Solution properties,unperturbed dimensions,and chain flexibility of poly(1‐adamantyl acrylate)

Poly(1‐adamantyl acrylate) (PAdA) exhibits much higher glass transition and degradation temperatures than other polyacrylates. However, the quantitative evaluation of the stiffness of this polymer chain has not been reported previously. In this study, the dilute solution properties and conformational characteristics of PAdA were evaluated using viscometry and scattering techniques. The unperturbed dimensions of this polymer were evaluated using the Burchard–Stockmayer–Fixman extrapolation and the touched‐bead wormlike chain model. The PAdA chain has a comparable persistence length, diameter per bead and characteristic ratio to poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene. All these results indicate that PAdA is less flexible than common polyacrylates. In addition, the second virial coefficients (A₂) of PAdA in different solvents obtained by static light scattering were compared. Among the solvents investigated, tetrahydrofuran is a moderate solvent. Radius of gyration of a polymer sample in the various solvents ranged from 16.8 to 30.3 nm. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1526–1531     

Stability of filled poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(diphenylsiloxane-co-dimethylsiloxane) elastomers to cyclic stress at elevated temperature

The response of aluminum oxide-filled poly(dimethyl siloxane) and poly(diphenylsiloxane-co-dimethylsiloxane) elastomers, containing 3–24 mol % diphenylsiloxane, to cyclic stress at elevated temperatures (dynamic creep) was evaluated. The materials could be divided into two classes, based on their response to the application of cyclic stress: no or low-diphenylsiloxane content elastomers in which substantial creep and a decrease in crosslink density were observed, and high diphenylsiloxane content (16–24 mol %) elastomers that showed decreased creep with increasing diphenylsiloxane content and an increase in crosslink density. It was suggested that the phenyl groups stabilize the siloxane bond in the polymer backbone, decreasing the rate of chain scission reactions as the diphenylsiloxane content increases and stabilizing the elastomer against creep. The balance of chain scission, chemical crosslinking, and cyclic formation reactions varies depending on diphenylsiloxane content, giving rise to the differences in dynamic creep behavior. An activation energy of 12.9 kcal/mol was measured for dynamic creep of poly(16% diphenylsiloxane/84% dimethyl siloxane), suggesting that a catalyzed degradation mechanism was responsible. The primary catalysts of the degradation reactions are postulated to be the filler particles. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of the reference chain dimension on the viscoelastic and stress–strain behavior of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) networks

The linear viscoelastic and stress-strain behavior of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) networks at a content of crosslinking agent (ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) of c? 0–1 × 10^?4 mole/cm³ was investigated in the main transition and rubberlike region in the temperature interval from 20 to 150°C. The dependence of the unperturbed chain dimensions on temperature was determined from thermoelastic measurements in the rubberlike region; this dependence was unaffected by the content of crosslinking agent. Application of time–temperature superposition to the linear viscoelastic behavior did not give a continuous superimposed curve in the proximity of the rubberlike region; superposition within the whole time region required introducing the change of the unperturbed chain dimensions with temperature. This correction was sufficient for a sample with a higher content of the crosslinking agent. However, for loose networks (c< 0.1 × 10^?4 mole/cm³) it was insufficient, because of another relaxation mechanism in the region of high temperatures. It was found that the intensity and temperature dependence of this relaxation mechanism, which is probably due to a change of the number of entanglements with temperature, are connected with the magnitude and the temperature dependence of the C₂ constant of the Mooney-Rivlin equation.     

Effect of diphenylsiloxane unit content on relaxation behavior of poly(dimethylsiloxane‐co‐diphenylsiloxane)

The relaxation behaviors of poly(dimethylsiloxane‐co‐diphenylsiloxane)s with different compositions were investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It is indicated that the content of Ph₂SiO unit, which is closely associated with crystallinity of polysiloxane, has a remarkable influence on its relaxation behavior. Two‐phase (crystalline and amorphous phase) structure in the semicrystalline polysiloxane of the present system can be determined for discussing relaxation behavior. An increase in relaxation strength can be reasoned to a cooperative effect of decrease in fraction of crystalline phase and increase in friction between molecular chains. And enhancements in glass transition temperature (T_g) and effective activation energy for glass transition (E_a(eff)) were ascribed more to the stiffness imposed by Ph₂SiO unit than decrease in fraction of crystalline phase. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1652–1659, 2008     

Styrene-methyl acrylate copolymers and acrylate homopolymers in solution

Molecular weight determinations by light scattering and osmometry and intrinsic viscosity measurements were made in various solvents on fractions of styrene–methyl acrylate copolymers with different compositions and on acrylate homopolymers prepared by free-radical reaction. Relations between intrinsic viscosity [η] and molecular weight M thus established are compared with those reported by other authors. 2-Methylcyclohexanol was found to be a theta solvent for the copolymers and both parent homopolymers, and isoamyl acetate was a theta solvent for poly(methyl acrylate). From theta point viscosity data obtained with these solvents, unperturbed chain dimensions were estimated. The results are compared with the unperturbed dimensions estimated from the [η]–M relations obtained in good solvents. On the basis of the experimental data it was found that the unperturbed dimension depends linearly on the copolymer composition, in contrast to the case of styrene–methyl methacrylate copolymers. Composition dependences of the theta temperature and of the parameter describing the long-range interactions between nonadjacent segments in polymer chains were investigated. The result implies that long-range interactions between monomeric units never disappear even when those between the same monomeric units vanish. The Huggins constant for copolymer is discussed in terms of the excluded volume variable.     

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).     

RIS Models and Unperturbed Chain Properties of Polyesters Containing 1,3‐Cyclobutylene and 1,4‐Cyclohexylene Linkages

Polyesters containing 1,3‐cyclobutylene and 1,4‐cyclohexylene linkages in the main chain are investigated using conformational energy calculations. Rotational isomeric state (RIS) models are developed for poly(1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), poly(1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene 2,5‐dimethylterephthalate) (DMPCT), poly(1,4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4‐cyclohexylenedicarboxylate) (PCC), and poly(2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutylene terephthalate) (CBDO). In DMPCT, the ester linkage prefers skewed conformations with respect to the phenyl group to relieve the steric strain caused by the methyl groups. The methyl groups on the cyclobutanediol moiety in CBDO restrict the rotational freedom about the oxycyclobutylene linkage. The unperturbed dimensions as described by characteristic ratio and persistence length are calculated for the trans and cis configurations of these polyesters. CBDO shows highly extended chain conformations among these polyesters indicating relative chain rigidity of the backbone. For DMPCT and PCC, in their trans configuration, the chain dimensions decrease with an increase in temperature while for their cis configurations, the chain dimensions increase with temperature, arising from basic differences in the fragment structures that control the competition of the relative populations as affected by temperature. Temperature has negligible influence on the unperturbed dimensions of both isomeric linkages of CBDO, while this is true for the trans configuration of PCT. The study shows that induction of cyclobutylene groups in the main chain results in a greater rigidity for homopolyesters than for chains with cyclohexylene groups.

Structure of the repeat units of polyesters in the planar trans configuration and the schematic of the RIS models with definition of geometrical parameters.     

Molecular mechanics assessment of the configurational statistics of polyoxyethylene

Previous investigators have shown that statistical mechanical averages for configuration-dependent physical properties of long unperturbed polyoxyethylene chains are sensitive to the gauche–trans energy difference for rotation about C? C bonds. Agreement between theory and experiment could be obtained only by significant adjustment of this energy away from values predicted by semiempirical conformational energy computations. The present work examines the success of MM 2 in evaluating conformational properties of long unperturbed polyoxyethylene chains. Calculations are performed which identify the rotational isomers, and their energies, for the indicated bonds in CH₃OCH₂CH₂O? CH₂? CH₂? OCH₂CH₂OCH₃. These energies are used to assign statistical weights utilized in the configuration partition function for a rotational isomeric state chain with symmetric threefold interdependent rotations. The customary generator matrix scheme is employed to evaluate the mean-square unperturbed end-to-end distance, mean-square unperturbed dipole moment, and their temperature coefficients. Contrary to computational schemes employed previously, MM 2 is found to provide an estimate of the gauche–trans energy difference for rotation about C? C which is in harmony with the known dimensions and dipole moments of the unperturbed polymer. MM 2 also provides good estimates for most of the other parameters required in the rotational isomeric state treatment. A notable exception is provided by the gauche–trans energy difference for rotation about the C? O bond. This energy difference is overestimated by MM 2.     

Structure and solution properties of radical-initiated poly(vinyl chloride). II. Correlation of solution properties

The results of detailed measurements of osmotic pressure, light scattering, and viscosity of poly(vinyl chloride) solutions are used to establish the molecular weight dependence of [η] and A₂, to estimate the unperturbed dimensions of the poly(vinyl chloride) molecule, and to analyze critically the [η]–M correlations published hitherto.     

Head-to-head vinyl polymers. VI. Preparation and characterization of head-to-head poly(allyl alcohol) and its esters

Head-to-head (H–H) poly(allyl alcohol) (PAA) was prepared by the LiAlH₄ reduction of H–H poly(methyl acrylate) obtained from the methylation of alternating copolymer of ethylene with maleic anhydride. H–H poly(allyl acetate) (PAAc) and H–H poly(allyl benzoate) (PABz) were further derived by means of its acylations. All of these three H–H polymers were characterized by IR, NMR, TGA, and PGC measurements. The corresponding head-to-tail (H–T) polymers were also prepared by a similar method from the conventional H–T polymer of methyl acrylate, and characterized to allow comparison with the H–H polymers. The softening temperatures of all H–H polymers were somewhat higher than those of the respective H–T polymers, probably suggesting that the H–H placements increased the stiffness of the polymers. Unlike poly(acrylic esters) reported previously, these H–H allyl polymers were found to degrade at temperatures slightly lower than the H–T polymers. On pyrolysis at 430°C, both PAAc and PABz were also observed to release predominantly acetic acid and benzoic acid, respectively, and small quantities of the corresponding allyl ester monomers. The molar ratios of acid to ester were substantially larger for H–H polymers.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic behavior of poly(dipropylsilylenemethylene)

Based on the reaction of trichloro(chloromethyl)silane ( 1 ) with 2 equivalent amounts of the respective Grignard-reagent and subsequent cyclization, 1,1,3,3-tetrapropyldisilacyclobutane ( 3 ) has been prepared. Catalytic polymerization with H₂PtCl₆ was employed to prepare the corresponding poly(dipropylsilylenemethylene) (PDPSM, 4 ) with strictly alternating SiR₂/CH₂ backbone structure. A high-molecular-weight fraction of the material (weight-average molecular weight M̄_w = 166 500 and number-average molecular weight M̄_n = 115 200) obtained by fractionating precipitation was investigated with respect to glass transition and formation of conformationally disordered mesomorphic phases. The glass transition temperature T_g = 232 K of PDPSM evidenced lower backbone flexibility than observed for the analogous poly(dipropylsiloxane), (PDPS). PDPSM exhibited mesomorphic behavior. In contrast to poly(dipropylsiloxane), PDPSM showed a surprisingly narrow mesomorphic regime between 355 K and 365 K. Based on polarizing microscopy and ²⁹Si-MAS (magic angle spinning) solid-state NMR the mesophase is described as a conformationally disordered state, which is most probably columnar in analogy to PDPS.     

Unperturbed dimensions of poly-p-chlorostyrene

Viscosity measurements on poly-p-chlorostyrene (PPCS) in benzene-methanol mixtures have been carried out at their corresponding theta temperatures determined by the phase separation method. Viscosity measurements were also run in benzene at the same temperatures. The Stockmayer-Fixman extrapolation method was applied to the data to obtain the chain unperturbed dimensions. K_θ. It was found that these, for PPCS in benzene, decrease with increasing temperature and that, both in benzene and in binary mixtures, they decrease with increasing values of the parameter a from the relationship [η] = KM^α. PPCS theta temperature in benzene was 8.     

Estimation of unperturbed dimensions of poly(cyclohexyl) methacrylate from light scattering,osmometry and viscosity data

Dilute solution properties of poly(cyclohexyl) methacrylate were determined at various temperatures in a theta solvent by light scattering. osmometry and viscometry. The values of the unperturbed dimensions (< s²₌>/M), solvent-polymer interaction parameters and conformational parameter σ have been computed by applying the theories of Burchard-Stockmayer--Fixman, Kurata-Stockmayer, Fixman and Kurata-Stockmayer-Roig.     

Molecular dimensions,configurational partition functions and entropies of linear aromatic polyesters

The values of the configurational partition function Z and of the entropy S. as well as the unperturbed molecular dimensions 〈r²〉_o/M, were calculated for aromatic polyesters having the repeat unit -OC(C₆H₄)COO(CH₂)_mO-. From a qualitative point of view, the values of Z are useful in interpreting the effect of the number of methylene groups on the unperturbed dimensions. For the lower members of the series (2 ? m ? 10), the melting temperatures show some correlation with the flexibility of the chains as measured by the configurational entropy, calculated at low temperature.     

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.     

Unperturbed dimensions of poly(2-methyl-6-phenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) chains

The unperturbed chain dimensions of unfractionated poly(2-methyl-6-phenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and poly-(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) have been measured by combining molecular weight data from light scattering with intrinsic viscosity data in chloroform. The unperturbed chain dimensions of the former polymer were also measured directly by light scattering dissymmetry in a critical consolute solvent mixture (methyl cyclohexane: 1,4-dioxane 50:50 by volume). The results of these measurements and of measurements reported by other investigators are satisfactorily explained by postulating no dimension-expanding prejudice in azimuthal angle in chain conformers of the 2,6-substituted-1,4-phenylene oxide polymers. This corresponds to equal population of the two chain rotation energy minima at azimuthal angles 90° and 270°. Accepting this postulate, one calculates from the observed chain dimensions that the C? O? C bond angle is 118–120° in these aromatic polyethers in solution.     

Physical ageing in poly(vinyl acetate) 1. Enthalpy relaxation

The enthalpy changes ΔH_∞ between a poly(vinyl acetate) glass formed by rapid cooling and the corresponding fully relaxed glass have been estimated at four temperatures below the glass transition. The values obtained were different to those expected by extrapolating liquid behavior below the glass transition and were found to agree well with the predictions of a simple expression for the combined main chain conformational and free volume contributions to enthalpy. Conformational contributions from the side chain alone were also considered but were not required to obtain agreement with experiment. It can be concluded that the side chains remained mobile below the glass transition and do not contribute to the heat capacity discontinuity at T_g. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1107–1116, 1997     

Random-coil dimensions of poly(methylphenylsiloxane) and their dependence on stereochemical structure

Rotational isomeric state theory was used to study the unperturbed dimensions 〈r²〉₀ of poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (PMPS) chains [Si(CH₃)(C₆H₅)? O? ]_x as a function of their stereochemical structure. The required conformational energies were obtained from semi-empirical, interatomic potential energy functions and from known results on poly(dimethylsiloxane). PMPS chains were found to differ from monosubstituted and disubstituted vinyl chains primarily in the larger distance of separation between groups in conformations giving rise to “pentanetype interactions.” In PMPS, the relatively large distance of separation, 3.8 Å, makes such in teractions attractive, particularly in the case of two phenyl groups; in contrast, such interactions are strongly repulsive at the ～2.5 Å separation characterizing vinyl chains. According to the calculated results, PMPS chains are very different from vinyl chains in that increase in isotacticity should cause a significant decrease in 〈r²〉₀ and increase in d ln 〈r²〉₀/dT. Comparison of theory with experimental results in the literature suggests that PMPS polymers which have been studied in this regard must have been significantly syndiotactic in stereochemical structure.     

Observation d'une transition conformationnelle dans le PMMA

Intrinsic viscosity and light scattering measurements on fractionated samples of atactic poly (methyl methacrylate) show a conformational transition around 45–50° in toluene and benzene but not in 2-heptanone. The transition is detected by a stepwise change in K_θ (i.e. the unperturbed dimensions) with increasing temperature.     

Thermoresponsive Poly(2‐oxazine)s

The monomers 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazine (MeOZI), 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazine (EtOZI), and 2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazine (nPropOZI) were synthesized and polymerized via the living cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) under microwave‐assisted conditions. pEtOZI and pnPropOZI were found to be thermoresponsive, exhibiting LCST behavior in water and their cloud point temperatures (T_CP) are lower than for poly(2‐oxazoline)s with similar side chains. However, comparison of poly(2‐oxazine) and poly(2‐oxazoline)s isomers reveals that poly(2‐oxazine)s are more water soluble, indicating that the side chain has a stronger impact on polymer solubility than the main chain. In conclusion, variations of both the side chains and the main chains of the poly(cyclic imino ether)s resulted in a series of distinct homopolymers with tunable T_CP.