Poly(vinyl fluoride) solution characteristics

Nine unfractionated poly(vinyl fluoride) samples were characterized for molecular weight and polydispersity by means of sedimentation velocity, osmometry, and viscosity measurements. Molecular weights were in the range of 143,000–654,000 and M _w/M _n = 2.5–5.6. The Mark-Houwink (M-H) relation was established as [η] = 6.52 × 10^?5 M^0.80. The M-H exponent is at the Flory-Fox upper limit (0.80), as is characteristic of extended, polar polymers, in good solvents. The unperturbed chain dimensions, characteristic ratio and steric factor were derived by the methods of Stockmayer and Fixman and Kurata and Stockmayer. The steric factor is 1.7, which agrees with data reported for other poly(vinyl halides).     

Molecular weights and molecular weight distribution of polymers by equilibrium ultracentrifugation. Part II. Molecular weight distribution

A method has been developed for determining the molecular weight distribution of a polymer sample from the sedimentation–diffusion equilibrium data for a solution under pseudo-ideal conditions. From some theoretical examples it appears that the method works well and that the molecular weight distribution can be determined with a reasonable degree of resolution. From three polymer samples (polyethylene, polystyrene, and polycaprolactam) the molecular weight distribution was determined in this way. The average molecular weights, M?_n, M?_w, M?_z, and M _z+1, calculated from these distribution functions agree well with those calculated directly from the equilibrium data.     

Rigid rod-random coil transformation,Mark-Houwink constants,and Millich's intrinsic isoviscosity, [η]M,and isohydrodynamic volume, [η]MMM

On the basis of values of Mark–Houwink constants of rigid rod—polymer systems and their conformers a unique stage can be recognized which is common to all polymers of this type, independent of polymer conformation and solvent medium. The crude values derived for these polymer–solvent systems at 20–30°C. of Millich's intrinsic isoviscosity, [η]_M, is 0.28 ± 0.04 dl/g, occurring at the coordinate molecular weight, M_M, of 42,700, and produces a value of ca. 170 Å of Millich's isohydrodynamic polymer volume at this stage and temperature. Utility in the use of [η]_MM_M as a standard reference state, assuming reliable Mark–Houwink constants that obtain for strictly linear, monodisperse polymer samples, is indicated.     

Molecular characterization of poly(diisopropyl fumarate) by the absolute calibration method in molecular exclusion chromatography (GPC)

The present work demonstrates that it is possible to obtain the parameters K and a of the Staudinger-Mark-Houwink relationship between the intrinsic viscosity [η] and the molecular weight M of a polymer by applying the absolute method of exclusion chromatography to samples of poly (diisopropyl fumarate). The procedure is based on deducing the relationship between molecular weight and elution volume V from chromatographic runs of a stoichiometrically labeled polymer sample with a broad molecular weight distribution. By using double detection it is possible to obtain the relationship f(V)/h(V) = M(V)/M_n = exp (A-BV)/M_n where M_n is the osmotically determined number average of the molecular weight of the eluted polymer while f(V) and h(V) are the normalized elution curves obtained by the use of the polymer mass detector and the label detector respectively. A and B are the parameters of the calibration curve, i.e., the relationship between M and V which together with the intrinsic viscosity and the elution curves of several samples of the polymer allows us to obtain the relationship between [η] and M. The results have been verified with chromatographic data through the use of the universal calibration concept.     

Development of gel permeation chromatography for polymer characterization. II. Universal calibration

GPC appearance volumes have been determined for a series of linear polyethylene, polystyrene, and polybutadiene fractions (M_w/M_n < 1.1) in trichlorobenzene at 130°C. and for the latter two series in tetrahydrofuran at 23°C. A polymer-type independent relationship between appearance volumes and the equivalent hydrodynamic radii of the polymer molecules has been demonstrated. The equivalent hydrodynamic radius is calculated from intrinsic viscosity data. It is proposed that this relationship can be used to construct a universal GPC calibration curve for polymers that assume a spherical conformation in solution. Methods for applying the universal curve to the determination of molecular weight averages and molecular weight distribution are described. In addition, a method is outlined by which the universal calibration curve can be empolyed for determining number-average Mark-Houwink constants from polydisperse samples.     

Unperturbed dimensions of poly(ethylene oxide)

The intrinsic viscosities of fractions of poly(ethylene oxide) in the molecular weight range 1.5 × 10³ to 10⁶ have been measured at 25°C in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and acetone; at 35°C in 0.45M aqueous potassium sulfate; and at 50°C in methyl isobutyl ketone and diethylene glycol diethyl ether. The latter three are practically theta solvents. The value of (r₀² /M)^1/2 for poly(ethylene oxide) is calculated to be 0.84 Å from the molecular weights of the high molecular weight fractions, and their intrinsic viscosities in the theta solvents and acetone. Erroneous values result if the usual methods of determination are applied to the data obtained for the low molecular weight (<10⁴) fractions or to the intrinsic viscosities in the very good solvents, benzene and carbon tetrachloride.     

Fluorescence of auramine O and its binding to poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) and to polyvinylbenzoglyme in water

Binding of the cationic dye auramine O (AuO) to the polysoap-type polymers poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) (P18C6) and polyvinylbenzoglyme (PVBG) in water were studied by fluorimetry and dialysis. The quantum yield of P18C6-bound AuO was found to be 0.028, the value being 0.018 for AuO bound to PVBG. The intrinsic binding constants were found to be 2.2 × 10⁴M^?1 (P18C6) and 1.2 × 10⁴M^?1 (PVBG), the respective first binding constants being 317 and 63M^?1. Addition of crown-ether-complexable cations such as K⁺, Tl⁺, or Cs⁺ converts the neutral poly(crown ether) into a polycation, causing repulsion of the cationic dye and a strong decrease in the AuO fluorescence. AuO fluorescence was also studied in the absence of polymer in ether solvents, giving θ values of 0.011 and 0.018 in THF and dioxane. Traces of water rapidly form a nonfluorescent species. Solutions of AuO in water without polymer present exhibit very strong fluorescence on addition of BPh₄ anions owing to formation of AuO⁺, BPh₄^? ion pairs and higher aggregates.     

Intrinsic viscosity of polydisperse branched polymers

The relationships between molecular weight distribution and structure in polymerizations with long-chain branching were reviewed and extended. Results were applied to an experimental examination of intrinsic viscosity in polydisperse, trifunctionally branched systems. Several samples of poly(vinyl acetate) were prepared by bulk polymerization under conditions of very low radical concentration. The relative rate constants for monomer transfer, polymer transfer, and terminal double-bond polymerization were established from the variation of M _n and M _w with the extent of conversion. Average branching densities were then calculated for each sample and ranged as high as 1.5 branch points/molecule. Intrinsic viscosities [η]_B were measured in three systems: a theta-solvent, a good solvent, and one that was intermediate in solvent interaction. These results were compared with calculated viscosities, [η]_L, which would have been observed if all the molecules had been linear. The values of [η]_B/[η]_L were substantially the same in all three solvents. The variation of this ratio with branching density was compared with the theory of Zimm and Kilb as adapted to polydisperse systems. Discrepancies were noted, and the adequacy of present model distribution functions for branched polymers was questioned.     

Generalized correlations for molecular weight and concentration dependence of zero-shear viscosity of high polymer solutions

Data are presented to show that two correlations of viscosity–concentration data are useful representations for data over wide ranges of molecular weight and up to at least moderately high concentrations for both good and fair solvents. Low molecular weight polymer solutions (below the critical entanglement molecular weight M_c) generally have higher viscosities than predicted by the correlations. One correlation is η_sp/c[η] versus k′[η], where η_sp is specific viscosity, c is polymer concentration, [η] is intrinsic viscosity, and k′ is the Huggins constant. A standard curve for good solvent systems has been defined up to k′[η]c ≈? 3. It can also be used for fair solvents up to k′[η]c ≈? 1.25· low estimates are obtained at higher values. A simpler and more useful correlation is η_R versus c[η], where η_R is relative viscosity. Fair solvent viscosities can be predicted from the good solvent curve up to c[η] ≈? 3, above which estimates are low. Poor solvent data can also be correlated as η_R versus c[η] for molecular weights below 1 to 2 × 10⁵.     

Low-density polyethylene: Variation of branching frequency with molecular weight and its influence on molecular weight as determined by gel-permeation chromatography

A method for determining long-chain branching frequency and molecular weight averages for unfractionated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by the combined use of gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) and intrinsic viscosity data has been reported (GPC–IV method). The method assumes that the number of long branches λ per unit molecular weight is a constant independent of molecular weight. Recent data reported on λ as a function of molecular weight M in commercial LDPE indicate that this assumption is not generally valid, and concern has been expressed as to the size of the errors in molecular weights calculated using this assumption. The errors associated with assuming that λ is constant were evaluated in this study by first determining the way in which λ varies with M for two typical commerical LDPE resins by fractionation and application of the GPC–IV method to representative fractions. The experimentally determined relations between λ and M were then employed in the calculation of molecular weight and molecular size averages from GPC–IV data on the original unfractonated samples. Although it was found that λ increases with molecular weight for both samples, the results indicate that the error involved in assuming that λ is a constant is no greater than the precision with which molecular weight averages can be evaluated by GPC.     

The influence of molecular weight of the donor polymer on the solid-state behavior of interchain EDA complexes

N-(2-hydroxyethyl)carbazolyl methacrylate (HECM) and N-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyl carbazolyl methacrylate (HMCM-2) were polymerized by group transfer polymerization to varying molecular weights of somewhat narrow molecular weight distribution. The thermal behavior of the homopolymers and of their EDA complexes with poly(β-hydroxyethyl-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl methacrylate) (PDNBM-2) was studied as a function of molecular weight. The T_g′s of both polymers and their miscible complexes increase steadily as molecular weight increases and then become constant at about M _n = 6000. Both the PHECM–PDNBM-2 and PHMCM-2—PDNBM-2 systems are thermally reversible miscible networks over all polymer molecular weights. Miscibility is thermodynamically controlled over the entire range of molecular weights in the first system and decomplexation does not occur below the decomposition temperature. However, miscibility is thermodynamically controlled in the second system when the molecular weight of PHMCM-2 is less than 5000, and kinetically controlled for higher molecular weights. The decomplexation temperature or LCST of the PHMCM-2–PDNBM-2 system occurs below the decomposition temperature and increases with decreasing PHMCM-2 molecular weight, in agreement with theoretical predictions on the dependence of LCST on polymer molecular weight.     

Poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenyl oxide): Characterization by gel-permeation chromatography,light scattering,and solution viscosity

Ten unfractionated poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) samples were examined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and intrinsic viscosity [η] at 50°C in benzene, by intrinsic viscosity at 25°C in chloroform, and by light scattering at 30°C in chloroform. The GPC column was calibrated with ten narrow-distribution polystyrenes and styrene monomer to yield a “universal” relation of log ([η]M) versus elution volume. GPC-average molecular weights, defined as M?gpc = \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\Sigma w_i [\eta ]_i M_i /\Sigma w_i [\eta ]_i$\end{document}, w_i denoting the weight fraction of polymer of molecular weight M_i, were computed from the GPC and [η] data on the polyethers. The M?GPC were then compared with the weight-average M?_w from light scattering. The intrinsic viscosity (dl/g) versus molecular weight relations for the unfractionated poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxides) determined over the molecular weight range 14,000 ≤ M?_w ≤ 1,145,000 are log [η] = ?3.494 + 0.609 log M?_w (chloroform, 25°C) and log [η] = ?3.705 + 0.638 log M?_w (benzene, 50°C). The M?_w(GPC)/M?_n(GPC) ratios for the polymers in the molecular weight range 14,000 ≤ M?_w ≤ 123,000 approximate 1.5 according to computer integrations of the GPC curves with the use of the “universal” calibration and the measured log [η] versus log M?_w relation. The higher molecular weight polymers (326,000 ≤ M?_w ≤ 1,145,000) show slightly broadened distributions.     

Temperature dependence of unperturbed dimensions for isotactic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

The unperturbed dimensions of isotactic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) were evaluated from intrinsic viscosity measurements in water, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol under θ conditions over the temperature range of 3.7–32.1°C. The smallest value of unperturbed dimensions (K_θ) and the largest negative temperature dependence of unperturbed dimensions and the polymer–solvent interaction parameter (B) were obtained in aqueous θ solvent relative to the corresponding organic θ solvents. These results were interpreted by the hydrophobic interaction between the hydrophobic groups of isotactic PHEMA and water solvent. The temperature coefficient of the unperturbed dimensions, d ln〈r〉/dT, obtained in this study has a negative value of ?1.44 × 10^?3 deg^?1 under chemically similar θ solvents such as ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol where specific solvent effects are eliminated or minimized. In order to obtain the thermodynamic parameters for mixing between isotactic PHEMA and solvents, the plots of the polymer–solvent interaction parameter versus reciprocal absolute temperature (1/T) were carried out. Both the entropy of dilution and enthalpy of dilution show the negative values for water, methanol, and t-butanol, whereas the positive ones for ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol. This result indicates that the solution of isotactic PHEMA behave as exothermal systems in the former class of solvents and endothermal ones in the latter class of solvents.     

Polymerization of phenylacetylene by WCl6·Ph4Sn: Synthesis of high polymer achieved by selection of solvents

Phenylacetylene was polymerized by WCl₆·Ph₄Sn (1:1) in 1,4-dioxane to provide in high yield a polymer whose molecular weight reached 1 × 10⁵. The polymerization also proceeded in other oxygen-containing solvents (ethers, esters, and ketones) but the polymer molecular weights were lower than 1 × 10⁴. Certain hydrocarbon solvents such as cyclohexene, tetralin, and indan also afforded high-molecular-weight polyphenylacetylene [M _n = (5–8) × 10⁴], as compared with those (M _n ≤ 1.5 × 10⁴) obtained in conventional aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene. A high polymer (M _n = 1.6 × 10⁵) was also formed from β-naphthylacetylene in 1,4-dioxane. It was inferred that the active hydrogens of these solvents prevent the formed polymer from being decomposed by a radical mechanism and/or modify the nature of active species.     

Intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relationship for chitosan

The intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relationship for chitosan was determined in 0.25 M acetic acid/0.25M sodium acetate. Chitosan samples with a degree of acetylation (DA) between 20 and 26% were prepared from shrimp‐shell chitosan by acid hydrolysis (HCl) and oxidative fragmentation (NaNO₂). Absolute molecular weights were measured by light scattering and membrane osmometry. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to determine average molecular weights (M_n, M_v, and M_w) and polydispersity. The following Mark–Houwink–Sakurada equation (MHS) is proposed for chitosan of M_w in the range of 35–2220 kDa: The value of the MHS exponent a suggests that chitosan behaves as a flexible chain in this solvent. Examination of MHS constants obtained in this work and those available in the literature with other solvents indicates that a and K are inversely related and that they are influenced by DA, and pH and ionic strength of the solvent. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2591–2598, 2000     

Relation empirique entre la viscosite intrinseque et la masse moleculaire d'un polymere dissout dans un bon solvant

We propose the following empirical relationship between the intrinsic viscosity of a polymer and its molecular weight M.

$\text{{[η]?[η]}{}_{\mathrm{\theta }}\text{/[η][η]}{}_{\mathrm{\theta }}\text{=?Δρ}{}_{\mathrm{\infty }}\text{+}\text{A′}\text{M}\text{1}\text{2}$

[η] and [η]₀ are the intrinsic viscosities in a good solvent and in θ conditions respectively. Δ?, and A′ are constants characteristic of a system polymer-solvent. This relationship is valid for PS and PMMA in various good solvents and for a range of molecular weight from 3000 to 250,000. It is in this range that the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation is least applicable.     

Corresponding state relations for the Newtonian viscosity of polymer solutions. II. Further systems and concentrated solutions

In earlier work we have indicated a superposition principle for moderately concentrated mixtures (c ? 2/[η]) in good and poor solvents. By an examination of data on a number of vinyl polymers and cellulose derivatives in good as well as poor solvents, the validity of this principle is extended to concentrated solutions (c ? 50%). The characteristic concentration factor γ is proportional to M over the whole concentration range, with 0.47 ≤ a₁ ≤ 1.10 being larger for good than for poor solvents, the result obtained earlier. Significant deviations from this relationship are noted in good solvents for those low molecular weights at which deviations from the usual intrinsic viscosity relationship occur. This may be related to the expansion factor of the polymer coil. On the basis of these results, the concentration and molecular weight dependence of the viscosity in the concentrated solution can be related to each other in terms of the parameter a₁ and thus to thermodynamic characteristics. In this manner a bridge between the relatively dilute and concentrated regions is established. Currently used semiempirical expressions are analyzed in terms of these results. For the polystyrene–cyclohexane systems and θ ? 9 ≦ T ≦ θ + 3, γ can be identified with the critical concentration for phase separation. Provided an “entanglement” concentration c_e exists, in the neighbourhood of which the concentration dependence of the viscosity changes reapidly, γ can alternatively be shown to be proportional to c_e, or c_e ∝ M. The temperature reduction scheme suggested earlier remains to be investigated.     

Polymerization by oxidative coupling. IV.. Synthesis and properties of poly(2-methyl-6-phenylphenylene ether)

Copper-amine catalyst systems which polymerize 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol to high molecular weight polymer are described. With CuCl and N,N,N ′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-butanediamine (TMBD), an intrinsic viscosity of 1.56 dl/g was obtained. Faster rates of polymerization resulted with a CuBr-TMBD catalyst. Catalysts from other tertiary amines and mixtures of tertiary amines also produced high polymer. Pyridine and diethylamine catalyst were less active. Samples of polymer were isolated at different stages of the polymerization. Measurements of viscosity, osmotic pressure, light scattering, gel permeation, hydroxyl groups, nitrogen content, and chemical reactivity were made on the samples. Below a molecular weight value of M?_n 60,000, M?_n/M?_w was 2.0. At higher molecular weights, there was a broadening in molecular weight distribution. No major change in the molar concentration of the “;head” endgroups with increasing molecular weight was detected by infrared analysis. However, nitrogen analyses, chemical reactivity studies, and the M?_n/M?_w ratio suggested the chemical nature of the “head” end had changed. The relationships between intrinsic viscosity in chloroform at 25°C and M?_n and M?_w for unfractionated polymer samples are log [η] = ?4.26 + 0.84 log M?_n and log [η] = ?3.86 + 0.70 log M?_w.     

Ligand‐free SET‐DTLRP of MMA at room temperature

An iodine‐based initiator, 2‐iodo‐2‐methylpropionitrile (CPI), was utilized for the single‐electron transfer and degenerative chain transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET‐DTLRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the absence of ligand, at ambient temperature. The CPI‐initiated ligand‐free polymerizations manifested reasonable control over molecular weights with relatively narrow distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.35). The living nature of the polymers was further confirmed by successful chain extension reaction and ¹H NMR with high chain‐end fidelity (～96%). Screening of the available solvents suggested that the controllability of this polymerization was highly dependent on the kind of solvents, wherein dimethyl sulfoxide was a better solvent for a controlled molecular weight. The proposed ligand‐free SET‐DTLRP initiated by CPI was intriguing since it would dramatically decrease the concentration of Cu(0) ions both in polymerization system and resultant polymer, and provided a more economical and eco‐friendly reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization technique. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

INVESTIGATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTRINSIC VISCOSITY AND MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE-DIETHYL MALEATE)

A poly (vinyichloride-diethyl maleate) copolymer has been fractionated by repeated precipitation method. All fractions and the unfractionated sample have been characterized by viscometry, dynamic osmometry, Zimm static osmometry, light scattering and gel permeation chromatography. After correction for polydispersity, a [η]～M relationship for monodisperse polymer solutions has been obtained:[η]=1.99×10~(-3)M~(0.87) (ml/g, at 25℃, in cyclohcxanone)For the copolymer solution in THF, the second virial coefficient A_2 decreases as the molecular weight increases. The relationship isA_2=2 slope ((?)_n RT)~(-1/2).