent ferrocene units are synthesized by radical and anionic methods. It has been demonstrated that polymer-analogous reactions are an attractive alternative to prepare those polymers. Polymers with ferrocene units in the main chain are available from interfacial condensation reaction between ferrocene-1,1′-dicarbonic acid dichloride with α, ω-diamines. Addition of ferrocene-1,1′-dithiol onto norbornadiene yields a polymer with repeating units from ferrocene disulfide and norbornene and nortricyclane end-groups. End-capping reactions of α, ω-dimercapto-telechelics with vinylferrocene yield polymers with ferrocene end-groups.     

Preparation and characterization of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing chenodeoxycholic acid residue

A series of new side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing chenodiol residue derived from 24-[4′-hydroxybiphenyl-4-yl-4-(allyloxy)benzoyloxy]-3α,7α-di{n-[4′-(4-ethoxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-yloxy]-n-oxoalkanoyloxy}-5β-cholane was designed and prepared. The chemical structures of the monomer and polymer were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectra. The mesomorphic properties of monomer and polymer were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The side-chain liquid crystalline polymers revealed wide mesophase temperature range and high thermal stability, and they showed nematic liquid crystalline phase. The influence of flexible space group length on thermal properties and specific rotation was examined.     

Controllable self-assembly of organic-inorganic amphiphiles containing Dawson polyoxometalate clusters

An organic-inorganic molecular hybrid containing the Dawson polyoxometalate, ((C(4)H(9))(4)N)(5)H[P(2)V(3)W(15)O(59)(OCH(2))(3)CNHCOC(15)H(31)], was synthesized and its surfactant-like amphiphilic properties, represented by the formation of bilayer vesicles, were studied in polar solvents. The vesicle size decreases with both decreasing hybrid concentration and with increasing polarity of the solvent, independently. The self-assembly behavior of this hybrid can be controlled by introducing different counterions into the acetonitrile solutions. The addition of ZnCl(2) and NaI can cause a gradual decrease and increase of vesicular sizes, respectively. Tetraalkylammonium bromide is found to disassemble the vesicle assemblies. Moreover, the original counterions of the hybrid can be replaced with protons, resulting in pH-dependent formation of vesicles in aqueous solutions. The hybrid surfactant can further form micro-needle structures in aqueous solutions upon addition of Ca(2+) ions.     

The absence of size-dependency in flame retarded composites containing low-melting organic-inorganic glass and clay: Comparison between micro- and nanocomposites

Due to optimised processing of epoxy based composite materials containing a low-melting organic-inorganic glass together with an organo clay, the size of the glass particles could be successfully reduced. Thus truly nano-dispersed composites were obtained, with glass particles in the range of 10 nm to 200 nm. The small particle size allowed efficient interaction of glass particles and organo clay layers. The flame retardancy as well as the thermo-mechanical properties were tested, and the results showed that the low-melting glass led to a remarkable reduction of peak heat release rate by forming an enhanced barrier layer. Nevertheless no further improvement could be achieved by lowering the particle size to the nanometre region. For good flame retardancy a microdispersion of the low-melting glass was already sufficient.