Transparent film materials with excellent mechanical and thermal properties were elaborated by drying a latex suspension of armored polymer/Laponite composite particles. Low‐temperature TEM observation of ultrathin cross‐sections of the films indicated a unique network morphology characterized by a “honeycomb” distribution of the Laponite platelets remindful of the original particles morphology.
One of the most important events in free‐radical emulsion polymerization is desorption of radicals from the polymer particles to the aqueous phase. Desorption takes place by diffusion of radicals inside the particle toward the surface and transfer to the aqueous phase. The rate of desorption can be determined theoretically for homogeneous spherical particles. For more complex cases, analytical solutions become difficult or impossible to obtain and a numerical approach is better suited for estimating desorption rate coefficients. In this paper, Brownian dynamics simulation is used for the estimation of desorption rate coefficients in emulsion polymerization systems of increased complexity, in particular for non‐homogeneous polymer particles.
Electrografting, which is an electropolymerization technique dedicated to the chemisorption of polyacrylates onto conductive surfaces, was actively studied in anhydrous organic media until now. This communication aims at extending this technique to aqueous media for the grafting of polyacrylates onto carbon. The key criterion for the successful electrografting under these not very demanding experimental conditions (water vs. anhydrous organic solvents) is the use of amphiphilic acrylic monomers. The impact of the chemical structure of these new monomers on the coating properties was investigated. Composition of the coatings was analyzed by FT‐IR ATR and XPS, whereas film thickness and morphology were analyzed by ellipsometry and AFM, respectively.
Au nanoparticles (NPs) and polymer composite particles with phase‐separation structures were prepared based on phase separation structures. Au NPs were successfully synthesized in amphiphilic block‐copolymer micelles, and then composite particles were formed by a simple solvent evaporation process from Au NPs and polymer solution. The phase separated structures (Janus and Core‐shell) were controlled by changing the combination of polymers having differing hydrophobicity.
In this communication, β‐cyclodextrin modified quantum dots were used as a water‐soluble “supramolecular” cross‐linker (SCL) because of its surface's supramolecular activity. The guest monomer‐loaded SCL (mSCL) can be used to copolymerize with water‐soluble monomers leading to transparent hybrid supramolecular hydrogels. This simple and versatile method opens new venues for the preparation of hybrid supramolecular hydrogels and the host–guest chemistry of cyclodextrins.
Summary: Magnetic nanoparticles have been prepared by a co‐precipitation method and modified with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer particles have been prepared by suspension polymerization in silicone oil. The particles possess a high affinity to the template molecules and are rapidly separated under a magnetic field.
A polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P2VP) micellar structure with a P2VP core containing 5 nm CdS nanoparticles (NPs) and a PS shell formed in toluene that is a good solvent for PS block undergoes the core‐shell inversion by excess addition of methanol that is a good solvent for P2VP block. It leads to the formation of micellar shell‐embedded CdS NPs in the methanol major phase. The spontaneous crystalline growth of Au NPs on the CdS surfaces positioned at micellar shells without a further reduction process is newly demonstrated. The nanostructure of Au/CdS/PS‐b‐P2VP hybrid NPs is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray, and UV‐Vis absorption.
This communication details the successful synthesis of low polydispersity core cross‐linked star (CCS) polymers via DPE‐mediated polymerisation. We demonstrate the ability to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(acrylonitrile) CCS polymers that are currently inaccessible via the two most common non‐metal‐based controlled radical polymerisation techniques (NMP and RAFT polymerisations).
Future advances in designing bioactive materials, such as antithrombotic coatings for cardiovascular stents, will require widely applicable and robust methods of surface modification. In this paper, we report on the development of multifunctional polymer coatings made by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) copolymerization. Polymer coatings of various [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives were co‐deposited in controlled ratios and their chemical composition verified by FT‐IR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, preliminary biocompatibility of these coatings was assessed using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and 3T3 murine fibroblasts. The parallel immobilization of two different antithrombotic biomolecules onto a CVD‐based copolymer is also demonstrated by orthogonal immobilization strategies.
We have systematically studied the thin film morphologies of asymmetric polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PS‐b‐PEO) diblock copolymer subjected to solvent vapors of varying selectivity for the constituent blocks. Upon a short treatment in neutral or PS‐selective vapor, the film exhibited a highly ordered array of hexagonally packed, cylindrical microdomains. In the case of PEO selective vapor annealing, such ordered cylindrical microdomains were not obtained. Instead, fractal patterns on the microscale were observed and their growth processes investigated. Furthermore, hierarchical structures could be obtained if the fractal pattern was exposed to neutral or PS selective vapor.
The catalytic properties of bis(phenoxy‐imine) Zr and Hf complexes incorporating perfluorophenyl groups with methylaluminoxane were investigated. The fluorinated complexes produced far higher‐molecular‐weight polyethylenes and ethylene/propylene copolymers with increased activities compared with the non‐fluorinated congeners. Moreover, the fluorinated complexes displayed a higher incorporation ability for propylene.
Summary: Silvered polyimide films have been fabricated by direct ion exchange of a damp‐dry poly(amic acid) film with an aqueous silver solution such as silver nitrate. Thermal curing of the silver(I )‐containing films under tension leads to cycloimidization of the poly(amic acid) into polyimide with a concomitant silver(I ) reduction and aggregation at both film sides to give reflective and conductive double‐surface‐silvered polyimide films. The metallized films retain the essential properties of the parent polyimide.
Surface morphology of the prepared double‐surface‐silvered polyimide films. 相似文献
Nanoscale fibers with embedded, aligned, and percolated non‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated through electrospinning dispersions based on melt‐compounded thermoplastic polyurethane/MWCNT nanocomposite, with up to 10 wt.‐% MWCNTs. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the nanotubes were highly oriented and percolated throughout the fibers, even at high MWCNT concentrations. The coupling of efficient melt compounding with electrospinning eliminated the need for intensive surface functionalization or sonication of the MWCNTs, and the high aspect ratio as well as the electrical and mechanical properties of the nanotubes were retained. This method provides a more efficient technique to generate one‐dimensional nanofibers with aligned MWCNTs.
The lithium salt of 2,6‐difluoro‐2′‐sulfobenzophenone was conveniently synthesized in one‐pot by reacting 2,6‐difluorophenyllithium with 2‐sulfobenzoic acid cyclic anhydride in THF at −70 °C whereafter the product crystallized out of solution. A poly(arylene ether) and a poly(arylene sulfide) were prepared by polycondensation reactions to demonstrate the reactivity and efficacy of this new monomer to produce sulfonated high‐molecular weight aromatic polymers for fuel cell proton‐exchange membranes. This work demonstrated that organolithium chemistry may offer versatile and straightforward pathways to new functional monomers with fluorine atoms activated for nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions.
A new π‐conjugated charge‐transfer‐type copolymer of electron‐donating thiophene and electron‐accepting quinoxaline was prepared by organometallic polycondensation. The polymer was soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, and showed a UV‐vis peak at long wavelengths of 598 nm in chloroform and 629 nm in the film. Its film exhibited a χ(3) peak in the resonance region with a χ(3) value comparable to that of regioregular head‐to‐tail poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl).
A new polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane macromer, octakis[N‐(6‐aminopyridin‐2‐yl)undecanamide‐10‐dimethyl‐siloxy]silsesquioxane (POSS‐C11‐Py), containing eight diaminopyridine arms, is able to self‐assemble to form a physically crosslinked polymer‐like structure with good mechanical properties (tensile strength = 46.1 MPa, tensile modulus = 0.58 GPa, elongation = 49.3%) through quadruple hydrogen bonding interactions between these arms. POSS‐C11‐Py is the first organic/inorganic supermolecule possessing polymer‐like mechanical properties as a result of self‐complementary interactions, providing a potential route toward the design and fabrication of polymer‐like supramolecular materials.
One‐dimensional methyl orange fibrils can be easily prepared. They are stable in acidic aqueous solutions and soluble in neutral water. When used to synthesize conducting polymer microtubules, the fibrils act as “hard templates” formally but as “soft templates” effectively. Microtubular structures of polypyrrole, polyaniline, and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) have been achieved successfully via such water‐soluble versatile templates.
A compositional graded film of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with 4,4′‐thiodiphenol (TDP), in the film thickness direction, was fabricated by self‐diffusing of TDP in the PCL melt. We found out the self‐bending deformation of the gradient film, which bent into a rolled‐up shape by itself. The initial shape of the film was flat when the sample was quenched from the melt. Upon the fast crystallization of PCL, the gradient film bent to the side with low TDP content. Then, after PCL crystallized the film bent to the opposite direction, that is, to the side with high TDP content. This bending to the TDP rich region was induced by not only the crystallization of PCL but also mass transfer due to the diffusion of TDP from TDP rich region to poor region.
Kumada catalyst‐transfer polycondensation (KCTP) is a new but rapidly developing method with great potential for the preparation of well‐defined conjugated polymers (CPs). The recently discovered chain‐growth mechanism is unique among the various transition metal‐catalyzed polycondensations, and has thus attracted much attention among researchers. Most progress is found in the areas of mechanism and external initiation via new initiators, but also the number of monomers other than thiophene that can be polymerized is steadily increasing. Accordingly, the variety of CP chain architectures is increasing as well, and a considerable contribution of KCTP toward more efficient materials can be expected in the future. This review critically focuses on very recent progress in the synthesis of CPs and the mechanism of KCTP, and is finally aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of this exciting polymerization method.
