Semicontinuous heterophase polymerization under monomer starved conditions to prepare nanoparticles with narrow size distribution

The semicontinuous polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in heterogeneous medium under monomer‐starved conditions is reported here. The effect of monomer addition rate on kinetics, particle size, particle number, and PMMA average molar masses are reported. This process permits the synthesis of high‐solid content latexes containing nano‐sized particles (<40 nm) with narrow particle size distributions [(D_w/D_n) < 1.1]. Moreover, the molar masses (M_n ≈ 0.3–1.2 × 10⁶ g/mol) are much lower than those expected by chain transfer to monomer, which is the typical termination mechanism in 0–1 emulsion and microemulsion reactions. Both particle size and average molar masses decrease as the rate of monomer addition is diminished. Possible explanations for this process are provided. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1463–1473, 2007     

Incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane into polyurethanes and characterization of copolymers

Novel copolymers of polyurethane (PU) were prepared by direct transurethanetion reaction of a commercial PU with polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS, MW 1000, 5000, and 10,000) containing hydroxyl end-groups. Transurethanetions with different mass ratios of hydrophobic PDMS to hydrophilic PU chains (PDMS1000–PU: 43:57, 67:33, 71:29, and 80:20; PDMS5000–PU: 37:63, and 51:49; PDMS10000–PU: 51:49) were carried out in solution at 65 and 100 °C. In catalyzed reactions, dibutyltin dilaurate (SnC₃₂H₆₄O₄) was used to promote bond breaking in the PU chain and accelerate the reaction between hydroxyl end-groups of PDMS and regenerated isocyanates of PU. The chemical structures of the prepared copolymers were comprehensively characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopies. According to elemental analysis, the content of PDMS varied between 3 wt.% and 16 wt.%, and results obtained from the ¹H NMR spectroscopy were in good agreement with the results of elemental analysis. Increased length of the hydrophobic chain increased the content of PDMS in the copolymer. The GPC results showed that molar masses of the PUPDMS copolymers were lower than the molar mass of the starting PU. The glass transitions (T_g) of the copolymers were shifted to lower temperature as compared with T_g of the starting polyurethane. ATR FTIR spectroscopy showed the surface of the copolymer films to be enriched with siloxane groups and, according to electron microscopy, it was textured with microspheres. The static contact angles for copolymer films measured with deionized water ranged from 94° to 117°. The different structural, thermal and surface properties of the PUPDMS copolymers as compared with PU indicated that transurethanetion had taken place.     

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of N‐glycidylphthalimide: Combination of phosphazene base and activated monomer mechanism

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phthalimide, initiated with alcohol–phosphazene base systems and based on monomer activation with a Lewis acid (iBu₃Al), has been studied. No propagation occurred for initiator: iBu₃Al ratios less or equal to 1:3. For larger Lewis acid amounts, the first anionic ring‐opening polymerizations of glycidyl phthalimide were observed. Polymers were carefully characterized by NMR, MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry, and size exclusion chromatography and particular attention was given to the detection of eventual transfer or side‐reactions. However, polymer precipitation and transfer reaction to aluminum derivative were detrimental to monomer conversion, polymerization control, and limited polymer chain molar masses. The influence of reaction temperature and solvent on polymer precipitation and transfer reactions was studied and reaction conditions have been optimized leading to afford end‐capped poly(glycidyl phthalimide) with narrow molar mass distributions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1091–1099     

Kinetics of hexene‐1 polymerization using [(N,N′‐diisopropylbenzene)‐2,3‐(1,8‐napthyl)‐1,4‐diazabutadiene] dibromonickel/methylaluminoxane catalyst system

Kinetics of hexene‐1 polymerization was investigated using [(N,N′‐diisopropylbenzene)2,3‐(1,8‐napthly)‐1,4‐diazabutadiene]dibromonickel/methylaluminoxane catalyst. Experiments were performed at varying catalyst and monomer concentrations in the temperature range of ?10 to 35 °C. First order time‐conversion plot shows a downward curvature at temperatures of 20 °C and 35 °C indicating the presence of finite termination reactions. A nonlinear plot of degree of polymerization (P_n) with respect to conversion indicates occurrence of transfer reactions and slow initiation. The experimental molar masses are higher than predicted, which implies that a fraction of catalyst species could not be activated or is deactivated at the early stages of the reactions. The efficiency of the catalyst (Cat_eff) varies from 0.77 to 0.89. The observed polydispersity of the poly(hexene‐1) s is in the range of 1.18–1.48. The reaction order was found to be 1.11 with respect to catalyst. The Arrhenius plot obtained using the overall propagation rate constant, k_p, at five different temperatures (?10, 0, 10, 20, and 35 °C) was found to be linear with an activation energy, E_a = 4.3 kcal/mol. Based on the results presented it is concluded that the polymerization of hexene‐1 under the above‐mentioned conditions shows significant deviation from ideal “living” behavior. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1093–1100, 2007     

n-Butyllithium/α-methylstyrene/benzene/diethyl ether: A suitable initiation system for anionic syntheses of model co- and homopolymers of styrene and isoprene

An initiation system of the anionic polymerization, intended for the syntheses of homopolymers and block copolymers with narrow molar mass distribution, was tested with styrene and isoprene. The actual initiating species, viz., the oligomeric α-methylstyryl anion, originates by the reaction of n-butyllithium with α-methylstyrene in a benzene/diethyl ether 1:1 (v:v) solvent mixture at room temperature. The homopolymers and two-block copolymers of styrene and isoprene, prepared by using this system, were characterized by light scattering, membrance osmometry, GPC, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. By using the suggested initiation system, it is possible to synthesize well-defined homopolymers and block copolymers with low polydispersity (as judged by the shape of the GPC peaks and by the values of the polydispersity index), especially in a molar mass region between 4 × 10⁴ and 1.5 × 10⁵ g/mol. Above the upper limit of this interval, an appropriate decrease of the diethyl ether/benzene volume ratio is recommended, though the polymerization time must then be prolonged.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermoreversible behaviours of poly(dimethyl siloxane)/poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) semi-interpenetrating networks

Simultaneous and sequential poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm)/poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with different linear PDMS contents were prepared by free radical polymerization method. Their phase morphologies have been characterized by FTIR, DSC and SEM. The simultaneous semi-IPNs exhibited phase transition temperatures (T_pt) shifted higher temperature from glass transition temperatures (T_g) of their respective homopolymers, suggesting a heterophase morphology and only physical entanglement between the PNIPAAm network and linear PDMS with high molecular weight (Mn≈9000 g/mol). For sequential semi-IPNs, the shift of T_pts towards lower temperature suggested that the chemical interaction between the constituents of the IPNs increased with increasing PDMS content in the network. In addition, these semi-IPNs were characterized for their thermo-sensitive behaviour by equilibrium swelling studies. The results showed that incorporation of hydrophobic PDMS polymer into the thermo- and pH-sensitive PNIPAAm and P(NIPAAm-co-IA) (itaconic acid) hydrogels by semi-IPN formation decreased swelling degrees of IPNs without affecting their LCSTs whereas addition of acrylated PDMS (Tegomer V-Si 2250) as crosslinker instead of N,N^′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) into the structures of these hydrogels changed their LCSTs along with their swelling degrees.     

Transition structures and reaction barriers in the styrene–acrylonitrile copolymerization system according to quantum mechanical calculations

The geometries and electronic properties of substrates, transition structures (TS), and product radicals in modeled elementary propagation reactions were studied for the styrene–acrylonitrile monomer system by use of quantum‐mechanical calculations: (DFT/B3‐LYP/6–31G(d), ROMP2/6–311+G(3df,2p)//DFT/B3‐LYP/6–31G(d), and DFT/B3‐LYP/6–311+G(3df,2p)//DFT/B3‐LYP/6–31G(d)) and for some parameters, the high‐level composite method G3 (Gaussian‐3, G3/MP2). Activation enthalpies (ΔH^act) and reaction enthalpies (ΔH_r) for modeled propagation reactions at 298.15 K were evaluated. The enthalpy of activation energy (ΔH^act, kJ/mol) for the investigated elementary reactions rises for the B3‐LYP calculation in the following order: (CH₃A?+S) < (CH₃A?+A) < (CH₃S?+A) < (CH₃S?+S). For three propagation reactions, (CH₃A?+A), (CH₃A?+S), and (CH₃S?+A), correlation between reaction enthalpy and enthalpy of activation suggests weak or negligible polar effects reflecting the Evans–Polanyi relation. However, from the electron affinities and ionization energies values data, it is not excluded that at least for [CH₃A?+S[b]] and [CH₃S?+A[b]] reactions, nucleophilic and electrophilic polar effects, respectively, can also be expected. The dependencies between TS geometries, electronic parameters, and enthalpic effects suggest the presence of a steric factor in all TS, including its exceptionally high contribution to the activation enthalpy for the CH₃S?+S addition. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1827–1844, 2005     

Thermochemical Properties and Decomposition Kinetics of Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Monohydrate

Ammonium magnesium phosphate monohydrate NH4MgPO4·H2O was prepared via solid state reaction at room temperature and characterized by XRD, FT-IR and SEM. Thermochemical study was performed by an isoperibol solution calorimeter, non-isothermal measurement was used in a multivariate non-linear regression analysis to determine the kinetic reaction parameters. The results show that the molar enthalpy of reaction above is （28.795 ± 0.182） kJ/mol （298.15 K）, and the standard molar enthalpy of formation of the title complex is （-2185.43 ± 13.80） kJ/mol （298.15 K）. Kinetics analysis shows that the second decomposition of NH4MgPO4·H2O acts as a double-step reaction： an nth-order reaction （Fn） with n=4.28, E1=147.35 kJ/mol, A1=3.63×10^13 s^-1 is followed by a second-order reaction （F2） with E2=212.71 kJ/mol, A2= 1.82 × 10^18 s^-1.     

Ab initio study on the mechanism of reaction HNCO+NH2

Ab initio UMP2 and UQCISD(T) calculations, with 6-311G** basis sets, were performed for the titled reactions. The results show that the reactions have two product channels: NH₂+ HNCO?NH₃+NCO (1) and NH₂+HNCO?N₂H₃+CO (2), where reaction (1) is a hydrogen abstraction reaction via an H-bonded complex (HBC), lowering the energy by 32.48 kJ/mol relative to reactants. The calculated QCISD(T)//MP2(full) energy barrier is 29.04 kJ/mol, which is in excellent accordance with the experimental value of 29.09 kJ/mol. In the range of reaction temperature 2300–2700 K, transition theory rate constant for reaction (1) is 1.68×10¹¹–3.29×10¹¹ mL·mol^-1·s^-1, which is close to the experimental one of 5.0×10¹¹mL·mol^-1·s^-1or less. However, reaction (2) is a stepwise reaction proceeding via two orientation modes,cis andtrans, and the energy barriers for the rate-control step at our best calculations are 92.79 kJ/mol (forcis-mode) and 147.43 kJ/mol (fortrans-mode), respectively, which is much higher than reaction (1). So reaction (1) is the main channel for the titled reaction.     

Kinetics of the reactions of cyclopropane derivatives. V. The gas-phase unimolecular reactions of 1 α-chloro-2α,3α-dimethylcyclopropane and 1α-chloro-2α,3β-dimethylcyclopropane

Thermolysis of the “all-cis” compound 1α-chloro-2α,3α-dimethylcyclopropane (A) at 550–607 K and 6–115 torr is a first-order homogeneous non-radical-chain process giving penta-1,3-diene (PD) and HCl as products. The Arrhenius parameters are log₁₀A(sec^?1) = 13.92 ± 0.08 and E = 199.6 ± 0.9 kJ/mol. The isomer with trans-methyl groups, 1α-chloro-2α,3β-dimethylcyclopropane (B) reacts by two parallel first-order processes giving as observed products trans-4-chloropent-2-ene (4CP) and PD + HCl, with log₁₀A(sec^?1) = 14.6 and 13.8, respectively, and E = 199.5 and 190.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The 4CP undergoes secondary decomposition to PD + HCl (as investigated previously). Comparison of the results for compounds (A) and (B) with those for other gas-phase and solution reactions leads to the conclusion that the gas-phase thermolyses proceed by rate-determining ring opening to form olefins which may decompose further by thermal or chemically activated reactions, and that the ring opening is a semiionic electrocyclic reaction in which alkyl groups in the 2,3-positions trans to the migrating chlorine semianion move apart, with appropriate consequences for the rate of reaction and the stereochemistry of the products.     

Copolyesters of isosorbide,succinic acid,and isophthalic acid: Biodegradable,high Tg engineering plastics

Isosorbide, succinyl chloride and isophthaloyl chloride are polycondensed under various reaction conditions. The heating in bulk with or without catalysts as well in an aromatic solvent without catalyst, and polycondensation with the addition of pyridine only yield low molar mass copolyesters. However, heating in chlorobenzene with addition of SnCl₂ or ZnCl₂ produces satisfactory molar masses. The number average molecular weights (M_n) of most copolyesters fall into the range of 7000–15,000 Da with polydispersities (PD) in the range of 3–9. The MALDI‐TOF mass spectra almost exclusively displayed peaks of cyclics indicating that the chain growth was mainly limited by cyclization and not by side reactions, stoichiometric imbalance or incomplete conversion. The glass‐transition temperatures increased with the content of isophthalic acid from 75 to 180 °C and the thermo‐stabilities also followed this trend. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2464–2471     

Block copolymer compatibilizers for polystyrene/poly(dimethylsiloxane) blends

Symmetric polystyrene (PS)–poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) diblock copolymers were mixed into a 20% dispersion of PDMS in PS. The effect of adding the block copolymer on the blend morphology was examined as a function of the block copolymer molecular weight (M_n,bcp), concentration, and viscosity ratio (η_r). When blended together with the PS and PDMS homopolymers, most of the block copolymer appeared as micelles in the PS matrix. Even when the copolymer was preblended into the PDMS dispersed phase, block copolymer micelles in the PS matrix phase were observed with transmission electron microscopy after mixing. Adding 16 kg/mol PS–PDMS block copolymer dramatically reduced the PDMS particle size, but the morphology, as examined by scanning electron microscopy, was unstable upon thermal annealing. Adding 156 kg/mol block copolymer yielded particle sizes similar to those of blends with 40 or 83 kg/mol block copolymers, but only blends with 83 kg/mol block copolymer were stable after annealing. For a given value of M_n,bcp, a minimum PDMS particle size was observed when η_r ～ 1. When η_r = 2.6, thermally stable, submicrometer particles as small as 0.6 μm were observed after the addition of only 3% PS–PDMS diblock (number‐average molecular weight = 83 kg/mol) to the blend. As little as 1% 83 kg/mol block copolymer was sufficient to stabilize a 20% dispersion of 1.1‐μm PDMS particles in PS. Droplet size reduction was attributed to the prevention of coalescence caused by small amounts of block copolymer at the interface. The conditions under which block copolymer interfacial adsorption and interpenetration were facilitated were explained with Leibler's brush theory. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 346–357, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10098     

Poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone)–polydimethylsiloxane amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers

Triblock copolymers of N‐vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using two different types of difunctional telechelic PDMS‐based dixanthate macroinitiators. The incorporation of PDMS into the triblock copolymers was evidenced by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and varied between 4 mol % and as high as 20 mol %, dependent on reaction time and monomer conversion. The copolymer homogeneity was characterized in terms of molecular weight distribution determined by GPC to estimate the level of control over the chain length. Monomodal molecular weight distributions were observed, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicated the copolymers had number average molecular weights (M_n) ranging between 28,000 and 160,000 g/mol. In addition, thin film phase separation and critical micelle concentrations for these copolymers were analyzed via transmission electron microscopy and surface tension measurements, respectively. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3387–3394     

Ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone catalyzed by Yttrium trisphenolate in the presence of 1,2‐propanediol. Do both primary and secondary hydroxyl groups initiate polymerization?

Although the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) in toluene at 100 °C can be initiated by yttrium trisphenolate (Y(OC₆H₅)₃), in the presence of 1,2‐propanediol (PD) the ROP gives much better, that is, controlled polymerizations. In this case, the molecular weights (MWs) are controlled by the CL/PD molar ratios with primary and secondary hydroxyl groups both initiating the ROP and the MW distributions are narrow. The chain transfers between the active yttrium alkoxides and the residual hydroxyl groups on the PD and/or the chain ends appear to be much faster than chain propagation, consistent with the living character of the ROP. Computational studies support these facile reactions with estimated activation free energies in the 3.0–4.5 kcal/mol range compared with about 25–30 kcal/mol for the polymerization. Intramolecular transfer within the PD is predicted to be negligible having a calculated activation energy of 19 kcal /mol. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

A study of the reactions of fluorine with hydrogen and methane in the initiation phase using a miniature tubular reactor

A small tubular reactor having an inner diameter of 1–2 mm andused as the source in a molecular beam apparatus is described in detail. This arrangement allows the study of fast reactions with reaction times smaller than 1 msec. The preexplosive reaction phase between F₂ and H₂ and CH₄, respectively, is investigated to find out the initiation reactions. In the F₂/H₂ reaction, initiation is brought about by heterogeneous generation of F atoms or some other surface reaction. Evidence is also obtained for chain branching reactions. In the F₂/CH₄ case the dominant initiation reaction is the homogeneous reaction CH₄ + F₂ → CH₃ + HF + F. The rate constant for the reaction between 300 and 400 K is 10^12.3±0.3 exp[?47 ± 8 kJ/mol/RT] cm³/mol sec. The analysis of the experimental data also yields the rate constant for the propagation reaction CH₃ + F₂ → CH₃ F + F, which is 10^12.3±0.3 exp[?4.6 ±2.1 kJ/mol/RT] cm³/mol sec.     

Use of samarium (III) acetate as initiator in ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

Abstract

In this work was evaluated the activity of samarium acetate (III) (Sm(OAc)₃) as a possible initiator in the polymerization by ring opening of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). All polymerizations were carried out under solvent-free melt conditions in ampoules-like flasks, equipped with a magnetic stirrer. The effects of different parameters of reaction, such as molar ratio monomer to initiator, temperature and reaction time, on typical variables of polymers, e.g., conversion of TMC to poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), dispersity and molar mass, were analyzed. The molar ratio of monomer to initiator was varied between 0 and 1000?mol/mol and the temperature among 70 and 150?°C. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H-NMR and HMBC) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) were used to characterize the polymers. The results indicate that the Sm(OAc)₃ induces the polymerization of TMC to high conversion with number-average molecular weights of 3.11?×?10³ to 38.40?×?10³?Da. Based on the ¹H-NMR end-group analysis of low-molecular-weight PTMC, it was proposed a coordination–insertion mechanism for the polymerization, with a breakdown of the acyl-oxygen bond of the TMC. In according to the kinetic study carried out, the polymerization rate is first-order with respect to monomer concentration with apparent rate constants of k_ap?=?7.02?×?10^?4?mol?×?L^?1?×?h^?1.     

Synthesis of well‐defined poly(dimethylsiloxane) telechelics having nitrobenzoxadiazole fluorescent chain‐ends via thiol‐ene coupling

Well‐defined PDMS telechelics having nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) fluorescent probes covalently attached at both chain‐ends were prepared in two steps and a series of fractionation procedures starting from commercially available divinyl‐terminated PDMS having a broad molar mass dispersity. First, thiol‐ene coupling between 6‐mercapto‐1‐hexanol and vinyl chain‐ends allowed the formation of dihydroxy‐terminated PDMS telechelics through the formation of a thioether linkage. The resulting material was then sequentially fractionated using dichloromethane/methanol mixtures to afford several well‐defined dihydroxy‐terminated PDMS fractions having sharp distributions of molar masses (M_n = 99.5–158 kDa and ? < 1.2). The NBD fluorescent probes were then attached at both chain‐ends by N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine esterification coupling between the hydroxyl groups and 6‐(7‐nitrobenzofurazan‐4‐ylamino)hexanoic acid. The resulting fluorescent PDMS telechelics were characterized by SEC, ¹H NMR, UV–visible, and fluorescence spectroscopies. These materials are suitable probes to investigate the dynamics of polymer chains in bulk or at interfaces by the fringe pattern fluorescent recovery after photobleaching technique. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Hyperbranched bisphosphinoamine ligands: synthesis,characterization and application in ethylene oligomerization

Two hyperbranched bisphosphinoamine (PNP) ligands and chromium complexes were synthesized in good yield with 1.0 generation (1.0 G) hyperbranched macromolecules, chlorodiphenylphosphine (Ph₂PCl) and CrCl₃(THF)₃ as raw materials. The hyperbranched PNP ligands and chromium complexes were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, UV and ESI-MS. Comparing with the chromium complexes, the hyperbranched PNP ligands, in combination with Cr(III), and activation by methylaluminoxane (MAO) in situ generated species with better catalytic performance for ethylene oligomerization. The effect of solvent, chromium source, ligand/Cr molar ratio, reaction temperature, Al/Cr molar ratio and reaction pressure on the catalytic activity and product selectivity were studied. The results showed that with increase of ligand/Cr molar ratio, reaction temperature and Al/Cr molar ratio, the catalytic activity increased at first and then decreased. However, the catalytic activity continuously increased with increase of reaction pressure. Under the optimized conditions, the catalytic system of hyperbranched PNP/Cr(III)/MAO led to catalytic activity of 2.68 × 10⁵ g/(mol Cr·h) and 37.71% selectivity for C₆ and C₈.     

Synthesis and fractionation of poly(phenylene methylene)

Poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) was isolated in a broad range of molar masses by optimization of the catalytic polymerization of benzyl chloride with SnCl₄ or FeCl₃, followed by fractionation by Soxhlet extraction or phase separation in concentrated solutions in poor solvents. Low molar mass products were also obtained by quenching the reaction at moderate monomer conversions. Products with number average molar masses (M_n) ranging from 200 to 61,000 g mol⁻¹ were isolated, the latter being an order of magnitude above the previously reported values. DSC analysis of polymers of different molar masses revealed that the glass transition temperature follows the Flory‐Fox equation reaching a plateau value of 65 °C at a molar mass between 10,000 and 20,000 g mol⁻¹. The onset of decomposition temperature of higher molar mass products proceeds above 450 °C (maximum decomposition rate at 515 °C), according to TGA. Furthermore, the substitution pattern of PPM was discussed by study of chemical shifts of the methylene group by extensive NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, and HSQC) and by comparison with two mono‐substituted derivatives of PPM—poly(2,4,6‐trimethylphenylene methylene) and poly(2,3,5,6‐tetramethylphenylene methylene)—which were synthesized analogous to PPM. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 309–318     

Kinetics of cationic photopolymerizations of divinyl ethers characterized using in situ Raman spectroscopy

In situ Raman spectroscopy experiments were used to determine effective kinetic propagation constants for a series of unsteady-state divinyl ether polymerizations at different isothermal temperatures and light intensities. Raman spectroscopy was found to be ideally suited for monitoring cationic photopolymerizations because the technique allows isothermal experiments to be performed with excellent time resolution and allows several spectral features to be observed simultaneously. In addition, the Raman experiments provided direct information about the vinyl bond concentration in situ as the reaction takes place. For these cationic photopolymerizations, the reaction rate and limiting conversion were both found to increase as the reaction temperature was increased. At all temperatures, the profile for the propagation rate constant, k_p, exhibited a dramatic increase at the start of the reaction, plateaued at a value between 10 and 40 l/mol s (depending upon temperature), and then decreased as the reaction reached a limiting conversion due to trapping of the active centers. Finally, the overall activation energy for polymerization was found to be 25.1 ± 6.1 kJ/mol. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.