Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a urethane group

To study the possibility of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a urethane group, 4‐vinyloxybutyl n‐butylcarbamate ( 1 ) and 4‐vinyloxybutyl phenylcarbamate ( 2 ) were polymerized with the hydrogen chloride/zinc chloride initiating system in methylene chloride solvent at ?30 °C ([monomer]₀ = 0.30 M, [HCl]₀/[ZnCl₂]₀ = 5.0/2.0 mM). The polymerization of 1 was very slow and gave only low‐molecular‐weight polymers with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of about 2000 even at 100% monomer conversion. The structural analysis of the products showed occurrence of chain‐transfer reactions because of the urethane group of monomer 1 . In contrast, the polymerization of vinyl ether 2 proceeded much faster than 1 and led to high‐molecular‐weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs ≤ ～1.2) in quantitative yield. The M_n's of the product polymers increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion and continued to increase linearly after sequential addition of a fresh monomer feed to the almost completely polymerized reaction mixture, whereas the MWDs of the polymers remained narrow. These results indicated the formation of living polymer from vinyl ether 2 . The difference of living nature between monomers 1 and 2 was attributable to the difference of the electron‐withdrawing power of the carbamate substituents, namely, n‐butyl for 1 versus phenyl for 2 , of the monomers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2960–2972, 2004     

Structure and solution properties of radical-initiated poly(vinyl chloride). II. Correlation of solution properties

The results of detailed measurements of osmotic pressure, light scattering, and viscosity of poly(vinyl chloride) solutions are used to establish the molecular weight dependence of [η] and A₂, to estimate the unperturbed dimensions of the poly(vinyl chloride) molecule, and to analyze critically the [η]–M correlations published hitherto.     

Synthesis and characterization of star polymers initiated by hexafunctional discotic initiator through atom transfer radical polymerization

A novel hexafunctional discotic initiator, 2,3,6,7,11,12‐hexakis(2‐bromobutyryloxy)triphenylene (HBTP), was synthesized by the esterification of 2,3,6,7,11,12‐hexahydroxytriphenylene with 2‐bromobutyryl chloride. Atom transfer radical polymerizations of styrene, methyl acrylate, and n‐butyl acrylate were carried out in 50 vol % tetrahydrofuran with HBTP/copper(I) bromide/2,2′‐bipyridyl as an initiation system. The polymers produced had well‐controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (<1.2). On the basis of ¹H NMR spectra of the star polymer and its hydrolyzed products, we can conclude that the initiator quantitatively initiated the polymerization of vinyl monomers and that a star polymer with a discotic core was obtained. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2233–2243, 2001     

Number-Average Molecular Weights from Viscosity Measurements during Random Degradation of Polymers

Abstract

Using the theories of random degradation of Montroll and Simha, relationships are derived among limiting viscosity number, degree of degradation, and number-average molecular weight for a polymer undergoing random degradation in a closed system. Relationships among these parameters are derived for initial distributions of the “coupling” and the monodisperse types. Computer programs have been written which rapidly provide reliable values of number-average molecular weights and degrees of degradation from measured viscosity data on polymers with these initial distributions undergoing random degradation.     

Télomères monofonctionnels du chlorure de vinyle—I: Synthèse et caractérisation d'étalons de télomères du chlorure de vinyle

The purpose of this work was the synthesis by telomerization of poly (vinyl chloride) standards, with molecular weights in the range 200–20000. Telomers prepared by redox catalysis have molecular weights between 200–1000. By radical initiation, the molecular weights range from 1000 to 20000. Samples with low dispersity are prepared by fractional precipitation. Molecular weight analysis was done using both G.P.C. and viscometry. For $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{< 500}$, each telomer gives only one peak in G.P.C. For higher telomers, we make use of the relation between logarithm of molecular weight and elution volume; we thus are able to characterize telomers of vinyl chloride.     

Viscometric study of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(vinyl acetate) blends in various solvents

The intermolecular interactions between poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) in tetrahydrofuran (THF), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and N,N^′-dimethylformamide (DMF) were thoroughly investigated by the viscosity measurement. It has been found that the solvent selected has a great influence upon the polymer-polymer interactions in solution. If using PVAc and THF, or PVAc and DMF to form polymer solvent, the intrinsic viscosity of PVC in polymer solvent of (PVAc+THF) or (PVAc+DMF) is less than in corresponding pure solvent of THF or DMF. On the contrary, if using PVAc and MEK to form polymer solvent, the intrinsic viscosity of PVC in polymer solvent of (PVAc+MEK) is larger than in pure solvent of MEK. The influence of solvent upon the polymer-polymer interactions also comes from the interaction parameter term Δb, developed from modified Krigbaum and Wall theory. If PVC/PVAc blends with the weight ratio of 1/1 was dissolved in THF or DMF, Δb<0. On the contrary, if PVC/PVAc blends with the same weight ratio was dissolved in MEK, Δb>0. These experimental results show that the compatibility of PVC/PVAc blends is greatly associated with the solvent from which polymer mixtures were cast. The agreement of these results with differential scanning calorimetry measurements of PVC/PVAc blends casting from different solvents is good.     

Cationic RAFT Polymerization Using ppm Concentrations of Organic Acid

A metal‐free, cationic, reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization was proposed and realized. A series of thiocarbonylthio compounds were used in the presence of a small amount of triflic acid for isobutyl vinyl ether to give polymers with controlled molecular weight of up to 1×10⁵ and narrow molecular‐weight distributions (M_w/M_n<1.1). This “living” or controlled cationic polymerization is applicable to various electron‐rich monomers including vinyl ethers, p‐methoxystyrene, and even p‐hydroxystyrene that possesses an unprotected phenol group. A transformation from cationic to radical RAFT polymerization enables the synthesis of block copolymers between cationically and radically polymerizable monomers, such as vinyl ether and vinyl acetate or methyl acrylate.     

Gamma Ray Induced Gaseous Phase Polymerization and Copolymerization of Vinyl Monomers in Bagasse

Gamma-ray induced gaseous phase in situ polymerization of vinyl chloride and copolymerization of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate in bagasse have been investigated and discussed. The prepared bagasse-plastic combinations were not improved of its mechanical strength owing to the deposited PVC powder and the low copolymer loading in bagasse-board. The viscosity average molecular weight of PVC formed in bagasse-board was found to be slightly higher than that of PVC formed in the in situ liquid polymerization system. No graft reaction of PVC onto bagasse cellulose was observed, while low grade of graft reaction was confirmed with PVC-PVAc copolymer system.     

Characterization of suspension poly(vinyl chloride) resins and narrow polystyrene standards by size exclusion chromatography with multiple detectors: Online right angle laser-light scattering and differential viscometric detectors

This work reports the utilization of a multi-detector size chromatography for the characterization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resins prepared by suspension polymerization in the range of temperatures between 21 and 75 °C. The chromatography equipment offers the possibility of analyzing the samples in terms of their absolute molecular mass using a combination of three detectors (TriSEC): right angle light scattering (RALLS), a differential viscometer (DV) and refractive index (RI). The PVC resins were fully characterized concerning the molecular weight distribution (MWD), its dependence with intrinsic viscosity (η) and molecular sizes (radius of gyration, R_g and hydrodynamic radius, R_h). Additionally, it is also presented the characterization of polystyrene narrow standards serving as reference polymers.It is possible to find in the literature several methodologies concerning the breaking of typical aggregates presented in PVC solutions. The most suitable for the experiments were chosen, adapted and analysed by light scattering. It was observed that the application of the TriSEC to study PVC solutions was effective and it was concluded that this is an important tool for the polymer characterization, opening the possibility of running experiments avoiding the need of fractionation of the polydisperse PVC in order to obtain the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (MHS) constants, or the utilization of MHS, that are quite diverse in literature.     

Measurements of the relaxation spectra of unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) melts

We have measured the relaxation modulus in the temperature range 150–220°C of two samples of poly(vinyl chloride) resin with different molecular weights. The data were treated by the principle of reduced variables to yield composite curves. The shift factors (a_T) when plotted against reciprocal temperature gave good straight lines from which apparent activation energies were obtained. An apparent activation energy of 50 kcal/mole was obtained for both samples. A relaxation spectrum for each resin was calculated from the relaxation modulus data. These spectra showed a marked molecular weight dependence. The spectra were in the range characteristic of the terminal zone of the entanglement plateau. Zero-shear-rate viscosities were obtained from the integration of relaxation modulus plots. From extrapolation of capillary viscosity data it is shown that the viscosity of the higher molecular weight resin used in this study does not approach its zero-shear value until shear rates less than 10^?3 sec^?1 are reached. The effect of supermolecular flow units is briefly discussed.     

Novel polystyryl resins for size exclusion chromatography

New size exclusion chromatography (SEC) resins based on a crosslinker having independent vinyl groups have been produced and compared with SEC resins based on divinylbenzene-55 (DVB). 1,2-Bis(p-vinylphenyl)ethane (p,p-BVPE) and its meta-isomers were suspension-copolymerized with p-methylstyrene in the presence of different porogens to give particles of about 5 μm average diameter. The porous particles were slurry-packed into stainless steel columns for SEC evaluation. Calibration curves were obtained using narrow disperse polystyrene standards with molecular weights ranging from 580 to 3,040,000. The calibration curves for the new BVPE resins covered wider useful molecular weight ranges than those for comparable divinylbenzene resins. Particle size, surface morphology and the properties of pores were studied using a Coulter Multisizer II, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and mercury porosimetry. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Radical block polymerization of vinyl chloride. II. Synthesis and characterization of vinyl chloride block copolymers

Peroxidized polypropylene has been used as a heterofunctional initiator for a two-step emulsion polymerization of a vinyl monomer (M₁) and vinyl chloride with the production of vinyl chloride block copolymers. Styrene, methyl-, and n-butyl methacrylate and methyl-, ethyl-, n-butyl-, and 2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate have been used as M₁ and polymerized at 30–40°C. In the second step vinyl chloride was polymerized at 50°C. The range of chemical composition of the block copolymers depends on the rate of the first-step polymerization of M₁ and the duration of the second step; e.g., with 2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate block copolymers could be obtained with a vinyl chloride content of 25–90%. The block copolymers have been submitted to precipitation fractionation and GPC analysis. Noteworthy is the absence of any significant amount of homopolymers, as well as poly(M₁)n as PVC. The absence of homo-PVC was interpreted by an intra- and intermolecular tertiary hydrogen atom transfer from polypropylene residue to growing PVC sequences. The presence of saturated end groups on the PVC chains is responsible for the improved thermal stability of these block polymers, as well as their low rate of dehydrochlorination (180°C). Molecular aggregation in solution has been shown by molecular weight determination in benzene and tetrahydrofuran.     

Dilute solution studies on a polycarbonate in good and poor solvents

Light-scattering, viscometric and osmometric studies have been carried out on dilute solutions of polycarbonate fractions both in a good solvent and in theta solvents. The data span the molecular weight interval 5 < 10^?3M < 760. It has been concluded that: (1) the overall behavior in dilute solution is consistent with a flexible chain conformation; (2) the ratio of the unperturbed mean-square radius to the molecular weight, or to the number of chain elements, is larger than commonly observed for vinyl polymers; (3) the ratio of the unperturbed radius to the radius calculated for a chain with free rotation about valence bonds has the unusually small value 1.3; and (4) the hydrodynamic behavior of the chain may reflect partical draining affects.     

From “Living” Carbocationic to “Living” Radical Polymerization

Abstract

“Living” carbocationic polymerization is compared to the “living” radical process. Similarities and differences are discussed. “Living” radical polymerization of vinyl acetate and methyl methacrylate to provide polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 1.2) are presented.     

Cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether initiated with transition‐metal ate complexes

The cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was examined with transition‐metal ate complexes with trityl cation as initiators. The initiators were generated by the reaction of triphenylmethyl chloride [trityl chloride (TrCl)] with ate complexes of Nb, Mo, and W with lithium cation, which were obtained in situ by the reaction of the transition‐metal halides with anionic reagents (organolithium or lithium amide). When the polymerization was initiated with a mixture of TrCl and Li⁺[NbH₅(NnBuPh)]^?, the resulting poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)s had narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.13–1.20). Although the polymerization was supposed to be initiated by the electrophilic attack of the trityl cation, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis of the resulting poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)s revealed the presence of H at the α‐chain end. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2636–2641, 2006     

Cationic polymerization of vinyl ether with a benzoate pendant: The formation of long‐lived polymers and the identification of side reactions

The cationic polymerization of 2‐[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)phenoxy] ethyl vinyl ether, a vinyl ether with a benzoate pendant, was carried out with an HCl/ZnCl₂ initiating system in methylene chloride at −15 °C. The polymerization proceeded with living/long‐lived propagating species to produce polymers with controlled molecular weights and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ≤ ∼1.4), despite the formation of a small amount of oligomeric products during the polymerization. The structural analysis showed that the lowest molecular weight oligomer had the structure CH₃CH(OCH₂CH₂OC₆H₄COOCH₃)OCH₂CH₂OC₆H₄COOCH₃. The oligomer was formed by the reaction of the monomeric propagating species with the alcohol produced by the side reaction of the active species with water as an impurity during the early stage of polymerization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4362–4372, 2000     

Measurement of the orientational elastic constants and the twist viscosity of nematic side chain polymers

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the three elastic constants k _ii (i = 1, 2, 3) and the twist viscosity γ₁ of two nematic side chain polyacrylates and one comparable low molecular weight compound have been measured by means of the Freedericksz effect. The change from the low to the high molecular liquid crystal causes a change of the ratio k ₃₃/k ₁₁ from greater to less than unity, but the order of magnitude of the elastic constants remains the same. In contrast, the twist viscosity of the polymeric liquid crystal is about 1000 times greater in magnitude than that of a comparable low molecular weight liquid crystal. The activation energy for the viscosity of the polymer differs by a factor 3–4 from that of the low molecular weight liquid crystal. The elastic constants as well as the twist viscosity show a quadratic dependence on the order parameter S over a wide temperature range.     

Synthesis,characterization, and curing of well-defined allyl ether-maleate functional ester oligomers: Linear versus nonlinear structures

A series of allyl ether-maleate functional star-shaped esters with from one to four arms has been synthesized. The structures that have been made are an analogous series with increasing molecular weight and functionality where the increase in molecular weight has been made nonlinear, i.e., star-shaped. The resins are monodisperse in the sense that each arm has a well-defined structure and that, within a certain sample, only one type of molecule exists. The viscosity and rheological behavior of the resins have been studied. The curing kinetics of the star-shaped (branched) resins and the properties of the films formed have also been studied. These properties have been related to differences in functionality and to differences in the molecular architecture of the resins. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Living Anionic Polymerization of 4-(α-Alkylvinyl)styrene Derivatives

Summary. The anionic polymerization of four bis-functionalized styrene derivatives with α-alkylvinyl groups have been carried out in THF at −78°C with the initiator prepared from oligo(α-methylstyryl)lithium and potassium tert-butoxide. The four monomers herein used are 4-isopropenylstyrene (4), 3-isopropenylstyrene (5), 2-isopropenylstyrene (6), and 4-(α-isopropylvinyl)styrene (7). It was found that under such polymerization conditions, the vinyl groups of both 4 and 7 are selectively polymerized and the isopropenyl and α-isopropylvinyl groups remain completely intact to afford stable living anionic polymers. As expected, the resulting polymers possessed precisely controlled chain lengths and narrow molecular weight distributions. More importantly, they also possessed the pendant isopropenyl and α-isopropylvinyl group in each monomer unit possible for further modification. On the other hand, the anionic polymerization of either 5 or 6 proceeded more or less along with the unwanted side reactions leading to chain-branching, followed by cross-linking. The positional effect of isopropenyl group on the polymerization and the cause of possible side reactions were discussed.     

Correlation between chain segment and ion mobility in an epoxy resin system. A free volume analysis

Steady shear viscosity and ionic conductivity have been measured for nine commercial diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) epoxy resins with molecular weights ranging from 340 to 14,200. The temperature dependence of viscosity and ionic conductivity was modeled using free volume viscosity and ionic conductivity relationships, which correlate the fractional free volume required for polymer chain segment motion (B) and the fractional free volume required for ion motion (B′) with polymer structure. The fractional free volume required for polymer chain segment mobility was observed to increase systematically with the molecular weight of the resins. The fractional free volume required for ion mobility did not vary for the resin series. A stoichiometric mixture of a low molecular weight DGEBA resin and a 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone cross-linker was partially polymerized to extents of reaction ranging from 0% to 49%. The fractional free volume required for polymer segment mobility for these partially polymerized samples was consistent with results for the neat resins. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.