Radiation-induced copolymerization of methyl trifluoroacrylate with ethylene

Copolymerization of methyl trifluoroacrylate (MTFA) with ethylene in bulk was induced by γ irradiation. The copolymerization was observed to proceed in the liquid monomer mixture of MTFA and ethylene at 25°C with the dose rates ranging from 5.0 × 10⁴ to 1.0 × 10⁶ rad/hr. A wide range of the initial monomer composition gives an almost equimolar and alternating copolymer. The highest polymerization rate was observed at the equimolar monomer composition. The dose rate exponent of the polymerization rate is unity. The reactivity ratios of r₁ (MTFA) and r₂ (ethylene) were determined to be 0.034 and 0.14, respectively.     

Radiation-induced terpolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene and isobutylene in bulk

Terpolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with propylene (P) and isobutylene (iB) by γ radiation at temperatures of ?78 to 40°C, a dose rate of 5 × 10⁴?5 × 10⁵ rad/hr, and an iB/P molar ratio of 40/10?5/45 in the monomer mixture was carried out. Alternating copolymers of TFE and α-olefins, that is, P and iB, were formed at various monomer compositions. No crystalline structure was observed in the terpolymer obtained below an iB/P molar ratio of 15/35 in the monomer mixture but a partly crystalline order increased with the amounts of iB in terpolymer. The crystal lattice of the TFE–iB copolymer was affected by the introduction of P. The dose rate dependencies of the polymerization rate and inherent viscosity were 0.8 and ?0.2, respectively. The activation energy of polymerization was 2.4 kcal/mole, and the relative reactivity ratio of iB and P for a TFE radical chain end was estimated as 4.50 by the treatment of the free propagating mechanism.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. I. Isobutyl vinyl ether in bulk

Bulk polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was studied at 25°C in a wide dose rate range, 8.2-277 rad/sec by γ rays and 8.8 × 10³-2.2 × 10⁵ rad/sec by electron beams. At low dose rate, 8.2-277 rad/sec, only the radical polymerization took place. At high dose rate exceeding 8.8 × 10³ rad/sec, cationic polymerization was found to occur in addition to the radical polymerization. DP _n of the product at high dose rate was 9-10. Further drying of the monomer increased R_p, and molecular weight of the product formed by cationic mechanism also increased.     

Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene by radiation. I. Effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight

The radiation-induced emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene was carried out at an initial pressure of 2–25 kg/cm², temperature of 30–110°C, and under a dose rate of 0.57 × 10⁴?3.0 × 10⁴ rad/hr. The rate of polymerization was shown to be proportional to 1.0 and 1.3 powers of the dose rate and initial pressure, respectively, and is maximal at about 70°C. The molecular weight of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lies in the range of 10⁵?10⁶, increases with reaction time in the early stage of polymerization, and is maximal at 70°C but is almost independent of the dose rate. An interesting discovery is that PTFE, a hydrophobic polymer, forms as a stable latex in the absence of emulsifier. When PTFE latex coagulates during polymerization under certain conditions, the polymerization rate decreases, probably because polymerization proceeds mainly on the polymer particle surface. The observed rate acceleration and successive increase in polymer molecular weight may be due to slow termination of propagating radicals in the rigid PTFE particles.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. III. Isoprene in bulk

Radiation-induced polymerization of isoprene in bulk state was studied at 25°C in a wide dose rate range. Variations of the rate of polymerization and molecular weight of the products were essentially the same as those observed in the monomers which were capable of both radical and cationic polymerizations. At low dose rate, 7.0-230 rad/sec, radical polymerization took place. At high dose rate, 8.8 × 10³-2.2 × 10⁵ rad/sec, radical and cationic polymerizations took place concurrently. The average molecular weight of the high-dose-rate product was about 850, independent of dose rate. The microstructure of the products at high dose rate consisted mainly of trans- 1,4 units with only about 7% of cis- 1,4 and 10% of 3,4-vinyl units. The residual unsaturation in the high-dose-rate products was 90%. Decreases in cis units and residual unsaturation at high dose rate were accounted for by the change in predominant mechanism of polymerization with dose rate.     

Effect of dose rate on radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel

The effect of dose rate on the rate of polymerization and molecular weight distribution of radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel was studied in a wide dose rate range of 4.4 × 10⁴ to 3 × 10⁸ rad/hr by γ rays of ⁶⁰Co and electron beams with a Cockcroft-Walton-type accelerator. Dose rate dependence on the initial rate of polymerization was about 1 below 3 × 10⁷ rad/hr, and it decreased gradually at high dose rates. Throughout the dose rate range, graft polymerizations and homopolymerizations by cationic and radical mechanisms proceeded simultaneously. Dose rate dependence of the cationic polymerization was 1 below 3 × 10⁷ rad/hr, while dose rate dependence of the radical polymerization was 0.65 below 3 × 10⁷ rad/hr. At high dose rates, molecular weight and fraction of graft polymer decreased, and fraction of cationic polymerization increased. A very high-molecular-weight graft polymer was formed above 4.4 × 10⁵ rad/hr at the initial stage of the polymerization. The dose rate dependence of this polymerization was larger than 1 and decreased with increase in dose rate. The polymerization seems to be related to an excitation of monomer or growing chain.     

Homo‐ and copolymerization of norbornene and 5‐norbornene‐2‐yl acetate with bis‐(β‐ketonaphthylamino)palladium(II)/B(C6F5)3 catalytic system

The polymerization of norbornene with bis(β‐ketonaphthylamino) palladium(II), Pd{CH₃C(O)CHC[N(naphthyl)]CH₃}₂, in combination with tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (B(C₆F₅)₃), was investigated by varying the B:Pd(II) molar ratio, monomer concentration, reaction temperature, and time. The catalytic activity was found to reach 2.8 × 10⁴ gPolymer/(molPd^?h) and the obtained polynorbornene (PNBE) was confirmed to be vinyl addition polymer and showed good thermo‐stability (T_dec > 350°C), but exhibited poor solubility in organic solvents due to the relative higher stereo regularity. Pd{CH₃C(O)CHC[N(naphthyl)]CH₃}₂/B(C₆F₅)₃ system is also an active catalyst for copolymerization of norbornene and 5‐norbornene‐2‐yl acetate (NBE‐OCOCH₃) in toluene with moderate yields (in 9.2–36.5% yields) and produces the addition‐type copolymer with relatively high molecular weights (0.96 × 10⁴–2.13 × 10⁴ g/mol). The incorporation of functional group in the copolymer can be controlled up to 0.9–23.5 mol% by varying the NBE‐OCOCH₃ monomer feed ratios from 10 to 90%. The copolymers are proved to be noncrystalline and show good solubility in common organic solvents and excellent thermal stability up to 350°C. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

γ-Ray-induced copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl chloride in liquid carbon dioxide

The γ-ray-induced copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl chloride with the use of liquid carbon dioxide as a solvent was studied under a total pressure of 400 kg/cm², with a dose rate of 2.5 × 10⁴ rad/hr at 30°C. A rubberlike, sticky polymer is obtained when the molar concentration of vinyl chloride is less than 30% in the monomer mixture, and the polymer is a white powder at higher concentrations of vinyl chloride. Infrared, x-ray, and differential thermal analyses confirm that the polymerization products are noncrystalline, true random copolymers. The rate of copolymerization decreases markedly when a small amount of vinyl chloride is added to ethylene monomer. In the range of vinyl chloride concentration higher than 5%, however, the rate and the molecular weight of copolymer increase with increasing concentration of vinyl chloride. It has been concluded from kinetic considerations based on these results that the rate of initiation increases proportionally with the concentration of vinyl chloride. Further, the growing chain radicals are shown to be deactivated by the cross-termination reaction between the radicals with terminal unit of ethylene and vinyl chloride, and no transfer reaction occurs.     

Use of samarium (III) acetate as initiator in ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

Abstract

In this work was evaluated the activity of samarium acetate (III) (Sm(OAc)₃) as a possible initiator in the polymerization by ring opening of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). All polymerizations were carried out under solvent-free melt conditions in ampoules-like flasks, equipped with a magnetic stirrer. The effects of different parameters of reaction, such as molar ratio monomer to initiator, temperature and reaction time, on typical variables of polymers, e.g., conversion of TMC to poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), dispersity and molar mass, were analyzed. The molar ratio of monomer to initiator was varied between 0 and 1000?mol/mol and the temperature among 70 and 150?°C. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H-NMR and HMBC) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) were used to characterize the polymers. The results indicate that the Sm(OAc)₃ induces the polymerization of TMC to high conversion with number-average molecular weights of 3.11?×?10³ to 38.40?×?10³?Da. Based on the ¹H-NMR end-group analysis of low-molecular-weight PTMC, it was proposed a coordination–insertion mechanism for the polymerization, with a breakdown of the acyl-oxygen bond of the TMC. In according to the kinetic study carried out, the polymerization rate is first-order with respect to monomer concentration with apparent rate constants of k_ap?=?7.02?×?10^?4?mol?×?L^?1?×?h^?1.     

Synthesis and properties of novel sulfonated polyimides containing binaphthyl groups as proton‐exchange membranes for fuel cells

A novel sulfonated diamine monomer, 2,2′‐bis(p‐aminophenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐6,6′‐disulfonic acid (BNDADS), was synthesized. A series of sulfonated polyimide copolymers containing 30–80 mol % BNDADS as a hydrophilic component were prepared. The copolymers showed excellent solubility and good film‐forming capability. Atomic force microscopy phase images clearly showed hydrophilic/hydrophobic microphase separation. The relationship between the proton conductivity and degree of sulfonation was examined. The sulfonated polyimide copolymer with 60 mol % BNDADS showed higher proton conductivity (0.0945–0.161 S/cm) at 20–80 °C in liquid water. The membranes exhibited methanol permeability from 9 × 10^?8 to 5 × 10^?7 cm²/s at 20 °C, which was much lower than that of Nafion (2 × 10^?6cm²/s). The copolymers were thermally stable up to 300 °C. The sulfonated polyimide copolymers with 30–60 mol % BNDADS showed reasonable mechanical strength; for example, the maximum tensile strength at break of the sulfonated polyimide copolymer with 40 mol % BNDADS was 80.6 MPa under high moisture conditions. The optimum concentration of BNDADS was found to be 60 mol % from the viewpoint of proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and membrane stability. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 222–231, 2007     

Radiation-induced homogeneous polymerization of ethylene in cyclohexane

The radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in cyclohexane was carried out in a reactor of 100 ml capacity under a range of temperature of 25–150°C, dose rate of 4.1 × 10⁴–2.9 × 10⁵ rad/hr, pressure of 200 kg/cm², and amount of cyclohexane of 20–90 ml. The polymerization was found to proceed at a steady state from the beginning. The polymerization rate is maximum at ca. 50 ml of cyclohexane. The dose rate exponent of the polymerization rate was 0.6 at every temperature from 25 to 150°C. The polymer molecular weight is in the range of 10³–10⁴, independent of dose rate, and decreases with increasing amount of cyclohexane. The molecular weight distribution is unimodal and narrow. Kinetic analysis of these results indicates that the polymerization proceeds via a simple scheme of homogeneous polymerization and the polymer molecular weight was determined by the chain transfer reaction which takes place mostly with cyclohexane. The unimodal and narrow molecular weight distribution is also consistent with the homogeneous polymerization scheme.     

Effect of dose rate on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in tert-butyl alcohol

The dependence of the dose rate on the rate of radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in tert-butyl alcohol containing 5 vol-% water was studied. The reaction was carried out by use of a reactor with a capacity of 100 ml under the following conditions: pressure, 200 kg/cm²; temperature, 24 ± 3°C; dose rate, 3.7 × 10⁴?1.6 × 10⁵ rad/hr; amount of medium, 70 ml. The dose rate exponents for rate of the polymerization, the molecular weight, and the number of polymer chain were found to be about 0.8, ?0.1, and 0.9, respectively. These results were well explained with kinetic results (obtained by a novel analytical method) for the polymerization which contain both first-order and second-order terminations for the concentrations of propagating radical. The individual values of the rate constants in each elementary reaction were also obtained.     

γ-radiation-induced ionic polymerization of pure liquid styrene. II

In this second paper of the series we present additional evidence that the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of very pure, ultradry styrene exhibits kinetics that can best be explained as due to one or more ionic processes, depending on the dryness of the sample. We have shown the effect of the various steps in the drying procedure on the observed kinetics, and we have described a preparative procedure which yields good reproducibility among independently prepared samples. Under these conditions, the rate of polymerization is proportional to the 0.70 power of the dose rate at 0°C.; there appears to be no wall effect; and the temperature coefficient for the process appears to be a complicated function, most probably a small negative value over the range of temperature (0–50°C.) and dose rates (～10³–10⁵ rad/hr.) covered in this study. The maximum G value for disappearance of monomer which we have observed is of the order of 6 × 10⁵ molecules of monomer/100 e.v. at 0°C. and a dose rate of 2 × 10³ rad/hr.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high pressure of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene in bulk and with tetrafluoroethylene

The radiation-induced polymerization of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene was studied as a function of temperature (22–100°C) and pressure (autogenous to 10⁴ atm). Rates have varied 100-fold for the same reaction conditions probably because of trace impurities. The most rapidly polymerizing material has a rate of 4.5%/hr at 6000 atm, 22°C, and 1500 rad/hr. The activation enthalpy and volume are 4 kcal/mole and ?13 cc/mole, respectively. Rates are proportional to the square root of the radiation intensity. Degrees of polymerization varied between 2 × 10³ and 2 × 10⁶. In copolymerization with tetrafluoroethylene the reactivity ratios at 22°C and 5000 atm are 0.37 (the ratio for addition to the tetrafluoroethylene-ended radical) and 5.4 (the ratio for addition to the tetrafluoropropene-ended radical). Comparison of ratios for the copolymerization of other fluorinej-containing monomers with tetrafluoroethylene shows that they generally disfavor incorporation of the latter.     

Radiation-induced oxidation of polyethylene,ethylene–butene copolymer,and ethylene–propylene copolymer

Oxygen consumption and yield of oxidation products during γ-irradiation were studied on five types of polyethylene (PE), ethylene–butene copolymer (EB), and ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR) using gas chromatography, mass spectrography, and high-resolution NMR. Samples were irradiated in oxygen under pressure from 0 to 500 torr by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays up to 20 Mrad at 22–25°C. In enough oxygen, oxygen consumption and yield of oxidation products are independent of oxygen pressure for low-density PE, EB, and EPR. The G values of oxygen consumption were 14–18.4 for PE, 11.6 for EB at 1 × 10⁶ rad/h, and 8.3 for EPR at 2 × 10⁵ rad/h. The oxidation products determined were carboxylic acid (? CH₂? CO? OH), H₂O, CO₂, and CO. The oxygen consumption and oxidation products for PE were found to increase with increasing crystallinity.     

Solid polymer electrolytes based on polystyrene‐polyether block copolymers having branched ether structure

To obtain solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) having high ionic conductivity together with mechanical integrity, we have synthesized polystyrene (PSt)‐polyether (PE) diblock copolymers via one‐pot anionic polymerization. The PSt block is expected to aggregate to act as hard fillers in the SPE to enhance the mechanical property. The PE block consists of random copolymer (P(EO‐r‐MEEGE)) of ethylene oxide (EO) and 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy) ethyl glycidyl ether (MEEGE) in different molar ratios ([EO]/[MEEGE] = 100/0, 86/14, 75/25, 68/32, and 41/59). The introduction of the MEEGE moiety in PEO reduced the crystallinity of PEO, and the fast motion of the MEEGE side chain caused plasticization of the PE block, thereby contributing to the fast ion transport. SPEs were fabricated by mixing the obtained diblock copolymer (PSE_x) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (LiTFSA) with [Li]/[O] = 0.05. Ionic conductivity of the obtained SPEs was dependent on the molar ratio of EO in the PE block (x) as well as the weight fraction of PE block (f_PE) in the block copolymer. PSE_0.86 (f_PE = 0.65) exhibited high ionic conductivity (3.3 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 at 30°C; 1.1 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 60°C) comparable with that of P(EO‐r‐MEEGE) (PE_0.85; f_PE = 1.00) (9.8 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 at 30°C; 4.0 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 60°C).     

Molecular weight distributions in radiation-induced polymerization. III. γ-Ray-induced polymerization of styrene at low temperatures

The kinetics of the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of styrene was studied at radiation intensities of 8 × 10⁴, 2.4 × 10⁵, 3.1 × 10⁵, and 8.3 × 10⁵ rad/hr over a temperature range of ?10°C to 30°C. The water content of the irradiated samples varied from 1.0 × 10^?3 to 7.5 × 10^?3 mole/l. The power dependence of the rate of polymerization on the dose rate at ?10°C varied from 0.53 to 0.71 as the water content of the sample varied from 7.5 × 10^?3 to 1.0 × 10^?3 mole/l. A value of 3.1 kcal/mole was determined for the overall activation energy. Molecular weight distribution studies by gel-permeation chromatography indicated the presence of two distinct peaks. The contribution of each peak was dependent on specific experimental parameters. Kinetic data and molecular weight distribution data indicate the coexistence of two propagating species. Analysis of the data strongly suggests that a free-radical mechanism and a cationic mechanism are involved.     

Radiation-induced copolymerizations of perfluorovinyl acetic acid and its methyl ester with α-olefin

Homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of perfluorovinyl acetic acid (FVA) and its methyl ester (MFVA) were carried out by γ radiation at a temperature of 25°C, a dose rate of 1 × 10⁶ rad/hr, and FVA/α-olefin and MFVA/α-olefin ratios of 10/90-90/10 in the monomer mixture. FVA and MFVA gave small quantities of brown and greasy low-molecular-weight homopolymers. The polymerization rates of both FVA and MFVA were extremely small, as shown by the maximum G value of monomer consumption of 12. FVA and MFVA reacted with α-olefin to form waxlike copolymers. The copolymerization rates of both FVA and MFVA with α-olefin were remarkably larger than those of the homopolymerizations, particularly with ethylene. The polymer compositions of FVA/ethylene or MFVA/ethylene was nearly 1/2 over a wide range of the monomer compositions. The Mayo–Lewis method gave negative r₁ (FVA) and r₁ (MFVA). The polymer composition curves could be well interpreted by introducing the penultimate model.     

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.     

Copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile promoted by novel nonmetallocene catalysts with phenoxy‐imine ligands

A series of novel nonmetallocene catalysts with phenoxy‐imine ligands was synthesized by the treatment of phthaldialdehyde, substituted phenol with TiCl₄, ZrCl₄, and YCl₃ in THF. The structures and properties of the catalysts were characterized by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. These catalysts were used for copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile after activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The effects of copolymerization temperature, Al/M (M = Ti, Zr, and Y) ratio in mole, concentrations of catalyst and comonomer on the polymerization behaviors were investigated in detail. These results revealed that these catalysts were favorable for copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile. Cat. 3 was the most favorable one for the copolymerization of ethylene with acrylonitrile, and the catalytic activity was up to 2.19 × 10⁴ g PE/mol.Ti.h under the conditions: polymerization temperature of 50 °C, Al/Ti molar ratio of 300, catalyst concentration of 1.0 × 10^–4 mol/L, and toluene as solvent. The resultant polymer was characterized by FTIR, cross‐polarization magic angle spinning, ¹³C NMR, WAXD, GPC, and DSC. The results confirmed that the obtained copolymer featured high‐weight–average molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution about 1.61–1.95, and high‐acrylonitrile incorporation up to 2.29 mol %. Melting temperature of the copolymer depended on the content of acrylonitrile incorporation within the copolymer chain. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012