Solvent crazing of “dry” polystyrene and “dry” crazing of plasticized polystyrene

The critical strain ε_c for crazing of polystyrene in each of a variety of organic liquids has been measured along with the degree of swelling of the polymer by the liquid and the attendant reduction in the glass transition temperature T_g of the polymer. The critical strain for the crazing in air and the T_g of each of a set of specimens molded from mixtures of o-dichlorobenzene and polystyrene have also been determined. Correlations of ε_c with T_g in the two cases are identical within experimental error for the first 40°C of T_g reduction; these results imply (1) that organic liquids do not exercise a significant surface energy role in solvent crazing and (2) that their only roles are associated with flow processes. Correlation of solvent crazing ε_c with solubility parameter of the crazing fluid is very poor for several reasons that are discussed.     

Chitin Derivatives III Formation of Amidized Homologs of Chitosan

The kinetics of the formation of amidized homologs of chitosan from the ionic complexes of chitosan with four alkanoic acids, formic, acetic, propionic and butyric acid, have been studied. Their degrees of substitution (DS) and their thermal transitions have been investigated. The results suggest that heating of N-acylates of chitosan produces amidized chitosan homologs with DS ranging between 0.1 and 0.6 as determined by solid state NMR. Thermal analysis by DMTA revealed that the ionic complexes of chitosan with formic, acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, as well as the respective amidized chitosan homologs, display two transitions designated as - and -relaxation. There was no indication of melting. The -relaxations of the ionic complexes were more pronounced than those of their respective amidized chitosan derivatives. The ultimate T _g of the amidized chitosan homologs declined stepwise with acyl substituent size. The T _g-behavior was attributed to both substituent size and DS. Kinetic analysis using T _g-changes with heating time can be used to describe the kinetics of amidization. The formation of amidized chitosan homologs followed first order rate kinetics in a two-stage process, as was reported previously. The activation energy for amidization was constant irrespective of the acid used in the chitosan complex as well as the DS at ultimate T _g. It was 14±1kcal/mol initially and 21±2kcal/mol in the second stage. Since the transition from first to second stage occurs after the change from rubbery to glassy state (vitrification), vitrification is suspected to be responsible for the two-stage kinetics.     

NOTE: Synthesis and Characterization of a Poly(acrylamide) with Pendant 1,4-piperazine-2,5-dione Moieties via Post-polymerization Cyclization

A poly(acrylamide) was synthesized from N ^α -Boc-N ^? -acrolyl-l-lysylglycine methyl ester via radical polymerization. This polymer typically had Mn ～ 100,000 g/mol, Mw ～ 300,000 g/mol, and a T_g of 93°C. Removal of Boc with TFA and cyclization with DABCO? in DMSO at 65°C afforded a soluble piperazinedione-containing polymer that had a T_g of 157°C and thermal stability up to 300°C. These results demonstrate a viable and efficient synthetic route to piperazinedione-containing polyacrylamides of high molecular weight. Related polymers that incorporate substituted indane moieties could be useful high T_g materials for fabrication of LC and NLO devices.     

Thiol–norbornene materials: Approaches to develop high Tg thiol–ene polymers

The ability to prepare high T_g low shrinkage thiol–ene materials is attractive for applications such as coatings and dental restoratives. However, thiol and nonacrylated vinyl materials typically consist of a flexible backbone, limiting the utility of these polymers. Hence, it is of importance to synthesize and investigate thiol and vinyl materials of varying backbone chemistry and stiffness. Here, we investigate the effect of backbone chemistry and functionality of norbornene resins on polymerization kinetics and glass transition temperature (T_g) for several thiol–norbornene materials. Results indicate that T_gs as high as 94 °C are achievable in thiol–norbornene resins of appropriately controlled chemistry. Furthermore, both the backbone chemistry and the norbornene moiety are important factors in the development of high T_g materials. In particular, as much as a 70 °C increase in T_g was observed in a norbornene–thiol specimen when compared with a sample prepared using allyl ether monomer of analogous backbone chemistry. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5686–5696, 2007     

Organometallic polymers. III. Organometallic modifications of diene polymers

A process for the chemical modification of polybutadienes and natural rubber by various metallocene compounds is described. Soluble products of up to 43% ferrocene content were obtained. The effect of substrate, metallocene, and reaction conditions on the course and extent of substitution was investigated. The glass transition temperature T_g was found to increase considerably with the degree of substitution, e.g., cis-polybutadiene substituted with ferrocene (18 mole-%) has a T_g of 30°C, as compared with ?91°C for the unsubstituted polymer.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic polyesters and polyamides from sebacyl bisketene

Sebacyl bisketene was generated in solution at ?78°C. Copolymerization in solution at 0°C with the secondary diamines, piperazine and N,N′dimethyl-1,6-hexamethylenediamine, yielded the polyamides poly(1,4-piperazylsebacyl) and poly[(methylimino)hexamethylene(methylimino)sebacyl], respectively. The polyamides were obtained in yields of 50–90%. The former had a glass transition temperature (T_g) at 30°C and a melting temperature at 165°C, whereas the latter had only a T_g at ?15°C. The polymers were insoluble in the usual polyamide solvents. Copolymerization with the diol bisphenol A yielded poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneisopropylidene-1,4-phenyleneoxysebacyl). The polyester was obtained in yields up to 99%. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) determinations showed molecular weights up to 50,000 when acetone was the reaction solvent but only 12,000 when tetrahydrofuran (THF) was the reaction solvent; the T_g for the polyester varied with the molecular weight with a maximum at 15°C. Tensile properties were obtained for the polyesters with molecular weights greater than 35,000.     

Synthesis of thermoresponsive polystyrene-based comb-type grafted poly( N -isopropylacrylamide)

Narrowly distributed polystyrene-g-p(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PSt-g-PNIPAM) was prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N-isopropylacrylamide using the brominated polystyrene as macroinitiator and CuCl combined with hexamethyltriethylenetetramine as catalyst. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the structure of PSt-g-PNIPAM. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) showed that the graft copolymer had a single distribution peak with molecular weight, M _n (g/mol) of 19815 g/mol (using polystyrene as the standard). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that due to both effects of hydrophobic isopropyl groups and hydrogen bonds in the amide group, the glass transition temperature (T _g) of PSt-g-PNIPAM enhanced 16.0°C compared to the T _g of the polystyrene.     

Novel cellulose derivatives. V. Synthesis and thermal properties of esters with trifluoroethoxy acetic acid

Esters of cellulose with trifluoroethoxy acetic acid (TFAA) were prepared in homogeneous phase using a mixed anhydride with p‐toluenesulfonic acid. Esters with low degree of substitution (DS), and with DS rising from 0 to 3, had hydrophobic character that prevented the usual association with moisture, which is otherwise typical of cellulose esters with low DS. Cellulose trifluoroethoxy acetate (CT) had T_g's declining by about 40 °C per DS‐unit (from 160 to 41 °C) as DS rose from 1 to 3. Mixed esters, cellulose derivatives with acetate and trifluoroethoxy acetate substituents (CAT), exhibited glass‐to‐rubber and melting transitions by DSC. A linear relationship between both T_g and T_m with respect to DS was recorded with the T_g and T_m separated by 30° to 40 °C. This is consistent with cellulose esters described elsewhere. Surprisingly, the T_g's of CT and CAT were found to be identical when the DS was equivalent to the DS of the fluoro substituents (DS_F). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 486–494, 2000     

Polar,functionalized diene‐based material. III. Free‐radical polymerization of 2‐[(N,N‐dialkylamino)methyl]‐1,3‐butadienes

The bulk free‐radical polymerization of 2‐[(N,N‐dialkylamino)methyl]‐1,3‐butadiene with methyl, ethyl, and n‐propyl substituents was studied. The monomers were synthesized via substitution reactions of 2‐bromomethyl‐1,3‐butadiene with the corresponding dialkylamines. For each monomer the effects of the polymerization initiator, initiator concentration, and reaction temperature on the final polymer structure, molecular weight, and glass‐transition temperature (T_g) were examined. Using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator at 75 °C, the resulting polymers displayed a majority of 1,4 microstructures. As the temperature was increased to 100 and 125 °C using t‐butylperacetate and t‐butylhydroperoxide, the percentage of the 3,4 microstructure increased. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that all of the T_g values were lower than room temperature. The T_g values were higher when the majority of the polymer structure was 1,4 and decreased as the percentage of the 3,4 microstructure increased. The Diels–Alder side products found in the polymer samples were characterized using NMR and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry methods. The polymerization temperature and initiator concentration were identified as the key factors that influenced the Diels–Alder dimer yield. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4070–4080, 2000     

Impact of degree of phosphorylation on intrinsic and thermal properties of poly(styrenephosphonate diethyl ester)s

The intrinsic and thermal characteristics of poly(styrenephosphonate diethyl ester)s (PSP) are described. The properties of the polymer prepared by two synthetic procedures, phosphorylation of monodispersed polystyrene and polymerization of vinylbenzenephosphonate ester, are compared with chloromethylated polystyrene and with each other. Empirical formulas are presented for the relationships between the degree of polymerization, degree of phosphorylation, molecular weight, and intrinsic viscosity (in methanol and toluene). Thermal analysis reveals a sharp drop in T_g with an increase in degree of phosphorylation; T_g of the fully phosphorylated polystyrene is in the range of 9–30°C. The T_g ΔC_p values show significant decrease with augmentation in the degree of phosphorylation, yielding a value of 14 cal g^?1 for the fully phosphorylated polymer, compared with ～ 29 cal g^?1 for the parent polymer. The PSP is shown to have substantial capacity for dissolving heavy metal salts, such as UO₂(NO₃)₂, causing significant elevation in the T_g.     

Synthesis and characterization of 3-aryl-2-(polystyryl)cyclopropenones via cyclopropenium ion substitution on polystyrene

Electrophilic substitution of cyclopropenium ions on aromatic polymers offers a unique opportunity to introduce polar functionality in a controlled manner to conventional, nonpolar polymers. Phenylcyclopropenone substituted polystyrene with predictable chemical composition and narrow molecular weight distribution were prepared. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis demonstrated the absence of branching or crosslinking in these functionalized polystyrenes during electrophilic substitution of the parent homopolymer. ¹³C-NMR confirmed that the degree of phenylcyclopropenone substitution was both highly efficient and predictable over a broad compositional range. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polymers was found to vary linearly with mole % phenylcyclopropenone substitution of the polystyrene. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that thermal decarbonylation of the appended cyclopropenones occurred at approximately 180°C. Weight loss vs. temperature profiles correlated reasonably well with levels of substitution based on ¹³C-NMR analysis, confirming that decarbonylation of the calculated cyclopropenone substituents was the predominant thermal decomposition pathway. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides and polyimides derived from 3,3-bis [4-(4-aminophenoxy) phenyl] phthalide

3,3-Bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide ( II ) was used as a monomer with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids and dianhydrides to synthesize polyamides and polyimides, respectively. The diamine II was derived by a nucleophilic substitution of phenolphthalein with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃. Polyamides IV _a-g having inherent viscosities of 0.77–2.46 dL/g were prepared by the direct polycondensation of diamine II with diacids III _a-g using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The polyamides were readily soluble in a variety of solvents such as N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and afforded transparent and flexible films from the polymer solutions. These polymers had glass transition temperatures (T_gs) in the 227–307°C range and 10% weight loss temperatures occurred up to 450°C. Polyimides VI _a-e based on diamine II and various aromatic dianhydrides V _a-e were synthesized by the two-stage procedure that included ring-opening, followed by thermal or chemical conversion to polyimides. Most of the polyimides obtained by chemical cyclodehydration procedure were found to soluble in DMF, NMP, o-chlorophenol, and m-cresol. The T_gs of these polyimides were in the 260–328°C range and showed almost no weight loss up to 500°C under air and nitrogen atmosphere. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Glass transitions and mixed phases in block SBS

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) does not allow for easy determination of the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the polystyrene (PS) block in styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) block copolymers. Modulated DSC (MDSC), which deconvolutes the standard DSC signal into reversing and nonreversing signals, was used to determine the (T_g) of both the polybutadiene (PB) and PS blocks in SBS. The T_g of the PB block was sharp, at ?92 °C, but that for the PS blocks was extremely broad, from ?60 to 125 °C with a maximum at 68 °C because of blending with PB. PS blocks were found only to exist in a mixed PS–PB phase. This concurred with the results from dynamic mechanical analysis. Annealing did not allow for a segregation of the PS blocks into a pure phase, but allowed for the segregation of the mixed phase into two mixed phases, one that was PB‐rich and the other that was PS‐rich. It is concluded that three phases coexist in SBS: PB, PB‐rich, and PS‐rich phases. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 276–279, 2005     

Synthesis of polyphenylquinoxaline copolymers via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions of an A‐B quinoxaline monomer

A self‐polymerizable quinoxaline monomer (A‐B) has been synthesized and polymerized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions. An isomeric mixture of self‐polymerizable quinoxaline monomers—2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐phenyl‐6‐fluoroquinoxaline and 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐6‐fluoroquinoxaline—was polymerized in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) to afford high molecular weight polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) with intrinsic viscosities up to 1.91 dL/g and a glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of 251 °C. A series of comonomers was polymerized with A‐B to form PPQ/polysulfone (PS), PPQ/polyetherether ketone (PEEK), and PPQ/polyethersulfone (PES) copolymers. The copolymers readily obtained high intrinsic viscosities when fluorine was displaced in NMP under reflux. However, single‐electron transfer (SET) side reactions, which limit molecular weight, played a more dominant role when chlorine was displaced instead of fluorine. SET side reactions were minimized in the synthesis of PPQ/PS copolymers through mild polymerization conditions in NMP for longer polymerization times. Thus, the T_g's of PES (T_g = 220 °C), PEEK (T_g = 145 °C), and PS (T_g = 195 °C) were raised through the incorporation of quinoxaline units into the polymer. Copolymers with high intrinsic viscosities resulted in all cases, except in the case of PPQ/PEEK copolymers when 4,4′‐dichlorobenzophenone was the comonomer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2037–2042, 2001     

Novel cellulose derivatives. IV. Preparation and thermal analysis of waxy esters of cellulose

Cellulose esters with linear aliphatic acyl substituents ranging in size from C₁₂ (lauric acid) to C₂₀ (eicosanoic acid) were prepared in homogeneous solution (DMAc/LiCl) using a novel synthetic method based on the use of a mixed p-toluenesulfonic/carboxylic acid anhydride. The resulting waxy cellulose esters had a high degree of substitution (DS), between 2.8 and 2.9, and showed little degradation. Thermal analysis of these cellulose derivatives by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) revealed a series of transitions that represented motion by both ester substituents and cellulosic main chain. Broad crystallization and melting transitions attributed to side-chain crystallinity were observed in the range between −19 and +55°C; these side-chain T_m and T_c transition temperatures increased by 10°C per carbon atom of the ester substituent. The T_g of these derivatives increased linearly with increasing substituent size from 94°C for C₁₂ (cellulose laurate) to 134°C for C₂₀ (cellulose eicosanoate). Evidence of “main-chain” crystallization was not observed for these samples, except in the case of peracetylated C₁₂ and C₁₄ esters, which had T_m values of 96°C and 107°C, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Benzocyclobutene in polymer synthesis. III. Heat-resistant thermosets based on Diels–Alder polymerization of a bisbenzocyclobutene and a bismaleimide

Several compatible mixtures of 2,2-bis[4-(N-4-benzocyclobutenyl) phthalimid-4-phenyl]hexafluoropropane (BCB) and 1,1′-(methylene di-4,1-phenylene)bismaleimide (BMI) were prepared according to the molar ratios (BCB : BMI): 1 : 1; 1 : 1.5; 1 : 3; 1.5 : 1. Complete compatibility of the mixtures was evidenced by a single initial T_g. All mixtures showed relatively low initial T_g's (61–70°C) and characteristic polymerization exotherms of benzocyclobutene-based systems (onset: 221–225°C; maximum: 257–259°C), providing an excellent processing window (ca. 155°C). The cured sample of the mixtures, pure BCB and BMI (250°C; N₂; 8 h) were subjected to comparative isothermal gravimetric analysis (ITGA). After 200 h at 650°F (343°C) in circulating air, the cured BMI sample retained only 3% of its original weight, whereas the mixtures of BCB and BMI exhibited thermo-oxidative stabilities similar to BCB (13–15% weight loss). A model compound was synthesized from the intimate mixture of N-phenylmaleimide and N-benzocyclobutenyl phthalimide in 63% yield. The ITGA results and isolation of the model Diels–Alder adduct render strong support to the conviction that Diels–Alder polymerization is indeed the predominant curing process in the BCB/BMI system.     

Effects of high-pressure CO2 on the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties of polystyrene

Hydrostatic pressure usually increases the glass transition temperature T_g of a polymer glass by decreasing its free volume; if the pressurizing environment is soluble in the polymer, however, one might expect an initial decrease in T_g with pressure as the polymer is plasticized by the environment. Just such a minimum in the T_g of polystyrene (PS) is observed as the pressure of CO₂ gas is increased over the range 0.1–105 MPa from both ultrasonic (1 MHz) measurements of Young's modulus E and static measurements of the creep compliance J. A time-temperature-pressure superposition law is obeyed by PS which allows a master curve for the compliance to be constructed and shift factors to be determined. A master curve for E is then obtained by using the Boltzmann superposition principle. The compliance J reaches a maximum, and E and T_g reach minima, at a CO₂ pressure of ca. 20 MPa at both 34 and 45°C, which are above the critical temperature (31°C) of CO₂. At the minimum, T_g is 41 at 45°C and 36 at 34°C, the larger depression at 34°C evidently corresponding to the higher solubility of CO₂ at the lower temperature. The plasticization effect due to CO₂ can be isolated by subtracting the effect of hydrostatic pressure alone from the experimental data. The results leave no doubt that at high pressures CO₂ gas is a severe plasticizer for polystyrene.     

Polymerization of N-(p-aminobenzoyl)caprolactam: Block and alternating copolymers of aromatic and aliphatic polyamides

The polymerization behavior of N-(p-aminobenzoyl)caprolactam was studied. It was found that polymerization could proceed by either elimination of caprolactam or by ring opening. Polymers prepared at temperatures above 200°C showed a greater tendency for ring opening to produce alternating aromatic/aliphatic copolymers than did polymers prepared at lower temperatures. Block copolymers of poly(p-benzamide) and nylon 6 were prepared by a two-stage hydrolytic polymerization process or by anionic polymerization at temperatures > 200°C. Polymer microstructures were determined using ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy by comparison with homopolymers and model alternating copolymers. The alternating copolymer prepared by condensation of N-(p-aminobenzoyl)-6-caproic acid showed a melting transition at 300–305°C in the DSC and a T_g in subsequent heating cycles of 116–119°C. Copolymers made with the two-stage process were rich in p-benzamide sequences and showed no T_g or T_m below 400°C. Copolymer made with NaH was rich in nylon 6 units, showed a T_m of 175–180°C and a T_g of 80–81°C, and was homogeneous in both the melt and solid.     

BDMA-catalyzed DDA-epoxy resin system: Temperature and composition effects on curing mechanism

DSC and IR data on benzyldimethylamine-catalyzed dicyandiamide-DGEBA prepolymer system have been utilized to investigate the influences of temperature and composition on the curing mechanism. Etherification as a competitive reaction is favored at lower temperature. On the other hand, the reaction pathway of dicyandiamide (DDA) varies with temperature, especially at the first stage of reaction. At 100°C, the reaction of DDA is shown to be essentially the substitution of the hydrogen atoms by ring-opening of epoxy groups, giving rise to N-alkyl cyanoguanidine. But at 140°C or 160°C, the initial reaction of DDA involves a transformation of nitrile groups to imine groups. A greater amount of BDMA and a higher amine-to-epoxy ratio favor the etherification. The glass transition temperature T_g is a complex function of these different mechanisms; higher T_g could be reached with a amino-to-epoxy ratio equal to 0.6 and after a curing cycle including a precure at 100°C.     

Epoxy resins (DGEBA): The curing and physical aging process

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) were used to monitor the degree of cure of partially cured epoxy resin (Epon 828/MDA) samples. The extent of cure, as determined by residual heat of reaction, concurred with that determined by monitoring the infrared radiation absorbance of the epoxide group near 916 cm^?l. The fictive temperature T_{f, g} was found to increase with the degree of cure, increasing rapidly during cure until reaching a value near the cure temperature T_c of 130°C (approximately 80% cure) where the material vitrified. The greatly reduced reaction rate during the final 20% of cure was not only a consequence of vitrification but, as revealed by infrared spectroscopy, the result of the depletion in the number of reactive epoxide groups. The endothermic peak areas and peak temperatures evident during the DSC scans were used as a measure of the extent of “physical aging” which took place during the cure of this resin, and after, fully cured samples were aged 37°C below their ultimate glass temperature for various periods of time. The rate of physical aging slowed as the temperature increment (T_t,g ? T_c) increased. Although an endothermic peak was evident after only 1 h of cure (T_{f, g} = 138.3°C), such a peak did not appear until fully cured samples were aged for 16 h or more. Enthalpy data revealed that for partially cured material, the fictive temperature T_{f, a}, reflecting physical aging, increased with curing time. In contrast, the T_{f, a}, for fully cured samples decreased with sub-T_g aging time. The characteristic jump in the heat capacity ΔC_p which occurred at the T_{f, g} decreased as curing progressed. This decrease appears to be dependent upon the rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom of the glass. Finally, a graphical method of determining the fictive temperature T_{f, a}, of partially and fully cured epoxy material from measured endothermic peak areas was developed.