Advanced Characterization of Propylene-Based Copolymers and Olefin Block Copolymers

Summary: The newly developed interactive separation of polyolefins by high temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC) provides new information about the chemical composition distribution of polyolefin elastomers. The technique has the advantage of being quantitative in its separation, and has high resolution for the separation of polyolefins by their chemical composition without influence by cocrystallization. Chemical composition distributions can be determined for individual polymers and blends which contain the full range of comonomer typically present in polyethylene and poylypropylene homopolymers, semi-crystalline copolymers, and amorphous copolymers. HTLC analysis in combination with the other fractionation techniques, such as DSC, TREF, NMR, and xylene fractionation, can be used to estimate the amount of olefin block copolymer present in a block composite produced by chain shuttling catalysis.     

Synthesis of Hydroxy‐Functionalized Cyclic Olefin Copolymer and Its Block Copolymers with Semicrystalline Polyolefin Segments

Synthesis of hydroxy‐functionalized cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) is achieved with remarkably high activity (up to 5.96 × 10⁷ g‐polymer mol‐Ti⁻¹ h⁻¹) and controlled hydroxy group in a wide range (≈17.1 mol%) by using ansa‐dimethylsilylene (fluorenyl)(amido)titanium complex. The catalyst also promotes living/controlled copolymerization to afford novel diblock copolymers consisting of hydroxy‐functionalized COC and semicrystalline polyolefin sequence such as polyethylene and syndiotactic polypropylene, where the glass transition temperature of the norbornene/10‐undecen‐1‐ol segment and each block length are controlled by comonomer composition and copolymerization time, respectively.

     

Random Block Copolymers via Segment Interchange Olefin Metathesis

Polycarbonate/polyethylene random block copolymers (RBCs) have been produced using olefin metathesis catalysis in a process termed segment interchange metathesis. An olefin metathesis catalyst tolerant of polar functionality was added to reagent polycarbonate and polyethylene polymers which contained internal unsaturated carbon–carbon bonds. Subsequent metathesis occurred, segmenting the reagent polymers, resulting in RBCs. The block copolymers self-assembled into microphase structures which persisted into the melt state as determined by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).

     

非线形嵌段共聚物的合成

主要介绍了非线形嵌段共聚物,如星型嵌段共聚物、杂臂星型共聚物、梳型聚合物等的合成方法,包括多官能团引发剂法、大分子引发剂法等。各种活性聚合方法,如阳离子开环聚合、原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)和氮氧稳定自由基聚合等都可以用于合成非线形嵌段共聚物。     

Monte Carlo Simulation of the Microstructure of Linear Olefin Block Copolymers

Summary: Linear olefin block copolymers (OBCs) are novel polyolefins with unique properties developed using the chain shuttling polymerization technology. Typically, OBCs are made in a single reactor with two catalysts having different 1-olefin reactivity ratios and a chain shuttling agent (CSA), producing linear polymer chains with complex, multi-block structures, although a dual reactor approach is also possible In this study, OBC chain microstructures were examined using Monte Carlo simulation. Effects of polymerization parameters (chain shuttling probability, propagation probability, and catalyst ratio) on the distribution of number of blocks per chain were investigated and reported for the first time. These results provide useful insights on how to control and describe the microstructures of these important polymers and can be used to establish quantitative relationships between the microstructure and properties of OBCs.     

Simulation of Crystallization Analysis Fractionation (Crystaf) of Linear Olefin Block Copolymers

Summary: Linear olefin block copolymers (OBCs) have microstructures that are unique among polyolefins and exhibit properties that are different from those of other polyolefin elastomers. Characterizing their chain microstructures is a challenging task, as conventional characterization techniques cannot probe directly block length distribution or composition. In this work, we used a Monte Carlo model to predict the microstructure details of OBCs and a modified version of the Crystaf model previously developed in our groups to describe theoretical Crystaf profiles for model OBCs. This model can be used as a tool to interpret Crystaf results of these interesting new polyolefins and to relate them to OBC microstructures. Effects of polymerization parameters on OBC microstructure and Crystaf profiles were also discussed.     

Understanding the Formation of Linear Olefin Block Copolymers with Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulation

Chain‐shuttling polymerization with dual catalysts has introduced a new class of polyolefins called olefin block copolymers (OBCs). A dynamic Monte Carlo model to describe the kinetics of chain‐shuttling copolymerization in a semi‐batch reactor is developed, and used it to study how the microstructure of OBCs with different numbers of blocks per chain evolves during polymerization. The model also describes how chain‐shuttling rate constants and concentration of chain‐shuttling agent affect populations of OBCs with different numbers of blocks per chain. These model predictions are useful to make OBCs with precisely designed microstructures.

     

刺激响应性刚柔嵌段共聚物的自组装

刚柔嵌段共聚物是指刚性链段和柔性链段以共价键相连形成的共聚物。不仅由于刚性链段有序排列的特点使得其自组装行为更为丰富多样,而且刚性分子将优异的功能特性赋予到超分子组装体中,有望实现超分子材料的功能应用。这类嵌段共聚物在溶液中自组装形成的聚集体会对外界的刺激(例如pH、光、温度、化学添加剂等)敏感,产生聚集体形态的变化。本文选取了部分典型的具有刺激响应性的刚柔嵌段共聚物,介绍了其智能自组装行为,并对其良好的发展前景做了展望。     

PEEK-PEDEK嵌段共聚物的合成与热性能研究

在亲核取代基础上通过分步加料法合成了一系列联苯含量不同的PEEK-PEDEK嵌段共聚物,并对其热性能与结晶行为进行了初步研究.结果表明,联苯的引入明显提高了聚合物的玻璃化转变温度;聚合物的熔点随联苯含量的增加呈先下降后上升的变化规律,体系在联苯含量为20%处出现最低共熔点.     

嵌段共聚物结晶性胶束

近年来嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中由结晶驱动形成胶束的自组装过程因其较好的可控性逐渐受到人们的关注.本文首先综述了嵌段共聚物结晶性胶束形貌和尺寸的影响因素,包括溶剂环境、共聚物结构、结晶温度等.然后介绍了结晶性胶束的活性生长以及"嵌段共胶束";最后提出了该研究领域目前存在的问题和今后可能的发展方向.     

环形嵌段共聚物的胶束化行为模拟简

利用Monte Carlo模拟,对比了相同组成下环形二嵌段共聚物AB和线形三嵌段共聚物ABA在选择性溶剂中的胶束化行为. 结果发现,相同链组成的环形和线形嵌段共聚物的临界胶束浓度(cmc)的差别与A嵌段的比例(fA)及B嵌段间的吸引强度(ε)密切相关. 在fA较小、ε较大的情况下,相应环形嵌段共聚物的cmc值更小;而在fA较大、ε较小的情况下,线形嵌段共聚物的cmc值更小. 为了进一步理解胶束化行为同fA及ε的关系,计算了胶束化过程中熵和势能部分对自由能的贡献. 结果表明,在所研究的fA和ε范围内,环形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时的熵损失更小,因而从熵贡献角度来看,环形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 而从势能贡献角度来看,当fA较小、ε较大时,环形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时势能有较大程度的降低,对自由能的贡献更大,因而此时环形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 而当fA较大、ε较小时,线形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时势能有较大程度的降低,对自由能的贡献更大,因而此时线形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 由此可见,对体系的胶束化自由能进行系统分析,有助于更好地理解环形和线形嵌段共聚物的胶束化行为.     

Bicomponent Block Copolymers Derived from One or More Random Copolymers as an Alternative Route to Controllable Phase Behavior

Block copolymers have been extensively studied due to their ability to spontaneously self‐organize into a wide variety of morphologies that are valuable in energy‐, medical‐, and conservation‐related (nano)technologies. While the phase behavior of bicomponent diblock and triblock copolymers is conventionally governed by temperature and individual block masses, it is demonstrated here that their phase behavior can alternatively be controlled through the use of blocks with random monomer sequencing. Block random copolymers (BRCs), i.e., diblock copolymers wherein one or both blocks are a random copolymer comprised of A and B repeat units, have been synthesized, and their phase behavior, expressed in terms of the order–disorder transition (ODT), has been investigated. The results establish that, depending on the block composition contrast and molecular weight, BRCs can microphase‐separate. We also report that large variation in incompatibility can be generated at relatively constant molecular weight and temperature with these new soft materials. This sequence‐controlled synthetic strategy is extended to thermoplastic elastomeric triblock copolymers differing in chemistry and possessing a random‐copolymer midblock.     

Perfluorocyclobutyl-containing Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Synthesized by RAFT Polymerization

Amphiphilic block copolymers containing hydrophobic perfluorocyclobutyl‐based (PFCB) polyacrylate and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments were prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The PFCB‐containing acrylate monomer, p‐(2‐(p‐tolyloxy)perfluorocyclobutoxy)‐phenyl acrylate, was first synthesized from commercially available compounds in good yields, and this kind of acrylate monomer can be homopolymerized by free radical polymerization or RAFT polymerization. Kinetic study showed the 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) initiated and cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB) mediated RAFT polymerization was in a living fashion, as suggested by the fact that the number‐average molecular weights (M_n) increased linearly with the conversions of the monomer, while the polydispersity indices kept less than 1.10. The block polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n≦1.21) were prepared through RAFT polymerization using PEG monomethyl ether capped with 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate end group as the macro chain transfer agent (mPEG‐CTA). The length of the hydrophobic segment can be tuned by the feed ratio of the PFCB‐based acrylate monomer and the extending of the polymerization time. The micellization behavior of the block copolymers in aqueous media was investigated by the fluorescence probe technique.     

新型可溶性聚氨酯酰亚胺嵌段共聚物的合成

聚氨酯酰亚胺;多嵌段共聚物;合成;可溶性     

Parallel Algorithm for Cell Dynamics Simulation of Block Copolymers

Cell dynamics simulation (CDS) is a very promising approach to model dynamic processes in block copolymer systems at the mesoscale level. It is difficult to implement a real time and experimental‐scale simulation with traditional serial algorithms because of the expensive computation. A parallel, spatial decomposition‐based algorithm for large‐scale CDS is proposed. With the efficient strategy of domain decomposition and the fast method of neighbouring points location, we greatly reduce the calculating and communicating cost. The numerical results indicate that the proposed parallel algorithm can provide an efficient procedure for computer simulation of block copolymer systems of experimental size.

     

苯胺四聚体与聚乙二醇嵌段及星型共聚物的合成及表征

以氨基封端的苯胺四聚体为基础, 通过将端氨基取代为不同数量的羧基, 得到了一系列连接臂数不同的苯胺四聚体-聚乙二醇共聚物, 对反应历程中的各阶段产物进行了结构表征, 并对苯胺四聚体及最终产物进行了电化学性能测试. 结构表征证明反应按照设计路线成功进行并得到了理想的产物; 循环伏安特性曲线表明, 共聚物基本保留了苯胺四聚体的电化学性能, 可以发生从还原态到中间态再到氧化态的转变.     

Characterization of EO-PO Block Copolymers by Liquid Chromatography Under Critical Conditions

Summary: Block copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) are characterized by liquid chromatography under critical conditions (LCCC) for EO. At the critical adsorption point (CAP) for one structural unit, the non-critical block can elute in size exclusion (SEC) or adsorption (LAC) mode. Depending on the molar mass and architecture of the polymers, different strategies are applied. For samples with a higher molar mass, the SEC separation is the method of choice, while lower molar masses also allow a LAC separation. Examples for both situations are given, which show, that these approaches yield different information. In the SEC mode, homopolymers and diblocks can be separated from the triblocks. In LAC mode, a baseline resolution of individual oligomers can be achieved, in which homopolymers, diblocks and triblocks with the same number of repeat units of the non-critical block have the same elution volume.     

Light‐Responsive Block Copolymers

Stimuli‐responsive polymers are the subject of intense research because they are able to show responses to various environmental changes. Among those stimuli, light has attracted much attention since it can be localized in time and space and it can also be triggered from outside of the system. In this paper, we review light‐responsive block copolymers (LRBCs) that combine characteristic features of block copolymers, e.g., self‐assembly behavior, and light‐responsive systems. The different photo‐responsive moieties that have been incorporated so far in block copolymers as well as the proposed applications are discussed.