Structure–property relationships of poly(vinyl alcohol). II. The influence of molecular regularity on the crystallization–dissolution temperature relationships of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Dissolution temperatures T_s have been determined for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) samples of varying tacticity as a function of crystallization temperatures T_c. From the values of T_s and T_c, one can obtain values of (T_m)_∞, the dissolution temperature of crystals of infinite stepheight. (T_m)_∞ is a characteristic property of a given sample. This method of characterization is very sensitive and reliable for detecting differences in molecular regularity among PVA samples. The variation of (T_m)_∞ with stereoregularity is attributed in part to differences in hydrogen-bonding characteristics. Determinations of the crystallinities of solution-crystallized PVA have shown that stereoregularity in PVA does not result in higher crystallizability.     

Long branching in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol). I. Crosslinking and crosslinking cleavage of poly(vinyl acetate)

A crosslinked network was formed by the reaction of partially saponified poly(vinyl acetate) and toluylene diisocyanate in benzene. The yield of gel was markedly dependent on the degree of saponification and the concentrations of polymer and diisocyanate. Crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) was obtained by treating the poly(vinyl acetate) with a catalytic amount of sodium hydroxide in methanol without any change of the urethane crosslinks. The crosslink based on the urethane linkage was quantitatively cleaved by acids, especially by hydrobromic acid, releasing polymers of the same molecular weight as the original.     

Long branching in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol). II. Polymerization of vinyl acetate in the presence of crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol)

It is a common view that poly(vinyl acetate) has many branches at the acetyl side group, but that the corresponding poly(vinyl alcohol) has little branching. In order to study the branching in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol) which is formed by chain transfer to polymer, the polymerization of ¹⁴C-labeled vinyl acetate in the presence of crosslinked poly(vinyl acetate), which was able to be decrosslinked to give soluble polymers, was investigated at 60°C and 0°C. This system made it possible to separate as well as to distinguish the graft polymer from the newly polymerized homopolymer. Furthermore, the degree of grafting onto the acetoxymethyl group and onto the main chain were estimated. It became clear that, in the polymerization of vinyl acetate, chain transfer to the polymer main chain takes place about 2.4 times as frequently at 60°C as that to the acetoxy group and about 4.8 times as frequently at 0°C.     

Long branching in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol). III. Kinetic study of the branching reaction in the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate

The branching reaction in the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate was studied kinetically. Branching occurs by polymer transfer as well as terminal double-bond copolymerization. The chain-transfer constants to the main chain (C_p,2) and to the acetoxy methyl group (C_p,1) on the polymer were calculated on the basis of the experimental data described in the preceding paper giving C_p,2 = 3.03 × 10^?4, C_p,1 = 1.27 × 10^?4 at 60°C, and C_p,2 = 2.48 × 10^?4, C_p,1 = 0.52 × 10^?4 at 0°C. Chain transfer to monomer is important with respect to the formation of the terminal double bond. The total values of transfer constants to the α- or β-position in the vinyl group and the acetoxymethyl group in vinyl acetate was determined to be 2.15 × 10^?4 at 60°C. The transfer constant to the acetyl group in the monomer (C_m,1) was also evaluated to be 2.26 × 10^?4 at 60°C from the quantitative determination of the carboxyl terminals in PVA. These facts suggest that the chain-transfer constant to the α- or β-position in the monomer (C_m,2) is nearly equal to zero within experimental error. Copolymerization reactivity parameters of the terminal double bond were also estimated. In conclusion, it has become clear that the formation of nonhydrolyzable branching by the terminal double-bond reaction can be almost neglected, and hence that the long branching in PVA is formed only by the polymer transfer mechanism. On the other hand, a large number of hydrolyzable branches in PVAc are prepared by the terminal double-bond reaction rather than by polymer transfer.     

Characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) during the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate using poly(vinyl alcohol) as emulsifier

During the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as stabilizer and potassium persulfate as initiator, the VAc reacts with PVA forming PVA-graft-PVAc. When the grafted polymer reaches a critical size it becomes water-insoluble and precipitates from the aqueous phase contributing to the formation of polymer particles. Since particle formation and therefore the properties of the final latex will depend on the degree of grafting, it is important to quantify and to characterize the grafted PVA. In this work, the quantitative separation and characterization of the grafted water-insoluble PVA was carried out by a two-step selective solubilization of the PVAc latex, first with acetonitrile to separate PVAc homopolymer, followed by water to separate the water-soluble PVA from the remaining acetonitrile-insoluble material. After the separation, the water-soluble and water-insoluble PVA were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses, from which the details of the PVA-graft-PVAc structure were obtained. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of solvent for vinyl acetate polymerization on microstructure of poly(vinyl alcohol)

The solution polymerization of vinyl acetate was carried out in several solvents at 0 to 100°C, using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. For the resulting poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), iodinecoloration, 1,2-glycol structure and tacticity were observed. The pentad tacticity of PVA was estimated from its methine carbon spectra by means of ¹³C-FTNMR spectrometer. Iodine-coloration ability of PVA varied markedly with the type of polymerization solvent and decreased in the following order: phenol > aq. phenol > methyl alcohol > ethyl acetate > DMSO, ethylene carbonate. The syndiotactic fraction in PVA also decreased with polymerization solvent in the same order as that of iodine coloration, while 1,2-glycol content of PVA was not almost affected by polymerization solvent except for phenol and aq. phenol. In solution polymerization performed, effect of polymerization temperature on tacticity was less than that of solvent.     

Polyurethane cationomers. I. Structure–properties relationships

Polyurethane (PU) cationomers have been synthesized by quaternizing tertiary amine-containing linear polyurethanes using different quaternizers containing acid groups. The effect of chemical structure of PU cationomers on the physical properties was studied. The mechanical properties of PU cationomers were improved with decreasing molecular weight of poly(caprolactone) glycol, and increasing concentration of quaternary ammonium. Decreasing the carbon number in the alkyl group of the N-alkyl diethanol-amine chain-extenders, and using rigid symmetrical diisocyanates, the mechanical properties of the PU cationomers were increased. The effects of these factors on the glass transition temperature of PU cationomers were also examined. The mechanical properties of the PU cationomers decreased by immersion in water and recovered after removal of the water.     

Fractionation of poly(vinyl alcohol) derived from poly(vinyl acetate) from its aqueous solution induced by shearing force-IV

Summary In order to clarify the mechanism of crystallization under molecular orientation, the fractionation for poly(vinyl alcohol) (VAc-PVA) derived from vinyl acetate from its aqueous solution was carried out under shearing force. The fibrillar crystals grown by shearing force from solutions were produced on the stirrer and in solution simultaneously. The fibrillar crystals had a diameter of approximately 1 mm and a length of 1 cm in the case of the initial polymer concentration of 2.0%, and approximately 1 mm and 5 cm in the case of 0.5%. The initial rate of precipitation (Rs) for the precipitates produced in solution was higher than that (Rr) on the stirrer. The difference betweenRs andRr increased with an increase in initial polymer concentration. The difference in the percentages of syndiotactic diads of precipitates grown on the stirrer and those in solution was not found, and the percentages of syndiotactic diads of each fraction decreased in the order of fractionation. Furthermore, the difference in the molecular weight of precipitates grown on the stirrer and those in solution was not found in the case of the higher polymer concentration, whereas it was found clearly in the case of lower one.

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Zusammenfassung Um den Mechanismus der Kristallisation unter molekularer Orientierung zu klären, wurde die Fraktionierung von Polyvinylalkohol (VAc-PVA), der aus Vinylacetat hergestellt war, in wäßriger Lösung unter Scherkräften durchgeführt. Die von Lösung unter Scherung gewachsenen flbrillären Kristalle erscheinen gleichzeitig in Lösung und auf dem Rührer. Die aus Lösung gewonnenen Faserkristalle hatten einen Durchmesser von etwa 1 mm und eine Länge von etwa 1 cm bei einer anfänglichen Konzentration des Polymeren von 2.0%, etwa 1 mm und 5 cm resp. für 0.5%. Die anfängliche Fällungsgeschwindigkeit (Rs) der in Lösung wachsenden Niederschläge war höher als diejenige (Rr) auf dem Rührer. Ein Unterschied im Gehalt an syndiotaktischen Diaden zwischen den vom Rührer und aus der Lösung entnommenen Faserkristallen ließ sich nicht feststellen, und die syndiotaktischen Diaden nahmen in beiden Proben mit der Ordnung der Fraktionierung ab. Darüber hinaus ließ sich ein Unterschied im Molekulargewicht zwischen den auf dem Rührer und in der Lösung gewachsenen faserigen Kristallen bei der höheren Anfangskonzentration des Polymeren nicht feststellen, aber bei der niedrigeren Anfangskonzentration des Polymeren war die Auswirkung des Molekulargewichtes deutlich.

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Mechanical Denaturation of High Polymers in Solutions, XXV.     

Preparation and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica nanocomposites derived from copolymerization of vinyl silica nanoparticles and vinyl acetate

Nanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica nanoparticles (PVA-SNs) were prepared by in-situ radical copolymerization of vinyl silica nanoparticles functionalized by vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEOS) and vinyl acetate with benzoyl peroxide (BPO, i.e., initiator), subsequently saponified via direct hydrolysis with NaOH solution. The resulting vinyl silica nanoparticles, PVA-SNs were characterized by means of fourier transformation spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the elemental analysis method. Effects of silica nanoparticles on viscosity and alcoholysis of PVA-SNs were studied by a ubbelohode capillary viscometer and the back titration method. The morphological structure of PVA-SN films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile test were used to determine the thermal and mechanical properties of PVA-SN films. The results indicated that the content of vinyl groups on the surface of the vinyl silica nanoparticles was up to 3.02 mmol/g and vinyl silica nanoparticles had been successfully copolymerized with vinyl acetate. Furthermore, compared to pure PVA, silica nanoparticles bonded with polymer matrix in a low concentration affected the viscosity and alcoholysis of the PVA-SNs materials. At the same time, it resulted in the improvement of the thermal and mechanical properties of the PVA-SN materials due to a strong interaction between silica nanoparticles and the polymer matrix via a covalent bond. It could be found that the optical clarity of the membrane was changed through UV-Vis absorption spectrum due to the introduction of silica nanoparticles.     

Polymerization of vinyl acetate in fatty acids and properties of poly (vinyl alcohols) derived from the poly (vinyl acetates)

Polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) in various fatty acids (carbon numbers 4–18) was carried out. Chain transfer constants to the acids were determined to be 20–35×10^–4, from which the constant to a methylene group was obtained to be 0.73×10^–4. Viscometry in aqueous solution of derived poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) showed the usual behavior in terms of Huggins constant obtained by the Schulz–Blaschkes equation for PVAs derived from fatty acid systems lower than hexadecanoic acid. PVA derived from octadecanoic acid system showed abnormality, indicating association of alkyl groups. Contact angles on surfaces of PVAs cast from aqueous solutions were measured. While those of PVA derived from lower acid systems were 62°, those of PVAs derived from higher aids were higher and increased to 92° with increase in carbon number to octadecanoic acid. Alkyl groups in the PVAs were estimated to appear on the surfaces. Surface tension of aqueous solution of the PVA derived from octadecanoic acid showed high surface activity, and depended on pH of the solution, indicating the presence and cleavage of lactone ring at the combined portion between PVA and the acid.     

Dilute solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) derived from vinyl trifluoroacetate

The dilute-solution behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA_VTFA), derived from vinyl trifluoroacetate, in water-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) mixtures was investigated. With solvent mixtures ranging from 10 to 20 vol % DMSO, the relation between the reduced viscosity η_sp/C and the polymer concentration C was linear for polymer concentrations above 0.2 g/dL, whereas in solutions in mixed solvents of other compositions the dependence was linear for polymer concentrations above 0.1 g/dL. The relation between the intrinsic viscosity [η] obtained for aqueous solutions of PVA_VTFA and the molecular weight M estimated from viscosity measurements in solutions of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA_VTFA), obtained by acetylation of PVA_VTFA, was given by [η] = 7.34 × 10^?4 M^0.63. The value of [η] was greatest for the solvent mixture with 10 vol % DMSO and smallest for about 50 vol % DMSO, and Huggins constants k were smallest and greatest for these two cases, respectively. The turbidity of the solutions of low-molecular-weight PVA_VTFA, was higher than that of high-molecular-weight PVA_VTFA up to 30 vol % DMSO, and the reverse relation held for 40-70 vol % DMSO.     

Carbon-13 NMR of poly(vinyl acetate) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of atactic poly(vinyl acetate) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers are reported and analyzed. Carbon spectra at 22.6 and 62.9 MHz together with use of shift reagents have permitted a more complete assignment than previously reported; in some cases the published assignments are found to be in error.     

Short branching in poly(vinyl alcohol). III. Some properties of model polymers of short-branched poly(vinyl alcohol)

Melting point, the iodine color reaction, and foam fractionation were studied on model poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) having short branches of one or two monomer units in length. An increase in the amount of short branching units caused a marked decrease in color intensity of the PVA–iodine reaction and in the melting point. These tendencies were more remarkable when the short branching was two monomer units in length than when it was one monomer unit. It was also found that foam fractionation of an aqueous PVA solution produced PVA fractions with different degree of short branching, the degree increasing with increase in the fraction number. The color intensity of the PVA–iodine reaction has been confirmed to decrease with increase in the fraction number, but this result cannot be explained solely in terms of the short branching. It is concluded that the phenomenon of foam fractionation of PVA and the iodine color reaction of the fraction appear to be governed by many factors such as molecular weight, stereoregularity, and short branching.     

Influence of additives on model emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a protective colloid

To clarify the influence of additives on the grafting phenomenon as well as the particle behavior more precisely, we carried out a model emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) in a 1% aqueous solution with ammonium persulfate (APS) using poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a protective colloid in the presence of additives. The addition of alcohol to the system remarkably affected the particle formation, especially grafting. This is thought to be attributed to competition between hydrogen abstraction from PVA and alcohol with a sulfate radical. Especially, the addition of acetone to the system decreased grafting to a great extent, resulting in an increase in the particle size together with an increase in the number of polymer molecules in a polymer particle. This result is thought to arise from a combination of electron abstraction from acetone with a sulfate radical and the chain-transfer reaction of the propagation radical with acetone.     

Seeded polymerization of vinyl acetate using monodisperse poly(vinyl acetate) latex particles

The seeded polymerizations of vinyl acetate, using monodisperse poly(vinyl acetate) latex particles prepared in the absence of emulsifiers with potassium persulfate, have been investigated at 70°C with potassium persulfate as an initiator. New small particles were formed in the system containing a small amount of seed particles, but were not observed in the system containing a large amount of seed particles. The size of the secondary particles increased, and their number decreased, with an increase in the seed particle number. The minimum diameter of PVAc particles, which are stabilized by the sulfate ion groups bound at the end of polymer chains during polymerization, was determined to be 0.12 μm diameter from the limiting total surface area of seed particles which prevented further secondary nucleation. The minimum diameter of the particles increased as the speed of the stirrer increased. The new small particle number calculated using this value agreed well with that formed in the seeded polymerization.     

Preparation of water-soluble photoresist derived from poly(vinyl alcohol)

The reaction of PVA with 2,2-dialkoxyethoxystyrylpyridinium or quinolinium salts is described. The resultant water-soluble polymers, which contain small amounts of the styrylpyridinium- or quinolinium group, exhibited high photosensitivity. Among the polymers prepared PVA-bearing 4-oxystyrylquinolinium group was photoinsolubilized with visible light that corresponded to an argon laser.     

Grafting reactions of vinyl acetate onto poly[(vinyl alcohol)-co-(vinyl acetate)]

The grafting preference of vinyl acetate onto the methine carbon of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) versus the acetate group of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was determined as part of an attempt to prepare novel branched PVOH from partially hydrolyzed PVAc. The results showed long chain grafting on the acetate groups of the PVAc units rather than the methine carbons of the PVOH or PVAc units. Decreasing the monomer or initiator concentration decreased the molecular weight of the graft copolymer formed. Of the initiators studied, ammonium persulfate gave the largest increase in copolymer molecular weight. Both hydrolysis and reacetylation combined with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and ¹³C-NMR of the fully hydrolyzed material were used to estimate the number and location of grafts. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Compatibility of poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(vinyl acetate) blends

The compatibility of poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(vinyl acetate) (PEO-PVA) blends was examined at five compositions covering the complete range. Samples were prepared by coprecipitation and solution casting. Dynamic mechanical properties were studied at 110 Hz between ?120 and 65°C for dry, quenched, and annealed samples. The study also included tensile testing at 25°C, examination of blend morphology, and DSC measurements at elevated temperatures. Optical microscopy revealed that crystallization of PEO proceeds essentially unhindered at up to 25% poly(vinyl acetate) content by weight. Higher levels of this component drastically reduce spherulite size, and at the highest PVA compositions there was no evidence of crystallization. Thermomechanical spectra of quenched and annealed samples indicate limited mixing of the two components except for the higher (>75%) PVA compositions. Tensile properties show a mutual reinforcement at 10-25% PVA content due to possible polymer segment association. The melting-point depression of PEO is significant above 25% PVA and has been attributed to morphological changes of the PEO crystalline phase.     

Viscometric study of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(vinyl acetate) blends in various solvents

The intermolecular interactions between poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) in tetrahydrofuran (THF), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and N,N^′-dimethylformamide (DMF) were thoroughly investigated by the viscosity measurement. It has been found that the solvent selected has a great influence upon the polymer-polymer interactions in solution. If using PVAc and THF, or PVAc and DMF to form polymer solvent, the intrinsic viscosity of PVC in polymer solvent of (PVAc+THF) or (PVAc+DMF) is less than in corresponding pure solvent of THF or DMF. On the contrary, if using PVAc and MEK to form polymer solvent, the intrinsic viscosity of PVC in polymer solvent of (PVAc+MEK) is larger than in pure solvent of MEK. The influence of solvent upon the polymer-polymer interactions also comes from the interaction parameter term Δb, developed from modified Krigbaum and Wall theory. If PVC/PVAc blends with the weight ratio of 1/1 was dissolved in THF or DMF, Δb<0. On the contrary, if PVC/PVAc blends with the same weight ratio was dissolved in MEK, Δb>0. These experimental results show that the compatibility of PVC/PVAc blends is greatly associated with the solvent from which polymer mixtures were cast. The agreement of these results with differential scanning calorimetry measurements of PVC/PVAc blends casting from different solvents is good.     

Structure‐property relationships for film‐forming poly(amide imide)s

Poly(amide imide)s from dichloro‐dianhydrides of tri‐mellitimide‐ and/or pyromellitimide‐N‐acetic acids (TMA and PMA), linear aromatic dimimines (LAD) and/or cardo diamine (CDA), 9,9′‐bis‐phenylfluorene (series PAI‐1); a similar series (PAI‐II) from dichloro‐dianhydride of trimellitimide‐N‐benzoic acid (TMB), LAD and/or CDA; and a series of coPAIs from dichloro‐dianhydride of TMA and mixtures of diphenylmethane diamine (DPA) with CDA were synthesized by low‐temperature reaction in dimethyl acetamide (DMAA). The state of aggregation of PAIs and coPAIs in dilute and semi‐dilute solutions of DMAA was characterized by measurements of specific heat capacity in the temperature interval 150‐370 K, of heats of dilution in DMAA at room temperature, and of apparent viscosity in the temperature interval 288‐373 K. The state of aggregation of PAIs and coPAIs in thin films cast from DMAA solutions was characterized by wide‐angle and small‐angle X‐ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical analysis, broad‐band dielectric spectroscopy and gas transport properties. It is concluded that film‐forming PAIs and coPAIs have a reasonably good potential as high‐temperature dielectrics and membrane materials for gas separation.