Thermal Degradation of Poly(ε-caprolactone), Poly(L-lactic acid) and their Blends with Poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate) Studied by TGA/FT-IR Spectroscopy

Summary: The thermal degradation behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) have been studied in different environment. It was found that these polymers undergo completely different degradation processes in nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere. In oxygen environment PCL and PLA mainly decompose to CO₂, CO, water and short-chain acids. In nitrogen atmosphere PCL releases 5-hexenioc acid, CO₂, CO and ε-caprolactone, whereas PLA decomposes to acetaldehyde, CO₂, CO and lactide. The polymer blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with PCL and PLA decompose similar to the individual homopolymers with crotonic acid as the initial decomposition product of PHB.     

Thermal Decomposition of Polyisoprene,Poly(p-isopropyl α-Methylstyrene), and Poly(isoprene/p-isopropyl α-Methylstyrene)

Thermal decompositions of polyisoprene, poly(p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene) (PPIPαMS), and poly(isoprene/p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene) (sample M-32) were carried out at various temperatures in the range 200–340° C in a differential thermo-gravimetric apparatus. The undecomposed polymers as well as their decomposed residues were analyzed by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Based on the changes observed in the distribution of molecular weights, depolymerization is the predominant step in the decomposition of PPIPAMS and polymer M-32, whereas random scissions predominate in the case of polyisoprene. The combined data of GPC, IR, and NMR indicate that only interchain reactions leading to the formation of cyclized products are present in the decomposition of polyisoprene while interchain as well as intrachain reactions are operative in the case of polymer M-32.     

MÖSsbauer Spectroscopic Study of Fecl3 Complexes of Poly(N-Methyl-2,5-Pyrrolylene), Poly(2,5-Thienylene), and Poly(3-Methyl-2,5-Thienylene) Prepared by Ni-Catalyzed Polycondensation

Reaction of FeCl₃ with poly(N-methyl-2,5-pyrrolylene) (PNMPy), poly(2,5-thienylene) (PTh), and poly(3-methyl-2,5-thienylene) (P3MeTh) caused reduction of FeCl₃ to afford Fe²⁺ species. Variable temperature Mössbauer spectra of the reaction systems indicated formation of FeCl₂ and FeCl^? ₄. The latter is regarded as a counter-anion for the cation delocalized along the π-conjugated polymer chain.     

Crystallization Behavior of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and Their Blend (50:50 wt.%) Studied by 2D FT-IR Correlation Spectroscopy

Variable-temperature FT-IR spectra of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and a PHB/PCL (50:50 wt.%) blend were analyzed by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS). For this purpose the ν(CO) region was employed to characterize in some detail the crystallization behavior of the investigated polymer systems during cooling from the melt. The asynchronous 2D correlation spectra clearly captured the existence of three components in the crystallinity-sensitive region of the CO stretching mode for PHB and PCL, respectively: a well-ordered, an inter-mediate and a less ordered crystalline state. Furthermore, by 2DCOS application a sequential order of the observed structural changes could be proposed for the whole temperature range during the crystallization of both polymers. In the case of the PHB/PCL (50:50 wt.%) polymer blend, we have split up the spectral data set in the sub-sets between 200–120 °C and 70–30 °C for a more detailed 2DCOS analysis. In this way we could separate the crystallization process of PHB and PCL in the polymer blend.     

Raman Spectroscopic Study of the Conformation and Melting of Poly(dG) · Poly(dC) and Poly(dG-dC) · Poly(dG-dC) in Aqueous Solution

Raman spectroscopic measurements on aqueous solutions of poly(dG) · poly(dC)indicate that the conformation of the polynucleotides in this double helicalcomplex are distributed between the A and B types at room temperature, the Aform being predominant at –15°C and decreasing progressively upon raising thetemperature to 65°C. A reversible pretransition has been found in this complexnear 70°C. Modifications in the spectra at this temperature indicate no majorconformational changes, but rather suggest altered base pairing and hydration ofthe carbonyl groups, accompanied by a slight distortion of the double helix,resulting in a slightly reduced stacking of the cytosine bases. Measurements inself-pressurized solutions of the complex at high temperature show that it meltsat 103°C in 0.1M NaCl solution (107°C in 0.5M NaCl). These values are somewhatlower than those we have determined in the same manner for the complexpoly(dG-dC) · poly(dG-dC): 117°C in 0.1M MgCl₂ and 113°C or higher in 0.1MNaCl solution.     

Electrospun Aligned Poly(L-lactide)/Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) /Poly(ethylene glycol) Blend Fibrous Membranes

Aligned poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) fibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. Their morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, hydrophilic properties and in vitro degradation behaviors were investigated. With increasing the content of PEG, the PLLA/PCL/PEG blend fibers become thinner due to the increment in solution conductivity and decrease in solution viscosity. The thermal stability, hydrophilic properties, the tensile strength and elongation-at-break of PLLA/PCL/PEG blend fibrous membranes were improved, but porosity were decreased with the content of PEG changing from 10 wt% to 30 wt%. Furthermore, the incorporation of PEG enhanced the degradation of the PLLA/PCL/PEG fibrous membranes due to the better hydrophilic properties. In addition, the PLLA/PCL/PEG fibrous membranes have no toxic effect on proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells.     

Structural Characterization of Poly(α-Fluoroacrylonitrile) and Poly(Ethyl α-Fluoroacrylate)

Abstract

Monomers α-fluoroacrylonitrile (FAN) and ethyl α-fluoroacrylate (EFA) and homopolymers poly(α-fluoroacrylonitrile) (PFAN) and poly-(ethyl α-fluoroacrylate) (PEFA) have been synthesized and spectroscopi-cally characterized in detail for the first time. The ¹³C- and ¹⁹F-NMR spectroscopic results are reported, and the results are correlated to the tacticity and microstructure of both homopolymers. The major portion of the polymers is atactic. TGA analysis of PFAN indicates that the polymer is stable to about 200°C with subsequent loss of HF. PEFA is stable to 300 °C. Molecular weights determined by intrinsic viscosity (M_v ) are found to be about 130,000 for PFAN, and GPC analysis of PEFA indicates a molecular weight (M_n ) of about 36,000. Dielectric permittivities (ε) for PFAN and PEFA were determined to be 8.9 and 4.0, respectively, at 50 Hz.     

Coordination Polymers. IV. Physicochemical Studies on Chelate Polymers of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) with a Schiff Base of 4,4′-(4,4′-Biphenylylene Bisazo)di-(salicylaldehyde) with m. Toluidine

Coordination polymers of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) with a Schiff base derived from 4,4′ - (4,4′ -biphenylylene bisazo) di (salicylaldehyde) and m-toluidine have been prepared. All the polychelates are dark colored and insoluble in common organic solvents. Magnetic susceptibility and electronic and IR spectra of the polychelates have been studied. All the polychelates except Cu(II) show octahedral structures while Cu(II) polychelate is suggested to be a square planar.     

Über die Identifizierung der Lokalanaesthetica (L-A) Butacain (1), Butethamin (2), Chloroprocain (3), Dyclonin (4), Äthylaminobenzoat (5), Lidocain (6), Meprylcain (7), Metalbutethamin (8), Metabutoxycain (9), Naepain (10), Parethoxycain (11), Piperocain (12), Procain (13), Proparacain (14), Propoxycain (15) und Tetracain (16)

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry -     

Crystallization of Poly(ethylene adipate) within γ-Phase Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Matrix

The effects of PEA on the γ-phase PVDF crystal structure and the crystallization of PEA within the pre-existing γ-phase PVDF spherulites have been investigated by optical microscopy(OM), infrared spectroscopy(IR) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The results demonstrate that the γ-phase PVDF spherulites consist of the lamellae exhibiting a highly curved scroll-like morphology and develop preferentially in PEA-rich blend. With increasing PEA concentration, the scroll diameter increases and the scrolls are better separated from each other. PEA crystallizes first in the interspherulitic region and transcrystalline layer develops. Subsequently, the transcrystalline layer of PEA continues to grow within the γ-phase PVDF spherulites, e.g., in the region between the scrolls, until impinging on other PEA transcrystalline layers or spherulites. The crystallization kinetics results indicate that the growth rate of PEA crystals in the intraspherulitic region of γ-phase PVDF shows a positive correlation with content of PEA, but a negative one with the crystallization temperature of γ-phase PVDF.     

Degradability of Poly(β-Hydroxybutyrate)s. Correlation with Chemical Microstructure

Abstract

Poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)s (PHB) of different microstructures were synthesized via anionic polymerization of β-butyrolactone initiated by two initiators: 1) supramolecular complexes of alkali metals with asymmetric induction agents, and 2) alkali metal alkoxides. The relationships between chemical microstructure and hydrolytic as well as thermal degradation properties of synthetic and natural PHB are discussed.     

Crystallizability of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Blends with Poly(vinylphenol) under Different Conditions

The intermolecular interaction between poly（vinylphenol） （PVPh） and polycaprolactone （PCL） and the crystallization behavior of PCL in PCL/PVPh blends with different compositions and under different conditions were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectra （FTIR） and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. It has been shown that the PCL in the blends with different blend ratios all exists in crystalline state after solution casting, even though the crystallinity decreases with increasing PVPh content. For the melt crystallized samples, PCL in its 80/20 PCL/PVPh sample can still crystallize. The crystallinity is, however, lower than that of the solution cast sample. For blends containing 50% or 20% PCL, the as-cast samples are semicrystalline and can change to compatible amorphous state after heat treatment process. FTIR analysis shows the existence of hydrogen bonding between PCL and PVPh and the fraction of hydrogen bonds increases remarkably after heat treatment process.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and Poly(lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)

Summary: This study reported the preparation and characterization of PCL-b-mPEG (poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) and PLL-b-mPEG (poly(L-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) diblock copolymers by microwave heating and comparison of resulted products the ones with prepared by conventional heating. Diblock copolymers were synthesized successfully by the microwave-assisted ROP in the presence of stannous octoate (SnOct₂) as catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere in different monomer ratios. Structural and functional characterization of copolymers were performed by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and DSC. Molecular weight values were determined by GPC and also calculated from ¹H-NMR. According to the results, microwave irradiation allowed to obtain polymers with very narrow size distribution in very short reaction time. Similar polymers prepared by conventional heating were also synthesized for comparison. Molecular weight and conversion of polymers were increased by irradiation time. This change was continued until a certain time point after which no more increase was observed. It was concluded that microwave irradiation is a succesful method to obtain these diblock copolymers in very short reaction time and with a similar conversion obtained by conventional method.     

Compressive Elastic Moduli of Poly(N‐Isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels Crosslinked with Poly(Dimethyl Siloxane)

Hydrophobically modified and thermally reversible neutral and ionic copolymer hydrogels were prepared from N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), vinyl terminated poly (dimethylsiloxane) (VTPDMS) and itaconic acid (IA) by free radical solution polymerization, and their properties such as swelling ratio and compression modulus were studied at the 25°C. The incorporation of VTPDMS as a hydrophobic macrocrosslinker into the structures of neutral NIPAAm hydrogels increased their mechanical strength around 10 times than those of the ones crosslinked with conventional tetra functional monomer, i.e., N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide (BIS). Compression modulus decreased with an increase in IA content for ionic samples and increased with increasing molecular weight and content of VTPDMS for neutral samples. It was assumed that in the first case, electrostatic repulsive forces resulting from the ionized carboxyl groups of IA were responsible for decreasing mechanical strength, while in the second case, hydrophobic interactions between dimethylsiloxane units of VTPDMS chains enhanced the compression moduli. According to the results presented in this work, it can be said that the right balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents and adjustment of the number of ionized groups, as well as crosslinking degree, change the structure and physical properties of NIPPAAm hydrogels.     

Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Poly(glycolic acid) Films:Effect of Poly(glycolic acid) Crystal on Mechanical and Barrier Properties

Binary biodegradable polymers films, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) and poly(glycolic acid)(PGA), were prepared through batch melt mixing to obtain Film Ⅰ and Film Ⅱ under two different processing conditions. PGA crystals played a major role in enhancing the mechanical and barrier properties of the films. For Film Ⅰ, there were initial PGA crystals before the film blowing process, the PGA molecular chain further crystallized, forming the oriented crystallization of PGA. Moreover, ...     

Phase Behavior of Poly(Oxyethylene)–Poly(Oxypropylene)–Poly(Oxyethylene) Block Copolymer in Water and Water–C12EO5 Systems

Abstract

The binary phase diagram of a triblock copolymer poly(oxyethylene) (PEO) poly(oxypropylene) (PPO) poly(oxyethylene) (PEO), (PEO)₃₇(PPO)₅₈(PEO)₃₇ or P105 in water and the ternary system of P105, water, and pentaoxyethylene dodecyl ether (C₁₂EO₅) has been studied to understand the miscibility of a small amphiphile, C₁₂EO₅ and a copolymer, as well as the mixing effect on the formed liquid crystalline structures. Phase diagrams, small angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize these systems. The phase diagram of the binary system is presented together with the characteristic parameters for founded phases, namely, cubic, hexagonal, and lamellar phases. In the ternary system it was found that the small amphiphile and the block copolymer, despite having very different chain lengths are essentially miscible forming single phases. A large amount of C₁₂EO₅ can be solubilized in the P105 aggregates whereas P105 is most difficult to dissolve in the C₁₂EO₅ aggregates because of the difference in the molecular size. The copolymer is practically insoluble in the lamellar phase of C₁₂EO₅ due to the packing constraint. Hence, two lamellar phases coexist in a surfactant‐rich region, at W _s  = 0.66, where W _s is the weight fraction of the total amphiphile in the system. This indicates that the thickness of the lipophilic part of the C₁₂EO₅ lamellar phase is too small to allocate the large lipophilic chain of the P105 triblock copolymer.     

Lattice vibration spectra. Part XCV. Infrared spectroscopic studies on the iron oxide hydroxides goethite (α), akaganéite (β), lepidocrocite (γ), and feroxyhite (δ)

Infrared spectra (IR, FIR, DRIFT, 90 and 295 K) and DSC measurements of the various polymorphs of iron oxide hydroxide, viz. goethite (α), akaganéite (β), lepidocrocite (γ), and feroxyhite (δ), and of deuterated specimens are reported. They are discussed with respect to the crystal structures proposed in the literature, the hydrogen bonds present, the energies of the OH stretching, OH bending (librational), and translational modes, and their thermal decomposition. From the two space groups proposed for β- and γ-FeO(OH), the groups I4/m and Cmc2₁, respectively, seem to be more reliable. The disorder of the OH⁻ ions of γ-FeO(OH) has not been confirmed in contrast to that of δ-FeO(OH). The intraionic O(H,D) distances of γ- and δ-FeO(OH) derived from neutron powder diffraction studies have to be doubted. The greater strength of the OHOH hydrogen bonds of lepidocrocite, for example, compared to that of the OHO hydrogen bonds of goethite despite the larger hydrogen bond acceptor capability of O²⁻ is due to the strong cooperativity of the hydrogen bonds of the γ-polymorph. The extremely different strength of the hydrogen bonds of isostructural α-AlO(OH) (v_OH = 2950 cm⁻¹, 295 K), α-MnO(OH) (v_OH = 2686 cm⁻¹), and α-FeO(OH) (v_OH = 3130 cm⁻¹) is caused by the different synergetic effect of the metal ions involved, especially that of Mn³⁺ due to its Jahn-Teller behaviour. The decomposition temperatures and heats of the various FeO(OH) modifications as well as the halfwidths of the DSC peaks evidence a much faster decomposition rate of akaganéite than those of the other polymorphs. This is obviously due to the Cl⁻ ion impurities present in this compound.     

13C-NMR Sequence Analysis. XVIII. Tacticity of Poly(D,L-β-amino Acids)

D, L-Cis-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid NCA, D, L-cis-and trans-2-aminocyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) and D, L-cis-2-aminocyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid NCA were polymerized under various conditions. The ¹³C-NMR spectra of the resulting β-polyamides measured in trifluoro-acetic acid show splittings of all signals reflecting diads and triads. Poly-D, L-3-aminobutyric acid obtained by anionic polymerization of D, L-4-methyl acetidinone does not display tacticity effects in its ¹³C-NMR spectrum. Hence it is concluded that tacticity effects are observable only if both α- and β-carbons have a substituent. Furthermore, it was found that the reaction conditions do not have a strong influence on the stereospecificity of the NCA-polymerization. In all cases nearly random sequences of D and L-units were obtained.