Effect of pH on Poly(acrylic acid) Solution Polymerization

The free-radical redox-initiated aqueous solution polymerization of fully and partially neutralized acrylic acid was carried out at room temperature under full exposure to air. The effect of neutralization degree on the polymerization rate and product properties was studied. Increasing neutralization of the reaction mixture with sodium hydroxide resulted in greater conversion of acrylic acid to sodium acrylate. The rate of polymerization, determined from a gravimetric off-line water removal technique, was shown to decrease significantly with decreasing degree of neutralization. Molecular weight also decreased with decreasing degree of neutralization. The glass transition temperature and hydrophilicity of the polymer product decreased with increasing degree of neutralization. In-line infrared monitoring was also used to monitor the reaction progress and was shown to be an effective tool for this purpose.     

聚丙烯酸功能化多壁碳纳米管

Covalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes （MWNT） with poly（acrylic acid） has been successfully achieved via grafting of poly（acryloyl chloride） on nanotube surface by esterification reaction of acyl chloride-bound polymer with hydroxyl functional groups present on acid-oxidized MWNT and hydrolysis of polymer attached to nanotubes. Polymer-functionalized MWNT could possess remarkably high solubility in water, and their aqueous solution was very stable without any observable black deposit for a long time. Characterizations of such functionalized MWNT samples using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques indicated that poly（acrylic acid） was covalently attached to the surface of MWNT.     

Electrorheology of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanocomposites

Summary: Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites dispersed in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix were prepared via suspension polymerization, in which radicals induced on the outer wall of the MWNTs by 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile initiate the grafting of PMMA. The synthesized MWNT/PMMA nanocomposite particles were found to have a spherical shape and exhibit a high electrical conductivity, mainly as a result of the carbon nanotubes. A suspension was prepared with MWNT/PMMA particles in insulating silicone oil and its electrorheological properties were investigated by controlling applied direct current (DC) electric field strengths.

Flow curve possessing a region analogous to the coexistence curve.     

丙烯酸/2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸高吸水树脂的反相悬浮聚合及其性能

采用反相悬浮聚合法,通过均匀实验设计,制备了聚(丙烯酸(AA)/2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸(AMPS)）(PAAMPS)高吸水树脂,探讨了单体摩尔分数及其中和度、引发剂及交联剂摩尔分数（相对于单体总量）对蒸馏水、质量分数0.9%NaCl水溶液中吸液性能的影响,并经实验数据拟合,得到了二次回归方程,比较了优化配方、单因素实验的模拟值和实验值,结果表明,模拟值与优化值基本接近,其优化工艺参数为：AMPS占单体的摩尔分数8%,中和度为75%,交联剂、引发剂用量与单体的摩尔分数分别为0.035%和0.17%,单体总质量浓度为30%,分散剂用量为单体质量分数的0.5%,反应温度70 ℃,反应时间1.5 h。 此条件下合成的PAAMPS在蒸馏水、0.9%NaCl水溶液中的吸液倍率分别为1.600和130 g/g。     

Polymer-Based Superhydrophobic Coating Fabricated from Polyelectrolyte Multilayers of Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and Poly(acrylic acid)

Superhydrophobic films mainly based on poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) polyelectrolyte multilayer have been deposited onto cleaned glass substrate by a layer-by-layer dip coating method. 3 bilayers of the PAH and PAA was directly coated onto the substrate as an underlying layer for subsequent coating. Desired surface roughness on the polyelectrolyte bilayers was created by etching the bilayers in hydrochloric acid solution so as to create the open pore having suitable size at the surface. Then, nanoparticles such as SiO₂ and TiO₂ of various sizes were deposited onto the etched polyelectrolyte bilayers. Finally, the surfaces were further modified with semifluorinated silane followed by cross-linking at 180 °C for 2 h to obtain desirable surface morphological features. The effect of etching time and addition of nanoparticles on surface morphology was investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Wetting ability of the prepared film was determined by measuring water droplet contact angle using a goniometer. Adhesion between the superhydrophobic films and the substrate was evaluated by using a standard tape test method (D3359). The adhesion was improved by reducing the organic content in the films.     

Production of Poly(acrylic acid) Particles Dispersed in Organic Media

Summary: A process for preparation of poly(acrylic acid) particles dispersed in oil is presented. The process comprises two steps: the first step involves the preparation of a poly(acrylic acid) solution, while the second step consists in the preparation of the polymer particles by dispersing the polymer solution in an organic phase. During the second step, modification of the polymer chain structure can be performed through chemical reactions. One of the advantages of the proposed process is the possibility to produce particles loaded with drugs or other chemical compounds. Besides that, if the continuous phase is vegetable oil, purification of the reaction medium may not be necessary.     

The synthesis and characterization of monodisperse poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid)

A number of polyacrylic (PAA) and polymethacrylic (PMAA) acids have been synthesized by living anionic polymerization of the monomeric tert-butyl esters followed by subsequent hydrolysis of the corresponding polyesters. The necessary precautions were taken in order to assure good molecular weight control, as well as high yields in the polymerization reactions. The intermediate and final polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and NMR-H¹ spectrometry.     

聚酰胺-胺树状分子接枝到方法修饰多壁碳纳米管

采用聚酰胺-胺树状分子(PAMAM)“接枝到”这一温和而简单易行的方法修饰多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs),制备了一种树状分子/碳纳米管(MWCNTs-g-PAMAM)纳米复合材料。在水、甲醇和乙醇等极性溶剂中,该复合材料具有很好的分散性。通过傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)、热重分析(TGA)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)等对MWCNTs-g-PAMAM纳米复合材料进行了表征。FTIR表明接枝修饰是PAMAM与MWCNTs的共价键结合,TGA数据表明PAMAM成功修饰于MWCNTs侧壁,且接枝到MWCNTs上PAMAM的量随其代数(G1.0～G4.0)的不同而不同,具体顺序为G2.0＞G1.0≈G3.0＞G4.0.     

A Facile Approach to Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube/Poly(allylamine) Nanocomposites

A facile approach to polymer nanocomposites with single‐wall carbon nanotubes and cationic polymers is reported. The composite material was synthesized by producing carboxylic acid groups at the nanotube termini followed by a reaction with poly(allylamine) in water. Fourier transform infrared spectral and thermogravimetric analyses corroborate that the poly(allylamine) chains were wrapped on the surface of the carbon nanotubes. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image shows that the nanotubes were dispersed with little aggregation, thus, strongly suggesting that the poly(allylamine) chains have covered the single‐wall carbon nanotubes, which was further evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. The composites are soluble in water, and this solubilization process opens up new opportunities in the solution chemistry on pristine nanotubes.

     

A Mechanochemical Approach to Nanocomposites Using Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Poly(L‐lysine)

A simple method to fabricate polymer nanocomposites with single‐walled carbon nanotubes is reported, in which the nanotubes were reacted with poly(L ‐lysine) by using high‐speed vibration milling. The nanocomposites obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric methods. The morphology as well as the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes were determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

     

Mechanism of carbon nanotube dispersion and precipitation during treatment with poly(acrylic acid)

Carbon nanotubes have been shown to be easily dispersed within an acidic aqueous solution of poly(acrylic acid) but precipitate when the pH is increased. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the nanotubes were more exfoliated under the acidic condition but highly aggregated under the basic condition. Carbon K‐edge NEXAFS spectroscopy showed that the carbon nanotubes did not chemically react with poly(acrylic acid) during the dispersion or precipitation and that the dispersion mainly involved physical adsorption of poly(acrylic acid) onto the nanotubes. Together with the carbon K‐edge NEXAFS spectra, the cobalt L_{3, 2}‐edge NEXAFS spectra suggested that under the basic condition, the cobalt impurity within the nanotubes strongly reacted with poly(acrylic acid) resulting in complex formation. Cobalt reduces the adsorption of poly(acrylic acid) onto the nanotubes, which then reduced the nanotube dispersion and resulted in the precipitation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphology and Electrical Conductivity of Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole)/Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite Synthesized by Solid State Polymerization

This communication describes the morphology and DC conductivity of poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (PNVC)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite has been synthesized by solid state in situ polymerization of N‐vinylcarbazole (NVC) monomer in the presence of MWCNTs at an elevated temperature. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy studies reveal the ability of MWCNTs to promote the in situ polymerization of the NVC monomer. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) observations show the homogeneous wrapping of MWCNTs' outer surface by PNVC polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and Raman spectroscopy results support the SEM observations. Thermogravimetric analyses reveal a significant improvement of thermal stability of the nanocomposite sample in the higher temperature region. The resulting nanocomposite material exhibits a dramatic improvement of the DC conductivity inherent to the PNVC. For example, the DC conductivity increases from ≈5.9 × 10⁻¹³ S · cm⁻¹ for PNVC to ≈12 S · cm⁻¹ for the nanocomposite, an increase of about 10¹³ in the electrical conductivity.

     

窄分子量分布的聚丙烯酸的合成及其阻垢性能

以水为溶剂,采用可逆加成-断裂链转移自由基聚合(RAFT)方法,合成了分子量2400～9000的聚丙烯酸。GPC分析表明,所合成的聚丙烯酸具有很窄的分子量分布(多分散系数PDI约为1.2)。阻垢性能测定结果表明,用RAFT方法合成的聚丙烯酸比采用普通自由基聚合得到的商品聚丙烯酸阻垢剂具有更好的阻垢性能。如当分子量约为2400的聚丙烯酸的质量浓度分别为2和10mg/L时,其阻碳酸钙垢的阻垢率分别为83.8%和97.5%,而在相同质量浓度下商品聚丙烯酸阻垢剂的阻碳酸钙垢的阻垢率则仅分别为21.3%和42.9%。阻垢作用随温度升高(50～90℃)而降低的幅度也明显小于商品聚丙烯酸阻垢剂,80℃时二者的阻垢作用差别最大,而这正是一般冷却水达到的最高温度。在所研究的分子量范围内,所合成的聚丙烯酸分子量愈小则其阻垢性能愈好。     

Preparation and Characterization of Interpenetrating Polymer Hydrogels Based on Poly(acrylic acid) and Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Interpenetrating polymer hydrogels (IPHs) of Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Poly (acrylic acid) (PAAc) have been prepared by a sequential method: crosslinked PAAc chains were formed in aqueous solution by crosslinking copolymerization of acrylic acid and N, N′-methylenebisacrylamide in the presence of PVA. The application of freezing-thawing cycles (F-T cycles) leads to the formation of a PVA hydrogel within the synthesized PAAc hydrogel. The swelling and the viscoelastic properties of the prepared IPHs were evaluated on the basis of the structural features obtained from solid state ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy.     

Photo-grafting Poly(acrylic acid) onto Poly(lactic acid) Chains in Solution

Poly(lactic acid)(PLA)is one of the most important bio-plastics,and chemical modification of the already-polymerized poly(lactic acid)chains may enable optimization of its material properties and expand its application areas.In this study,we demonstrated that poly(lactic acid)can be readily dissolved in acrylic acid at room temperature,and acrylic acid can be graft-polymerized onto poly(lactic acid)chains in solution with the help of photoinitiator benzophenone under 254 nm ultraviolet(UV)irradiation.Similar photo-grafting polymerization of acrylic acid(PAA)has only been studied before in the surface modification of polymer films.The graft ratio could be controlled by various reaction parameters,including irradiation time,benzophenone content,and monomer/polymer ratios.This photo-grafting reaction resulted in high graft ratio(graft ratio PAA/PLA up to 180%)without formation of homopolymers of acrylic acid.When the PAA/PLA graft ratio was higher than 100%,the resulting PLA-g-PAA polymer was found dispersible in water.The pros and cons of the photo-grafting reaction were also discussed.     

In situ Polymerization of Nanocomposites by TpTiCl2(Et) System: UHMWPE Filled with Carbon Nanotubes

Summary: Nanocomposites of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were obtained by in situ polymerization of ethylene by TpTiCl₂Et. This novel catalytic complex activated with polymethylaluminoxane (P-MAO) (Al:Ti = 200) allowed to incorporate the CNT at different compositions (0,1-1 w/w %) into the UHMWPE matrix. The filler addition produced an important enhancement of the catalytic activity when it was compared to that of homogeneous ethylene polymerization carried out under the same experimental conditions (30 min; 1bar; 25 °C). This fact was attributed to in situ support of TpTiCl₂Et onto the CNT surface, which not only could induce the stabilization of the catalytic system but also allowed the growing of polymeric chains around the CNT structures. The characterization of these nanocomposites was carried out by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Thermal analysis showed that the incorporation of CNT (at the tested concentrations) did not produce changes in the polymer thermal stability, as revealed by the initial degradation temperature values. However, the CNT produced a nucleating effect in the crystallization of UHMWPE as observed by DSC, independently of the filler content. The crystallization temperature of the obtained nanocomposites increased and the crystallinity degree slightly increased as well.