Micellar nucleation differential microemulsion polymerization

Polymer nanoparticles within the range of 2–5 nm with a solid content of more than 13 wt.% and a narrow molecular weight polydispersity (Mw/Mn ∼ 1.1) were for the first time prepared using a micellar nucleation differential microemulsion polymerization system emulsified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), with SDS/monomer (methyl methacrylate) and SDS/H₂O weight ratios of up to 1:16 and 1:100, respectively. It was found that for benzoyl peroxide (BPO), micellar nucleation is more favorable for the synthesis of smaller polymer nanoparticles than ammonium persulfate (APS) which gives rise to homogeneous nucleation and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) which involves partially heterogeneous nucleation. In the polymerization process, there exists a critical stability concentration (CSC) of SDS, above which the size of the nanoparticles is to be minimized and stabilized. With an increase in the monomer addition rate, the polymerization system changes from a microemulsion system to an emulsion system. A mechanism was proposed to describe the micellar nucleation process of differential microemulsion polymerization. This study may contribute to the development of fine polymer nanoparticles for drug delivery systems.     

Polymerization of surface-active monomers and applications

The results on radical polymerization and copolymerization of alkyl bromide salts of 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate having a different alkyl chain length in various solvents giving micellar and isotropic solutions are summarized to obtain an insight into micellar polymerization. The monomer micellization of the cationic surface-active monomers at concentrations far above their critical micelle concentration (cmc) leads to great increases in the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the resulting polymers for both aqueous and inverse micellar systems and the tendency toward alternation of the copolymerization for aqueous micellar systems, whereas it has little influence on the tacticity of the resulting polymers. Applications of the polimerization and the copolymerization of the surface-active monomer to the polymer encapsulation of silica particles are also reported.     

Oxidative polymerization of p-alkylphenols catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase

Enzymatic oxidative polymerization of p-alkylphenols using horseradish peroxidase as catalyst has been carried out in two polymerization solvent systems: a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 7) and 1,4-dioxane, and a reverse micellar solution, yielding powdery polymeric materials. The polymer yield was much dependent upon the type of alkyl group in the monomer as well as the solvent type. In case of the polymerization of umbranched alkylphenols in the aqueous 1,4-dioxane, the polymer yield increased with increasing chain length of the alkyl group from 1 to 5, and the yield of the polymer from hexyl or heptylphenol was almost the same as that of the pentyl derivative. The relationship between the type of substituent and the polymer yield in the reverse micellar system was different from that in the aqueous 1,4-dioxane; the highest yield was achieved from ethylphenol. The resulting polymers had molecular weight of several thousands. The polymer was estimated to be composed from a mixture of phenylene and oxyphenylene units from IR analyses. TG measurement exhibited that the polymer had relatively high thermal stability. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1453–1459, 1997     

High performance controlled reactors from micellar assemblies of aromatic amino acid amphiphiles for nanoparticle synthesis

The micellar assemblies of lauryl esters of tyrosine (LET) and phenylalanine (LEP) show extraordinary emulsification properties. The structural similarity in respect of the aromatic ring between the dispersed phase, styrene, and the surfactants facilitates solubilization of styrene up to four times the weight of LEP and 11 times that of LET. We propose that the solubilization site varies between core in the LEP and shell in the LET micelles. LET affords double emulsions, water in oil in water (w/o/w) over a narrow phase composition, for example at R=7.15, where R represents ratio of weight of styrene to LET. A schematic model depicting the solubilization site of styrene at different regions in LET and LEP micelles has been proposed. On polymerization, the emulsions with LET and LEP micelles generated high molecular weight polymer nanoparticles of size 12-49 nm with low polydispersity index (P(d)). This demonstrates that micellar assemblies act as templating controlled reactors for the polymerization reaction. We demonstrate that PS nanoparticle dispersion of size 49 nm with polymer weight fraction as high as 42.80% could be produced from emulsions with the LET surfactant, in contrast to LEP that is 50% less efficient. Polymerization of these emulsions occurs predominantly through a micellar nucleation mechanism. It is significant to note that under the same conditions, the control experiments with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micelles resulted in polymers with broad distribution, P(d)>3.0 in molecular weight.     

Syntheses and characterization of statistical and block fluorinated copolymers with linear and star-like architectures via ATRP

The synthesis of a fluorinated macroinitiator for copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is reported, as well as its use for the controlled living polymerization of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGM) in MEK at 80 °C. The ATRP system used was efficient for polymerization of the functionalized monomer and the molecular weight of the polymer estimated by NMR spectroscopy was in close agreement with the theoretical molecular weight, as expected for controlled processes. The statistical copolymerization of PPGM or methyl ether poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (MPEGMA) with a perfluoroalkyl ethyl methacrylate by copper-mediated ATRP was also investigated and led to copolymers with essentially random incorporation of monomers. The syntheses and characterization of star-like homopolymers of MPEGMA or the fluorinated monomer via ATRP are also reported, as well as an amphiphilic star-like block copolymer containing ethyleneglycol units as the core and fluorinated moieties in the shell. The micellar behavior of this copolymer was investigated as a function of the external environment.     

Polymerization of oriented monomers. V. Radiation-induced polymerization of 3n-dodecyl-1-vinylimidazolium iodide in micellar aggregates

In the present study radiation-induced polymerization of 3n-dodecyl-1-vinylimidazolium iodide (I) in micellar aggregates was investigated. For comparison, the corresponding isotropic polymerization of I was also studied. Micellization was obtained in concentrated aqueous solutions; that is, above the monomer's critical micelle concentration (CMC) polymers obtained by both modes of polymerization were treated similarly and subsequently subjected to physical characterization. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether the degree of organization of the monomer in micelles would affect polymer properties. Attempts to determine tacticity by ¹³C-NMR spectrometry failed because of the particular structure of the polymer. Crystallization of these polymers from ethyl alcohol or acetone was not possible as indicated by x-ray powder diffraction patterns that were characteristic of amorphous polymers. On the other hand, viscosity data of polymers do not depend on the mode of polymerization. It is therefore concluded that micellar aggregates are not sufficiently organized to affect polymer properties.     

Effect of surfactants on the polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous solutions

The polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous surfactant solutions, initiated by potassium persulfate, has been investigated, dilatometry being used to follow the conversion. It has been shown that below the critical micellar concentration (CMC), cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactants have no effect, while above the CMC only cationic soaps have an effect, lowering both the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the resultant polymer.     

Temperature- and pH-responsive star amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by a combining strategy of ring-opening polymerization and reversible addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization

The star-shaped poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (HPs-Star-PCL-b-PDMAEMA) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Star-shaped polycaprolactones (HPs-Star-PCL) were synthesized by the bulk polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) with a hyperbranched polyester initiator and tin 2-ethylhexanoate as a catalyst. The number-average molecular weight of these polymers linearly increased with the increase of the molar ratio of CL to hyperbranched initiator. HPs-Star-PCL was converted into a HPs-star-PCL-RAFT by an esterification of HPs-Star-PCL and 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate. Star amphiphilic block copolymer HPs-Star-PCL-b-PDMAEMA was obtained via RAFT polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The molecular weight distribution of HPs-Star-PCL-b-PDMAEMA was narrow. Furthermore, the micellar properties of HPs-Star-PCL-b-PDMAEMA in water were studied at various temperatures and pH values by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results indicated that the star copolymers had the pH- and temperature-responsive properties. The release behaviors of model drug aspirin from the star polymer indicated that the rate of drug release could be effectively controlled by pH value and temperature.     

茂基二价钐配合物高效催化己内酯开环聚合

研究了二茂基二价钐配合物(C5H5)2Sm(THF)作为单组分催化剂催化己内脂开环聚合反应,考察了催化剂用量、聚合反应时间、聚合反应温度对己内酯聚合反应的影响。结果表明,配合物(C5H5)2Sm(THF)对己内酯聚合有极高的催化活性且产物的数均分子量较高,当催化剂与单体摩尔比为1：5000时,聚合产率仍可达50.3%,数均分子量可高达32.4万;温度升高,聚合反应的转化率增加,聚合产物数均分子量降低;催化剂用量增加,聚合转化率增加,聚合产物分子量降低;聚合产物的分子量分布较窄;通过凝胶色谱法对聚合产物的分子量及分子量分布进行了表征。     

Photo-controlled/living radical polymerization mediated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl in inert atmospheres

The photo-controlled/living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a nitroxide mediator was established in an inert atmosphere. The bulk polymerization was performed at room temperature using 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl as the mediator and (2RS,2′RS)-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as the initiator in the presence of (4-tert-butylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium triflate as the accelerator by irradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp. The photopolymerization in a N₂ atmosphere produced a polymer with a comparatively narrow molecular weight distribution; however, the experimental molecular weight was slightly different from the theoretical molecular weight. The Ar atmospheric polymerization also provided a polymer with the molecular weight distribution similar to that of the polymer obtained by the N₂ atmospheric polymerization. These inert atmospheric polymerizations more rapidly proceeded to produce polymers with narrower molecular weight distributions than the vacuum polymerization. The livingness of the Ar atmospheric polymerization was confirmed on the basis of the first-order time–conversion plots and conversion–molecular weight plots.     

双金属氰化物络合物催化环氧烷烃开环聚合的特征

合成了Co Zn双金属氰化物 (DMC)络合物催化剂 ,以X 射线衍射、元素分析、红外光谱等手段进行了表征 ,考察了该催化体系下环氧丙烷开环聚合的反应特性 ,并初步探讨了聚合反应的机理 .研究发现 ,Co Zn双金属氰化物催化剂具有很高的催化活性 ,适合于中高分子量聚醚的合成 ,但是碱性起始剂起阻聚作用 ;在该催化体系下聚合物分子量可控 ,不饱和度很低 (<0 .0 14meq g) ,分批加料聚合所得到的聚合物分子量分布较窄 (Mn Mw <1.4 ) ,而一步加料聚合所得到的聚合物分子量分布变宽 ;1 3C NMR分析表明聚合物主链具有无规立构分布的特点 ,且链节分布几乎都为头 尾方式 .聚合过程中活性链与非活性链之间可能存在一个交换反应 ;虽然聚合反应有终止 ,但与聚合物链长没有关系 ,聚合物链的终止是可逆的 .     

SINGLE LANTHANUM TRIS(N-PHENYLETHYL-3,5-DI-t-BUTYLSALICYLALDIMINATO)S INITIATOR FOR RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF 1,4-DIOXAN-2-ONE IN BULK

A rare earth Schiff base complex:lanthanum tris(N-phenylethyl-3,5-di-t-butylsalicylaldiminato)s [La(OPEBS)_3] was successfully applied as single component initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of 1,4-dioxan-2-one (PDO) in bulk.The influence of reaction conditions,such as polymerization temperature,the molar ratio of the monomer to initiator (M/I) on the monomer conversion and molecular weight of the polymer has been investigated.Poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one) with a viscosity-average molecular weight (My...     

等离子体引发丙烯酰胺水溶液聚合

用两种等离子体引发丙烯酰胺水溶液聚合的方法 ,制备了线性超高分子量聚丙烯酰胺 .研究了放电时间、放电功率、单体的初始浓度及溶液的pH值等对聚合产物的影响     

α,α-二溴甲苯引发的苯乙烯原子转移自由基聚合研究

自从Ｍａｔｙｊａｓｚｅｗｓｋｉ等[1,2 ] 发现原子转移自由基聚合 (ＡＴＲＰ)以来 ,寻求新的双多官能引发剂是该领域的重要研究方向之一[3～ 7] .2 0 0 0年 ,我们[8]曾报道了α ,α 二溴乙酸乙酯可作为丙烯酸酯ＡＴＲＰ的双官能引发剂 ,并基于其两端增长的活性聚合性质合成了ＰＳ ｂ ＰＢＡ ｂ ＰＳ和ＰＭＭＡ ｂ ＰＢＡ ｂ ＰＭＭＡ两种三嵌段共聚物 .与此同时 ,Ｈｏｃｋｅｒ等[9] 通过比较氯化苄与α ,α 二氯甲苯引发的苯乙烯ＡＴＲＰ的聚合速度 ,认为α ,α 二氯甲苯是苯乙烯ＡＴＲＰ的双官能引发剂 .当我们参照上述结果 ,用α ,α 二…     

Micellar polymerization: Computer simulations by dissipative particle dynamics

Nowadays, micellar polymerization is widely used in different fields of industry and research, including modern living polymerization technique. However, this process has many variables and there is no comprehensive model to describe all features. This research presents simulation methodology which describes key properties of such reactions to take a guide through a variety of their modifications. Dissipative particle dynamics is used in addition to Monte Carlo scheme to simulate initiation, propagation, and termination events. Influence of initiation probability and different termination processes on final conversion and molecular‐weight distribution are presented. We demonstrate that prolonged initiation leads to increasing in polymer average molecular weight, and surface termination events play major role in conversion limitation, in comparison with recombination. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High Molecular Weight Polystyrene Obtained by Cationic Emulsion Polymerization Catalyzed by Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquid

The ionic liquid 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium heptachlorodiferrate (BMI.Fe₂Cl₇) is efficiently used as catalyst in the cationic emulsion polymerization of styrene. The effect of different reaction temperatures, surfactant, and ionic liquid concentrations on polymer properties as molecular weight distribution and particle size is evaluated. High weight average molecular weights, above 1000 kDa, are achieved at 70% of conversion in 100 nm polystyrene particles formed mainly by micellar nucleation. Particle sizes and molecular weights increase with the decrease of the amount of surfactant. Even at low concentrations, BMI.Fe₂Cl₇/styrene molar ratio equal to 1/1000, the ionic liquid proves to be efficient for the emulsion polymerization of styrene, and lower ionic liquid concentrations lead to the formation of longer polymer chains.     

Anionic polymerization of phenyl vinyl ketone initiated with a model compound possessing the same structure as the growing chain end

Anionic polymerization of phenyl vinyl ketone (PVK) was carried out in toluene at 0°C by use of an initiator, ethylzinc 1,3-diphenyl-1-pentene-1-olate (I), which possesses the same structure as the growing chain end of PVK in the diethylzinc (ZnEt₂)-initiated polymerization. A unimodal molecular weight distribution was found in the obtained polymer. The polymerization system exhibited a “living characteristic” with the initiator efficiency being 1.0.     

Synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight hexafluoroisopropylidene‐containing polybenzimidazole for high‐temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

A high molecular weight, thermally and chemical stable hexafluoroisopropylidene containing polybenzimidazole (6F‐PBI) was synthesized from 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine (TAB) and 2,2‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (6F‐diacid) using polyphosphoric acid (PPA) as both the polycondensation agent and the polymerization solvent. Investigation of polymerization conditions to achieve high molecular weight polymers was explored via stepwise temperature control, monomer concentration in PPA, and final polymerization temperature. The polymer characterization included inherent viscosity (I.V.) measurement and GPC as a determination of polymer molecular weight, thermal and chemical stability assessment via thermo gravimetric analysis and Fenton test, respectively. The resulting high molecular weight polymer showed excellent thermal and chemical stability. Phosphoric acid doped 6F‐PBI membranes were prepared using the PPA process. The physiochemical properties of phosphoric acid doped membranes were characterized by measuring the phosphoric acid doping level, mechanical properties, and proton conductivity. These membranes showed higher phosphoric acid doping levels and higher proton conductivities than the membranes prepared by the conventional membrane fabrication processes. These membranes had sufficient mechanical properties to be easily fabricated into membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) and the prepared MEAs were tested in single cell fuel cells under various conditions, with a focus on the high temperature performance and fuel impurity tolerance. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4064–4073, 2009     

Synthesis of novel blue‐light‐emitting polypyridine

A new regioregular head‐to‐tail (HT)‐type polypyridine with methoxyethoxyethoxy (MEEO) side chains, HT‐PMEEOPy, was synthesized by means of Kumada‐Tamao coupling polymerization of a Grignard monomer with a Ni catalyst. Although the polymer was precipitated in THF during polymerization, multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS) analysis indicated that the weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) was about 25,000. The HT content in the polymer was 95%. A solution of HT‐PMEEOPy in CHCl₃ was found to emit a strong blue light when the solution was irradiated with UV light; the UV‐vis absorption maximum (λ_max) and photoluminescence maximum (λ_{max em}) were at 392 and 460 nm, respectively. To clarify the effect of regioregularity of PMEEOPy on the photoluminescence, head‐to‐head (HH) PMEEOPy was synthesized by means of Yamamoto coupling polymerization. The photoluminescence of HH‐PMEEOPy (λ_max = 330 nm, λ_{max em} = 414 nm) was weaker than that of HT‐PMEEOPy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Emulsion polymerization of styrene. II. Effect of Ag(I) and Fe(II) on the polymerization of styrene initiated by potassium persulfate

The emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by potassium persulfate catalyzed by Ag(I) and/or ferrous ions Fe (II) was studied. It was found that silver ions in conjunction with potassium persulfate accelerate the polymerization of styrene. Ferrous ions reduce the polymerization rate by termination reaction with primary radicals. Both silver ions and ferrous ions act as transfer agents with the result of lowering of the average molecular weight of the polymer.