Well‐defined complex macromolecular architectures by anionic polymerization of styrenic single and double homo/miktoarm star‐tailed macromonomers

Styrenic single and double star‐tailed macromonomers were synthesized by selective reaction of living homo/miktoarm stars with the chlorosilane groups of 4‐(chlorodimethylsilyl)‐ and 4‐(dichloromethylsilyl)styrene, respectively. The in situ anionic homopolymerization of macromonomers with sec‐BuLi and copolymerization with butadiene and styrene, led to single/double homo/miktoarm star‐tailed molecular brushes and combs, as well as a block copolymer consisting of a linear polystyrene chain and a double miktoarm (PBd/PS) star‐tailed brush‐like block. Molecular characterization by size exclusion chromatography, size exclusion chromatography/two‐angle laser light scattering, and NMR spectroscopy, revealed the high molecular/compositional homogeneity of all intermediate and final products. These are only a few examples of the plethora of complex architectures possible using the above macromonomers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1826–1842, 2008     

Novel block–comb/graft copolymers with the macromonomer strategy and anionic polymerization

The following block–comb/graft copolymers of styrene (S), isoprene (I), and butadiene (B)—PS‐b‐(PB‐g‐PB), PS‐b‐(PB‐g‐PB)‐b‐PS, (PB‐g‐PB)‐b‐P2VP, (PS‐g‐PB)‐b‐(PI‐g‐PS), (PS‐g‐PB)‐b‐(PI‐g‐PS)‐b‐(PB‐g‐PI), (PS‐g‐PB)‐b‐(PI‐g‐PS)‐b‐(PB‐g‐PI)‐b‐(PI‐g‐PS)‐b‐(PS‐g‐PB), and (PS)₂(PB‐g‐PB) [where PS is polystyrene, PB is polybutadiene, P2VP is poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (2VP), and PI is polyisoprene]—were synthesized with the macromonomer strategy and anionic polymerization high‐vacuum techniques. The synthetic approach involves the synthesis and block copolymerization of styrenic macromonomers in situ without isolation. The prepared samples were characterized by size exclusion chromatography with a differential refractometer detector, size exclusion chromatography with a two‐angle laser light scattering detector, and NMR spectroscopy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4040–4049, 2005     

Synthesis of an amphiphilic styrenic block copolymer: Polycondensation of dichloromethane and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of hydroxypropylated polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene

An amphiphilic styrenic block copolymer, polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐poly[oxymethylene‐alt‐oligo(oxyethylene)] (PS‐b‐PB‐b‐POME), was synthesized through a polycondensation reaction of low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) and dichloromethane in the presence of hydroxypropylated polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene (PS‐b‐PB‐OH) used as a monofunctional chain‐capping reagent. PS‐b‐PB‐OH was in turn prepared via an anionic synthesis of PS‐b‐PB followed by oxetane capping and methanol quenching. Although PS‐b‐PB‐OH has insignificant hydrophilicity, PS‐b‐PB‐b‐POME containing both the hydrophobic PS‐b‐PB segment and the hydrophilic POME segment had an improved emulsifying capability and effectively decreased the interfacial tension between water and toluene. The hydrophile–lipophile balance value of this amphiphilic PS‐b‐PB‐b‐POME copolymer, consisting of 86 wt % of the POME segment and 14 wt % of the PS‐b‐PB segment, was 17.2. The molecular weight of the copolymer molecule was determined by gel permeation chromatography–multi‐angle laser light scattering, and the microstructure was analyzed using ¹H NMR. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2625–2632, 2001     

聚苯乙烯溶胀聚苯乙烯－聚丁二烯－聚苯乙烯三嵌段共聚物微区的研究

嵌段共聚物/均聚物共混体系,各嵌段会形成各自的相,并且嵌段间的连接点一定在两相之间的界面上,这一要求极大地影响了嵌段共聚物/均聚物共混体系的链构象和相行为.     

Changes in the microstructure and morphology of high-impact polystyrene subjected to multiple processing and thermo-oxidative degradation

Multiple processing and thermo-oxidation have been employed to simulate the degradative processes to which high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) is subjected during processing, service life, and mechanical recycling. A curve-fitting procedure has been proposed for the analysis of the individual bands corresponding to polybutadiene microstructure resulting from Raman spectroscopy. The analysis of the glass transition relaxations associated with the polybutadiene (PB) and polystyrene (PS) phases has been performed according to the free-volume theory. Both reprocessing and thermo-oxidative degradation are responsible for complex physical and chemical effects on the microstructure and morphology of PB and polystyrene PS phases, which ultimately affect the macroscopic performance of HIPS. Multiple processing affects PB microstructure and the free-volume parameter associated with the PS phase. Physical ageing of the PS phase predominates for shorter exposure to thermo-oxidation; after prolonged exposure, however, the chemical effects on the PB phase become significant and strongly influence the overall structure.     

Synthesis of model polycyclohexylene/polyethylene miktoarm star copolymers with three and four arms

The synthesis of well‐defined 3‐ and 4‐miktoarm star copolymers of the A₂B and A₃B types is described, where A is 1,4‐polybutadiene and B is poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene). The synthetic approach involves the reaction of poly(1,3‐cyclohexadienyl)lithium with an excess of methyltrichlorosilane or tetrachlorosilane followed, after the removal of excess silane, by a small excess of polybutadienyllithium. Characterization was carried out by size exclusion chromatography, low‐angle laser light scattering, laser differential refractometry, and NMR spectroscopy. The complete heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of the A₂B and A₃B miktoarm stars, with a calcium carbonate‐supported palladium catalyst, leads to the formation of A₂B and A₃B miktoarm stars with one amorphous polycyclohexylene arm with an extremely high glass‐transition temperature and two or three crystalline polyethylene arms. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine the glass‐transition temperature of the amorphous blocks of the starting and hydrogenated stars and the melting temperature of polyethylene. Solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was performed to ensure the complete saturation of the polycyclohexadiene and polybutadiene arms. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2575–2582, 2002     

Synthesis and bulk characterization of new P(CB‐b‐S) diblock copolymers

Strongly asymmetric chlorinated polybutadiene‐b‐polystyrene, [P((CB)_x‐b‐(PS)_y)] diblock copolymers with increasing x/(x + y) ratios (up to 5.2 mol %) have been synthesized by the selective chlorination of the polybutadiene (PB) block in solution. Chlorination has been performed in anhydrous dichloromethane added with an antioxidant [2,2′‐methylenebis‐(6‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐phenol)], at −50°C, under a continuous Ar flow and in the dark. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the PB chlorination is not complete, but the PS block is left unmodified. Even in the presence of a large chlorine excess (Cl₂/butene unit molar ratio of 2.5), the experimental degree of chlorination of homo PB does not exceed 85%. The chlorinated copolymers have been characterized by ¹H‐NMR, IR spectroscopy, size‐exclusion chromatography, and elemental analysis. The chlorinated copolymers have also been studied by DSC and SAXS after annealing at 150°C. Although at this temperature the parent homopolymers are immiscible, no microphase separation has been observed for the block copolymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 233–244, 1999     

Synthesis of well‐defined miktoarm star polymers of poly(dimethylsiloxane) by the combination of chlorosilane and benzyl chloride linking chemistry

A series of novel four‐arm A₂B₂ and A₂BC and five‐arm A₂B₂C miktoarm star polymers, where A is poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), B is polystyrene (PS), and C is polyisoprene (PI), were successfully synthesized by the combination of chlorosilane and benzyl chloride linking chemistry. This new and general methodology is based on the linking reaction of in‐chain benzyl chloride functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) (icBnCl–PDMS) with the in‐chain diphenylalkyl (icD) living centers of PS‐DLi‐PS, PS‐DLi‐PI, or (PS)₂‐DLi‐PI. icBnCl–PDMS was synthesized by the selective reaction of lithium PDMS enolate (PDMSOLi) with the chlorosilane groups of dichloro[2‐(chloromethylphenyl)ethyl]methylsilane, leaving the benzyl chloride group intact. The icD living polymers, characterized by the low basicity of DLi to avoid side reactions with PDMS, were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding living chains with the appropriate chloro/bromo derivatives of diphenylethylene, followed by a reaction with BuLi or the living polymer. The combined molecular characterization results of size exclusion chromatography, ¹H NMR, and right‐angle laser light scattering revealed a high degree of structural and compositional homogeneity in all miktoarm stars prepared. The power of this general approach was demonstrated by the synthesis of a morphologically interesting complex miktoarm star polymer composed of two triblock terpolymer (PS‐b‐PI‐b‐PDMS) and two diblock copolymer (PS‐b‐PI) arms. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6587–6599, 2006     

Miktoarm star copolymers of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) from a novel heterofunctional initiator

A novel heterofunctional initiator, synthesized from pentaerythritol in a three step reaction sequence with two ring opening polymerization (ROP) and two atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating sites, was used to prepare A₂B₂ miktoarm star copolymers of poly(ε‐caprolactone), PεCL, with polystyrene, PS, poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), PDMAEMA, and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate), PHEMA. A₂B miktoarm stars, A being PεCL or poly(δ‐valerolactone), PδVL and B PS were also prepared from ω,ω‐dihydroxy‐PS, synthesized from ω‐Br‐PS and serinol, by ROP of εCL or δVL. All polymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and membrane osmometry. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5164–5181, 2007     

Hydrodynamic properties of model 3-miktoarm star copolymers

The synthesis of well-defined, nearly monodispersed, 3-miktoarm (from the greek word μlkτós meaning mixed) star copolymer of the A₂B type is described. A and B is either polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PBd), or polyisoprene (PI). The sequential controlled addition of living anionic B and A chains to methyltrichlorosilane leads to narrow molecular weight distribution miktoarm star copolymers with homogeneous composition. Characterization was carried out by size exclusion chromatography, low-angle laser light scattering, laser differential refractometry, membrane and vapor pressure osmometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Analysis of [η], R_H and R_v of the A₂B and one A₂B₂ miktoarm copolymers, suggests that a small expansion of the copolymer occurs either in a good solvent for both species or in a Θ solvent for one of them, as compared with the corresponding star homopolymers. This is in contrast to results obtained on linear block copolymers, and is due to the increased occurrence of heterocontacts in the miktoarm starshaped architecture. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Miktoarm star copolymers via combination of RAFT arm‐first technique and aldehyde–aminooxy click reaction

A facile synthetic pathway to miktoarm star copolymers with multiple arms has been developed by combining reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) arm‐first technique and aldehyde–aminooxy “click” coupling reaction. Star polystyrene (PS) with aldehyde functionalized core was initially prepared by RAFT arm‐first technique via crosslinking of the preformed linear macro‐RAFT agents using a newly designed aldehyde‐containing divinyl compound 6,6′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diylbis(oxy))bis(3‐vinylbenzaldehyde) (EVBA). It was then used as a multifunctional coupling agent for the subsequent formation of the second generation poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms via the click coupling reaction between its aldehyde groups and aminooxy‐terminated PEGs. The possible formation of PS‐PEG miktoarm star copolymer with Janus‐like segregated structure in cyclohexanone was also investigated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3323–3330, 2010     

Synthesis of well‐defined comb‐like graft (co)polymers by nucleophilic substitution reaction between living polymers and polyhalohydrocarbon

A series of graft (co)polymers were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction between iodinated 1,2‐polybutadiene (PB‐I, backbone) and living polymer lithium (side chains). The coupling reaction between PB‐I and living polymers can finish within minutes at room temperature, and high conversion (up to 92%) could be obtained by effectively avoiding side reaction of dimerization when living polymers were capped with 1,1‐diphenylethylene. By virtue of living anionic polymerization, backbone length, side chain length, and side chain composition, as well as graft density, were well controlled. Tunable molecular weight of graft (co)polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained by changing either the lengths of side chain and backbone, or the graft density. Graft copolymers could also be synthesized with side chains of multicomponent polymers, such as block polymer (polystyrene‐b‐polybutadiene) and even mixed polymers (polystyrene and polybutadiene) as hetero chains. Thus, based on living anionic polymerization, this work provides a facile way for modular synthesis of graft (co)polymers via nucleophilic substitution reaction between living polymers and polyhalohydrocarbon (PB‐I). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Solution Properties of Star-Shaped Polystyrenes Having Peripheral Charged Ions

Functionalized polystyrene stars were prepared by copolymerization of polystyryl lithium with divinylbenzene in a mixture of benzene/tetrahydropyran, where the polystyrene arms were prepared by anionic polymerization using [2-[(N,N-dimethylamino)-methyl]phenyl]lithium as the initiator. These functional stars were converted by quaternization with methyl iodide into polystyrene stars having peripheral positive charges. We studied the charge effects on the solution properties of such stars. The hydrodynamic dimension of peripheral charged polystyrene (PS) stars depended strongly on the solubility parameter between PS segments and solvent. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Morphological changes in SBS block copolymers caused by oil extension as determined by absolute small angle x-ray scattering

A series of SBS block copolymers diluted with different amounts (0–60 wt%) of three different kinds of oil were investigated: 1) lithene PM (a low molecular weight polybutadiene); 2) a paraffinic mineral oil with its electron density close to that of the polybutadiene (PB) phase; 3) a highly aromatic mineral oil with an electron density close to the polystyrene (PS) phase. All the oils seem to go into the polybutadiene matrix. Paraffinic oil and lithene form a homogeneous phase with PB; the aromatic oil at low concentrations mixes with the PB phase with a high level of inhomogeneity, while at higher concentration partial phase separation occurs. In the undiluted polymer, styrene forms cylinders in hexagonal packing. The distance between cylinders (about 43 nm) is not significantly changed upon dilution up to 33 wt%. Previously proposed changes in the morphology of PS domains at larger oil contents can be related to observed changes in the long period, in the segment length distributions, and in the homogeneities of the phase (density fluctuations). The electron density difference obtained for pure SBS is lower than the theoretical one calculated from the densities of pure PS and pure PB. Dilution by paraffinic oil improves the phase separation.     

Synthesis and characterization of pyrene bearing amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer and its noncovalent interactions with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

A novel amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer, polystyrene‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(methyl methacrylate), bearing a pyrene group at the end of PS arm (Pyrene‐PS‐PEG‐PMMA) was successfully synthesized via combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and click chemistry. The structure and composition of the amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. The functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via “π–π” stacking interactions with pyrene‐PS‐PEG‐PMMA miktoarm star polymer was accomplished and the resulting polymer‐MWCNTs hybrid was analyzed by using ¹H NMR, UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and analytical techniques aforementioned confirmed that the noncovalent functionalization of MWCNT's with the amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer was successfully achieved. The MWCNT/pyrene‐PS‐PEG‐PMMA exhibited significant dispersion stability in common organic solvents such as dimethyl formamide, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Solution properties of polystyrene–polybutadiene block copolymers

Dilute solution viscosity and osmotic pressure measurements were performed on polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB), polystyrene–polybutadiene (SB) diblock and polystyrene–polybutadiene (SBS) triblock copolymers. Anionic polymerization was used in such a way that the molecular weight of the PS block was kept constant (ca. 10 000), while the molecular weight of the PB block varied from 18000 to 450000. The measurements were carried out at a fixed temperature of 34.20°C in three solvents, namely toluene, a good solvent for PS as well as for PB, dioxane, which is a good solvent for PS and almost a theta solvent for PB, and cyclohexane, which is nearly a theta solvent for PS and a good solvent for PB. The compositions of SB and SBS, as derived from kinetic data agree with ultraviolet measurements in CHCl₃ solutions. The viscosity and osmotic pressure results indicate that the properties of SB and SBS are similar. Their intrinsic viscosities and second virial coefficients can be calculated from their chemical compositions, molecular weight, properties of parent polymers, and values of the interaction parameter \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar \beta _{{\rm SB}}$\end{document} between styrene and butadiene units, for molecular weights not exceeding approximately 10⁵. The magnitude of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar \beta _{{\rm SB}} $\end{document} varies with the solvent. The results suggest that the domains of the PS and PB blocks overlap to a great extent.     

Morphology resulting from coupling of phase separation and glass transition in polymer blends

At temperatures near glass transition temperature, off-critical binary polystyrene/polybutadiene (PS/PB) mixtures were found to experience phase separation through the mechanism of slow hydrodynamic coarsening. A bicontinuous phase structure was produced on quenching the PS/PB-blends under cloud point curve. Different coarsening regimes of this percolation structure depending on degrees of supersaturation were found. At late stages of coarsening, secondary phase separation was observed.     

Effect of density fluctuating supercritical carbon dioxide on polymer interfaces

We investigated an effect of CO2 sorption on the compatibility of immiscible polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB) bilayers by using in situ neutron reflectivity. By labeling either polymer with deuterium, we found that the excess CO2 molecules were adsorbed to both top PS and bottom PB layers when the bilayers were exposed to CO2 at the narrow T and P regime near the critical point of pure CO2. Furthermore, we clarified that this excess sorption of CO2 molecules increased the interfacial width between the layers up to 100 angstroms even near room temperature, while the interfacial width without CO2 exposure has been reported to be at most 40 A even at the highest temperature (T congruent with 175 degrees C).     

Synthesis of a novel graft-like copolymer of syndiotactic polystyrene with polybutadiene

A novel graft-like copolymer of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) with polybutadiene (PB) was synthesized by polymerization of styrene in a toluene solution of PB using the cyclopentadiene titanium trichloride (CpTiCl₃)/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalytic system. The effect of PB on the crystallization behavior of the copolymer was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X-ray diffraction. Hydrogenation of the sPS/PB copolymer with p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide afforded a PE-like copolymer.     

Thermal degradation of styrene-butadiene diblock copolymer: Part 2—Characteristics and mechanism of degradation of the copolymer

The degradation behaviour of the copolymer has been studied under programmed heating conditions and isothermally at 380°C and compared with the characteristics of the degradation of polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB) and a 1:1 by weight blend of the homopolymers, under the same conditions. The degradation shows many similarities to that of the blend. Evolution of styrene from the PS sections is at first inhibited by early volatile products from the PB parts of the chains and is subsequently retarded by other products. The extent of these stabilisation effects is greater in the copolymer than in the blend. In consequence, greater amounts of PS and PB chain structures can persist to higher degradation temperatures than in the case of homopolymer or blend: this explains the considerably higher proportion of toluene in the volatile products and the greater extent of aromatisation of the PB chain fragments.