Polymerization of acrylamide in inverse microemulsions under special conditions

Increasing of Φ_aw, the volume fraction of the aqueous phase (water + acrylamide) in inverse microemulsion systems toluene / sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) / water / acrylamide (Set A); toluene / AOT / water / acrylamide / sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (Set AD) and toluene / styrene/ AOT / water / acrylamide (Set AS) leads to an increase of the viscosity. The dependence of the viscosity on Φ_aw in the temperature range 20–45°C is characterized by three maxima (at Φ_awΦ25, 45 and 65%). These maxima can be eliminated by an increase of temperature to 50°C (Sets A and AS). The most prominent peak (at Φ_awΦ45%) is preserved at 50°C only for systems of Set AD. The acrylamide polymerization behaviour in Sets A and AD is very similar irrespective of the nature of initiator used (dibenzoyl peroxide and ammonium peroxodisulfate). The rate of polymerization is a complex function of Φ_aw. In the presence of styrene (Set AS) a significant retardation of polymerization was observed. The rate of polymerization increases with increasing Φ_aw. Viscosity of the inverse dispersion system (Set AD) has no effect on the polymerization rate of acrylamide.     

Influence of the fire retardant,ammonium polyphosphate,on the thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The thermal degradation of ammonium polyphosphate (APP), a commercial fire retardant, and its blends with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) have been studied by thermal volatilization analysis (TVA) and the degradation products identified. APP degrades under vacuum in three stages. Initially it condenses to an ultraphosphate (<260°C) with release of ammonia and water. Fragmentation follows (260–370°C), giving high-boiling ammonium salts of phosphate fragments and further ammonia and water. The polyphosphoric acid (PPA) which remains then undergoes extensive Fragmentation (>370°C). In the presence of APP, the normal depolymerization of PMMA to monomer competes with degradation reactions which form high-boiling chain fragments, methanol, carbon monoxide, dimethyl-ether, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and char. These additional reactions are initiated principally by the PPA. Intramolecular cyclization occurs, resulting in the formation of anhydride, and ester groups are eliminated, methanol and carbon monoxide being evolved. Further degradation of the modified polymer leads to the other volatile products and the char.     

Methacrylate monolithic columns for capillary liquid chromatography polymerized using ammonium peroxodisulfate as initiator

Four methacrylate ester‐based monolithic columns for capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) were prepared by radical polymerization with ammonium peroxodisulfate (3 columns) and by thermal initiation (1 column). The polymerization mixture consisted of butyl methacrylate (BMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA), propan‐1‐ol, butane‐1,4‐diol, water, and ammonium peroxodisulfate as initiator. It was necessary to add N,N,N′,N ′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) to the polymerization mixture to activate the reaction. The amount of initiator and activator was optimized to attain quantitative polymerization. The reproducibility of three columns prepared at ambient temperature was studied. The most efficient column with HETP of 29 μm for uracil was compared to the monolithic column prepared by thermal initiation with α,α′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The efficiencies of all the test columns were characterized by van Deemter curves. Their total porosities were calculated from the retention time of uracil. Walters indices of hydrophobicity (HI) were calculated from the retention factors of anthracene and benzene. The columns prepared by both methods are comparable in their selectivities and efficiencies. They show the same characteristics because their total porosities and Walters indices of hydrophobicity are consistent. However, the preparation of monoliths using ammonium peroxodisulfate was less demanding, because polymerization was possible at ambient temperature.     

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate–thioglycolic acid redox couple in presence of air. IV

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto wool initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN)–thioglycolic acid (TGA) redox couple has been studied at 55 ± 0.2°C under atmospheric oxygen. Grafted copolymer was characterized by IR spectroscopy, scanning electron micrographs, and thermogravimetric analysis. Effect of amines, acid, alkali, oxidizing, and reducing agents were determined experimentally. The molecular weights of grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) and homopolymer was also evaluated.     

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of vinyl monomers with Fe[SC(S)NEt2]3 alone as the catalyst

The living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene was successfully carried out with diethyl 2,3‐dicyano‐2,3‐diphenylsuccinate (DCDPS)/ferric tri(diethyldithiocarbamate) as a novel reverse atom transfer radical polymerization initiation system in which DCDPS was a hexa‐substituted ethane‐type thermal iniferter, DC was a diethyldithiocarbamate group, and no additional ligands such as nitrogen‐ or phosphine‐based compounds were required. The bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out at 95 °C, and that of styrene was carried out at 120 °C. Poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene (PSt) with high molecular weights and quite narrow molecular weight distributions (as low as 1.09 for PSt) were obtained. ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of an α‐(carbethoxycyanophenyl)methyl group from the initiator and an ω‐DC group from the catalyst in the obtained polymers. Various chain‐extension reactions under UV light or thermal treatments were successfully conducted to prove the presence and efficient reinitiating of the ω‐DC group. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3464–3473, 2001     

Polymerization of vinyl monomers with salts of bronsted acids

The polymerization of vinyl monomers (N-phenylmaleimide, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ketone, methyl methacrylate, vinyl chloride, and styrene) with sodium salts of Brønsted acids (sodium cyanide, sodium nitrite, sodium hydroxide, etc.) were investigated at 0°C in dimethylformamide. N-Phenylmaleimide, acrylonitrile, and methyl vinyl ketone were found to undergo polymerization with sodium cyanide, however the other monomers were not polymerized with this salt. In the polymerizations of acrylonitrile and N-phenylmaleimide with sodium cyanide, the rates of the polymerizations were found to be proportinal to the initiator concentration and to the square of the monomer concentration. The activation energy of acrylonitrile polymerization was 3.7 kcal/mole, and that of N-phenylmaleimide ws 3.0 kcal/mole. The results of the copolymerization of acrylonitrile with methyl methacrylate at 0°C in dimethyl-formamide with sodium cyanide confirm that these polymerizations proceeded by an anionic mechanism initiated by the Michael addition reaction of the monomers with the salts. In these polymerizations, the monomer reactivity increased with increase in the e values. The initiation ability of sodium salts increased with increasing pK_a of the conjugate acids and with decreasing electronegativity of metal ion in the series of lithium, sodium, and potassium cyanide. The polymerizations took place only in aprotic polar solvents, and did not occur in weak polar solvents and in protonic solvents.     

Chemical reactions occurring in the thermal treatment of PC/PMMA blends

The chemical reactions occurring in the thermal treatment of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends have been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and thermogravimetry (TG). Our results suggest that in the melt-mixing of PC/PMMA blends, at 230°C, no exchange reactions occur and that only the depolymerization reaction of PMMA has been observed. In the presence of an ester-exchange catalyst (SnOBu₂), an exchange reaction was found to occur at 230°C, but no trace of PC/PMMA graft copolymer has been observed. Instead, an exchange reaction between the monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA), generated in the unzipping of PMMA chains, and the carbonate groups of PC has been suggested. This is due to the diffusion of MMA at the interface or even into the PC domains, where it can react with PC producing low molar mass PC oligomers bearing methacrylate and methyl carbonate chain ends and leaving the undecomposed PMMA chains unaffected. The TG curves of PC/PMMA blends prepared by mechanical mixing and by casting from THF show two separated degradation steps corresponding to that of homopolymers. This behavior is different from that of a transparent film of PC/PMMA blend, obtained by solvent casting from DCB/CHCl₃, which shows a single degradation step indicating that the degradation rate of PC is increased by the presence of PMMA in the blend. The thermal degradation products obtained by DPMS of this blend consist of methyl methacrylate (MMA), cyclic carbonates arising from the degradation of PMMA and PC, respectively, and a series of open chain bisphenol-A carbonate oligomers with methacrylate and methyl carbonate terminal groups. The presence of the latter compounds suggests a thermally activated exchange reaction occurring above 300°C between MMA and PC. The presence of bisphenol-A carbonate oligomers bearing methyl ether end groups, generated by a thermally activated decarboxylation of the methyl carbonate end groups of PC, has also been observed among the pyrolysis products. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1873–1884, 1998     

Photodegradation of copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate at elevated temperatures

Four methyl methacrylate—methyl acrylate copolymers with molar ratios, MMA/MA, of 112/1, 26/1, 7·7/1, and 2/1 have been photodegraded at 170°C by 2537 Å radiation. The changes which occur in the molecular weight of the copolymers are typical of a random scission process and from these and volatilization data the extent of chain scission during the course of the reaction has been calculated. The pattern of volatile products is the same as that previously obtained in the thermal reaction at 300°C although there are a number of differences in detail. For example, only one in ten of the methyl acrylate units is liberated as monomer compared with one in four in the thermal reaction and the ratio CO₂/chain scissions is considerably greater than the strict 1/1 ratio observed in the thermal reaction. Zip lengths are also very much greater in the photo reaction. These minor differences between the two reactions have been accounted for in terms of the mechanism previously presented to account for the thermal reaction, bearing in mind the differences in the temperature (170 and 300°C) at which the two investigations were carried out.     

A tracer study of the hydrolysis of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate units in homopolymers and copolymers

Homopolymers and copolymers were prepared from methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, and styrene by radical reactions at 60°C. Monomers suitably labeled with carbon-14 were used so that it was possible to monitor the hydrolysis of ester groups in the polymers during treatment under alkaline conditions. It was found that methyl acrylate units were hydrolyzed completely whatever their environment in a polymer chain. Under the same conditions only about 9% of the ester groups in a homopolymer of methyl methacrylate reacted; the proportion was increased by the introduction of comonomer units into the polymer chain. For copolymers of methyl methacrylate with methyl acrylate the extent of reaction may be correlated with the lengths of the sequences of methyl methacrylate units.     

Radical copolymerization of acrylic monomers. VI. Copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with methyl α-benzylacrylate

Free-radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and methyl α-benzylacrylate has been studied in benzene solutions at 40 and 60°C. A simple copolymerization model fits the composition data at both temperatures. However, considering that the ceiling temperature for the polymerization of methyl α-benzylacrylate in benzene solution (|M| = 5 mol/L) is 67°C and that the overall rate of copolymerization drastically decreases with respect to that of methyl methacrylate homopolymerization with an increase of the molar fraction of methyl α-benzylacrylate in the feed, the behavior of this system is analyzed from both simple and reversible copolymerization models.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Grafted from Acacia Gum

Graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate onto acacia gum has been studied in detail. The grafting was found to be optimal under the following reaction conditions: gum at 0.4 g/dL, monomer at 7.52 × 10^?;2 mol/dL, ceric ammonium sulfate at 15.81 × 10^?;4 mol/dL, H₂SO₄ at 0.037 mol/dL, temperature at 50 °C and time at 3.0 h. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was sed for the confirmation of grafting. Thermal and physical properties of the copolymer were studied. A probable mechanism of polymerization has been suggested based on reaction kinetics.     

Grafting onto Gelatin. II. Graft Copolymerization of Ethyl Acrylate and Methyl Methacrylate onto Gelatin in the Presence of Ce4+ as Redox Initiator

In order to initiate a comprehensive study of graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto soluble protein-gelatin, we have studied grafting of ethyl acrylate (EA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto gelatin using eerie ammonium nitrate (CAN) and eerie ammonium sulfate (CAS) as the redox initiator in an aqueous medium. A small amount of mineral acid (HNO₃ with CAN and H2SO4 with CAS) was found to catalyze the graft copolymerization. Graft copolymerization reactions were carried out at different temperatures. Maximum grafting occurred at 65°C both with EA and MMA. Percentage grafting has been determined as function of 1) concentration of monomer (EA and MMA), 2) concentration of initiator (CAN and CAS), 3) concentration of acid (HNO3 and H2SO4), 4) time, and 5) temperature.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XIV. Systematic deviations from alternating regulation in copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with styrene in the presence of metal halides

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) copolymerize in the presence of zinc chloride at 3°C under photoirradiation. The contents of methyl methacrylate in the copolymers obtained at a [ZnCl₂]/[MMA] molar ratio of 0.4 are systematically larger than 53 mole %, which is the limiting value at a small feed ratio of methyl methacrylate. The resulting copolymers are confirmed as the sole products and not the mixtures by thin layer chromatography. The effect of dilution of the monomer feed mixture with toluene on copolymer composition suggests that it depends chiefly on the feed concentration of styrene and hardly at all on monomer feed ratios. Copolymerizations are also conducted in the presence of stannic chloride at ?17°C under photoirradiation and in the presence of ethylaluminium sesquichloride at 0°C with spontaneous initiation. The contents of methyl methacrylate in both copolymers obtained at feed ratios lower than 60 mole % almost correspond to the 1:1 alternating copolymer and increase systematically with higher feed ratios. The systematic deviations of copolymer composition obtained in the presence of metal halides are reasonably interpreted by the participation of the binary molecular complex composed of metal halide and methyl methacrylate in the polymerization of the ternary molecular complex composed of metal halide, methyl methacrylate, and styrene.     

A comparison of the thermal and photochemical oxidation of 2-propanol by two peroxoanions

The chain length (i.e., relative quantum yield) for the oxidation of 2-propanol by peroxodisulfate ion at 25°C has been studied. A number of initial experiments were carried out in order to clarify the influence of dissolved oxygen, light intensity, cupric ion, and acetone absorption. After these problems were understood, conditions satisfactory for evaluation of chain length were chosen. The chain length was found to be 500 (to within ±100). The difference between this value and the thermal oxidation chain length of 1800 at 60° is, in both direction and magnitude, as expected for a common mechanism and a low activation energy for the propagation steps. A remarkable difference is seen for comparable reactions of peroxodisulfate and peroxodiphosphate anions.     

Vinyl Polymerization by Metal Complexes. XXIII. UV and Kinetic Studies on the Photopolymerization with Iron(III)-Amine-Carbon Tetrachloride Systems

Abstract

In order to elucidate the initiation reaction of the photopolymerization with iron(III)-amine-carbon tetrachloride systems, the photochemical reaction process among iron(III), amine, and carbon tetrachloride in methanol solution was followed at 0°C by UV spectroscopy as for iron(III) ion. The rate constants of both the reduction of iron (III) under irradiation with light and the oxidation of iron(II) in the dark were measured, and were related to the rates of photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate. Kinetic study on the photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate with iron(III)-triethylenetetramine-carbon tetrachloride system was made in parallel in methanol solution at 0°C. The initiation mechanism of the photopolymerization was postulated.     

Vinyl polymerization. 413. Polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by poly(vinylbenzyltrimethyl)-ammonium chloride

The polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by an aqueous solution of poly(vinylbenzyltrimethyl)ammonium chloride (Q-PVBACI) was carried out at 85°C. Styrene, p-chlorostyrene, methyl methacrylate, and i-butyl methacrylate were polymerized, whereas acrylonitrile and vinyl acetate were not. The effects of the amounts of vinyl monomer, Q-PVBACI, and water on the conversion of vinyl monomer were studied. The overall activation energy in the polymerization of styrene was estimated as 79.1 kJ mol^?1. The polymerization proceeded through a radical mechanism. The selectivity of vinyl monomer was discussed by “a concept of hard and soft hydrophobic areas and monomers.”     

Preparation of carboxyl‐end‐group polyacrylamide with low polydispersity by ATRP initiated with chloroacetic acid

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of acrylamide was successfully carried out with chloroacetic acid as initiator and CuCl/N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as catalyst either in water at 80 °C or in glycerol–water (1:1 v/v) medium at 130 °C. In both cases, carboxyl‐end‐group polyacrylamide was obtained with lower polydispersity ranging from 1.03 to 1.44 depending on the polymerization condition. Polymerization kinetics showed that the polymerizations proceeded with a living/controlled nature and accelerated at a higher temperature. The effect of pH in the reaction system on the polymerizations was further studied, revealing that chloroacetic acid not only served as a functional initiator for the ATRP of acrylamde but also provided the acidic polymerization condition, which effectively protected the ATRP of acrylamide from the unexpected complexation and cyclization side‐reactions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3956–3965, 2007     

Interpretation of fracture surface features in polycarbonate

The fracture surface of notched impact specimens of polycarbonate tested in the range 130°C to ?196°C have been studied by use of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The morphological features associated with the initiation and propagation of fracture have been determined and interpreted in terms of the processes which occur in association with fracture, notably crazing. The fracture processes are similar to those observed in poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene. The transition from ductile to brittle fracture is attributed to the case of crazing relative to shear yielding.     

Ultrasonic Modification of Polymers. II. Degradation of Polystyrene,Substituted Polystyrene,and Poly(n-vinyl Carbazole) in the Presence of Flexible Chain Polymers

Abstract

Ultrasonic (20 kHz, 70 W) solution degradations of polystyrene, substituted polystyrenes, and poly(n-vinyl carbazole) have been carried in toluene and tetrahydrofuran at 27 and -20°C in the presence of flexible chain polymers. Polystyrene formed block copolymers at 27°C with stiff-chain polymer PVCz; however, in the presence of flexible chain polymers, e.g., poly(vinyl methyl ketone) or poly(vinyl methyl ether), there were no block copolymers formed. Poly(n-vinyl carbazole) does not seem to form any block copolymers at 27°C with flexible chain polymers, e.g., poly(octadecyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl methacrylate). Poly(p-chlorostyrene) and poly(p-methoxystyrene) also do not form block copolymers at 27°C with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) but do so with poly(hexadecyl methacrylate). It is quite possible that these may only be blends of two homopolymers. Poly(octa-decyl methacrylate) does yield a block copolymer when sonicated at -15°C with poly(p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene).     

Studies on Copolymerization of Acrylamide and N-Vinylpyrrolidone

Abstract

Copolymers of acrylamide and N-vinylpyrrolidone were prepared using different techniques, viz., solution, precipitation, and inverse emulsion. Xylene was used as a continuous medium and sorbitane monooleate as a surfactant for the inverse emulsion technique. Acetone was used as a solvent in the precipitation technique. The initiator used in all the reactions was 2,2-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride. C, H, and N elemental analysis was used to determine the compositions of the copolymers formed. Reactivity ratios as determined by the Fineman and Ross method were found to be 0.61 and 0.05 for acrylamide and n-vinylpyrrolidone, respectively. Intrinsic viscosity measurements were made at temperatures ranging from 16 to 75°C.